2nd Nov. 2009, Mohali, India
Team India’s hopes to take a further lead in the series was smashed by the Aussies with a 24 run defeat while the Aussies draw the series to a level with 2- 2 in style.
Indian Skipper Ms Dhoni won the toss and choose to field first to take the advantage of the dew factor of batting second under the lights of Mohali cricket ground on Monday November 3rd. Aussie opener Shawn Marsh got out early with a score of 5 after he was given a leg before in Nehra’s first spell. Then the innings was paced by the Skipper Ricky Ponting and Shane Watson while the later missed his half century and got out on 49. Ponting (52 from 59 balls) made his half century and was out while the score of the team was 123. Then the duo Cameroon White and Mike Hussey led the Innings to a good position and at 196 Hussey got out. White was playing good and at some moment it seemed that Australia could reach a score of 280 in 50 overs. But the fielding of the Indians was too fabulous today and Australia just managed to score 250 and was all out in 49.2 overs.
In The Chase India made a flying start as Sehwag got to 30 in just 10 deliveries but in a lack of concentration got out by the new face Bollinger. The turning point came in the 18 overs when spinners were introduced and Sachin was given a leg before we he was at 40. Ms Dhoni (26 off 46 balls) Kohli (10 from 16 balls) Yuvraj (12 from 21 balls) Raina (17 off 30 balls) also didn’t clicked today and the hopes were gradually diminished while again the two tail enders Harbhajan (31 from 25) and Praveen Kumar (16 from 19) balls made a hope to win but as like in Vadodara it failed at last. India was all out at 226 in just 46.4 overs. The Series is now level with 2-2.