India collapse dramatically to lose by 18 runs  - Scorecard Melbourne, Jan 9: Captain Sourav Ganguly's valiant knock of 82 went in vain as India lost their last six wickets for just 13 runs in a dramatic fashion and allowed Australia to script a thrilling 18-run victory in the opening match of the triangular one-day cricket series here today. Chasing a victory target of 289, the Indians were in a fairly comfortable position at 257 for four till the 45th over before the shocking batting collapse tilted the scale in Australia's favour. The visitors had themselves to blame for not being able to launch their tri-series campaign on a winning note as the late order batsmen succumbed to the pressure to fold up for 270 in 49 overs in a pulsating contest. The Indians launched the run chase on a brisk note with Sachin Tendulkar (63) and Virender Sehwag putting on 103 runs for the first wicket. Ganguly kept the hopes alive but the complexion of the game changed after Yuvraj Singh's dismissal in the 46th over with India needing 32 runs for victory. Earlier, electing to bat, Australia recovered from a top order collapse to post a healthy 288 in 48.3 overs with Andrew Symonds (88) and Michael Clarke (63) pulling the team out of the pits with a 143-run stand for the fifth wicket. After the openers had given India a good start, Ganguly and Yuvraj (25 off 24 balls) appeared to take India to victory in the floodlit encounter. But Yuvraj, who looked in good touch, holed out a catch off Ian Harvey into the midwicket region and then Ganguly was run out off the successive ball when new man Sanjay Bangar did not pay heed to his captain's call for a quick single. Having paced his innings beautifully, Ganguly banged his bat in disgust as he walked off the ground. He hit five fours and a six in his quickfire 83-ball 82. With the momentum being badly affected by the two quick dismissals, the rest of the Indian batting collapsed in a heap to give the hosts a winning start in front of a wildly cheering 63,271 spectators at the Melbourne Cricket Ground. The 62-run fifth wicket stand between Ganguly and Yuvraj seemingly had done enough on the base of a century stand by openers Virender Sehwag (35) and Tendulkar (63). The Indian batsmen looked intent on following up the good work of Ajit Agarkar who finished with a career-best 6 for 42 in Australia's 288 in the afternoon. Tendulkar set the early pace in characteristic style and went after Jason Gillespie in his seventh over by hooking him for a six and then flicking him through the midwicket region with a gorgeous four. The Little Master crashed a glorious off-drive off Andy Bichel to reach his half century from a mere 45 balls with seven fours and a six. Sehwag was just beginning to get into his stride when he hit across the line to a Harvey delivery and was bowled out for 35 from 59 balls with three fours. Tendulkar was stunned by a brilliant catch by Aussie skipper Ricky Ponting at midwicket who jumped in the air and caught the maestro one-handed off Andrew Symonds. Tendulkar's 63 came off 69 balls with eight fours and a six. Ganguly, 33 runs short of the 9,000-run mark before the start of his innings, reached the milestone in style when he hammered Brad Williams straight down the ground for a six. Both Ganguly and his partner V V S Laxman were reprieved by Australian fielders Matthew Hayden and Damien Martyn in Williams' sixth over when the total was in the 140s. Ganguly completed his half century with a flick for a single off Symonds from 52 balls with three fours and a six. But the Indian captain then lost two of his partners quickly, both Laxman (16) and Rahul Dravid (16) succumbing to the pressure of lifting the scoring rate. Earlier, Symonds (88) and Michael Clarke (63) put on 143 runs off a mere 142 deliveries for the fifth wicket but Agarkar stole their thunder with some incisive medium pace bowling. The fifth wicket pair came together in the 15th over after Agarkar had taken three wickets from 12 balls and Australia were gasping at 89 for 4. Agarkar offset a 59-run opening wicket stand between Adam Gilchrist (34) and Matthew Hayden (20) by claiming the two openers and then dismissing Damien Martyn first ball which drew gasps of horror from a nearly packed MCG stands. Gilchrist, reprieved behind the stumps off Irfan Pathan for 15 in the sixth over, left to a brilliant catch at widish fine leg off Agarkar in the ninth over. Hayden square cut ferociously but landed straight into the hands of Yuvraj Singh who timed his leap to perfection in plucking a splendid catch. Next ball, Martyn was drawn into an indiscreet hook which he picked from outside the off-stump and hoisted it straight into the hands of Laxmipathy Balaji at fine leg. Australia suffered another blow when Ponting made an uppish ondrive and bowler Balaji flung himself across the pitch to claim a world class batsman as his maiden wicket in his second one-day international. Symonds was quickly into his stride as was Clarke as the 50-run stand between the two batsmen came in from only 54 balls. Symonds reached his half century from 65 balls while Clarke from 54 balls. Symonds gave indications of his aggressive intents when he picked the final two deliveries of Sourav Ganguly's fifth over and posted them deep into the midwicket stands to move into his 80s. Australia then suffered quick blows in the last 12 overs to miss out on a possible 300-plus total against the visitors. While India picked one point from the defeat, Australia notched up five points. The next match of the tri-series is a day-night affair between Australia and Zimbabwe on Sunday. - Scorecard (Agencies)  Published: Friday, January 09, 2004 Back to Index