India lose to Australia in a thriller - Scorecard Sydney, Jan 22: India staged a remarkable fightback but could not stop the Australians from scripting a sensational two-wicket victory in a rain-truncated triangular series cricket match here today. After career-best knocks by Yuvraj Singh (139) and V V S Laxman (106 not out) propelled the visitors to 296 for four in 50 overs, Australia benefited from a rain interruption which reduced their target to 225 in 34 overs. The world champions were cruising along comfortably at 150 for one in 21 overs with Adam Gilchrist (95) and captain Ricky Ponting (42) plundering runs at will before the visitors effected a dramatic turnaround with four quick wickets to set the stage for an exciting finish. Needing 11 runs in the last over with just two wickets in hand, Brett Lee tilted the scale in Australia's favour by clobbering paceman Laxmipathy Balaji for a six in the fourth ball to tie the score. Lee then took a single off the next ball to seal the fate of the Indians in what turned out to be a nail-biting contest. The loss also dashed Sourav Ganguly's hopes of breaking the Sydney Cricket Ground jinx, where India have never won a one-day match against the Australians in nine attempts so far. The visitors appeared in a solid position when they posted a healthy total after electing to bat, and then snared the wicket of new opener Simon Katich, playing in place of Matthew Hayden, in the third over. Katich was caught by Ganguly at short mid-wicket off Pathan as Australia lost their first wicket at 24. But Gilchrist and Ponting ensured India's joy was short lived with blazing shots all around the park as Australia raced to 73 for one in 9.2 overs. The rain interruption failed to stem the run flow as the duo continued in the same vein even after the forced break as an overcast sky threatened to open up any moment. They put the inexperienced bowling attack to sword as Australia posted their 100 in just 12.2 overs and 150 in 21 overs. At that stage, the visitors looked almost out of the match but then Pathan changed the complexion of the game with a double strike in his seventh and last over. The target seemed an easy one with Gilchrist (95 off 72 balls) on fire but Pathan removed Ponting and Damien Martyn off successive balls to bring back the Indians back into the match. Murali Kartik struck from the other end removing the dangerous Gilchrist who made his runs with 14 fours and a six. The visitors then created a flutter in the opposition camp when Ganguly had Andrew Symonds (16) caught in the deep off Ajit Agarkar to have Australia reeling at 176 for 5. Ganguly picked up another wicket clean bowling Michael Bevan (12) and then broke the non-striker's stumps off a throw from the deep to send Ian Harvey (1) packing to leave the home side staggering at 210 for 8 with 15 required from the final two overs. Ajit Agarkar conceded only four runs from the penultimate over but Balaji failed from the other end as smacked him for 11 runs in the final over. India, despite the loss, had enough reasons to be pleased with themselves as Yuvraj Singh and V V S Laxman hit centuries and the absence of top guns like Sachin Tendulkar and Virender Sehwag was not felt too badly. Then in the field they stood up gallantly and pulled the game to the wire before a missed stumping probably cost them the game. Earlier, Yuvraj and Laxman toyed with the world champions' bowling attack to put on a record fourth wicket partnership of 213 runs to help India post a challenging total.  Scorecard (Agencies) Published: Thursday, January 22, 2004 Back to Index