Dominant Aussies beat Canada

World champions cruise to seven-wicket win and the top of Group A.

BANGALORE:

Reigning champions Australia thrashed Canada by seven wickets in a World Cup Group A match but only after a teenager asked serious questions of their pace attack.

Shane Watson (94) and Brad Haddin (88) shared an Australian first-wicket World Cup record stand of 183 before the title-holders, already through to the quarter-finals, finished on 212 for three in reply to Canada’s 211 all out.

Haddin, given a life on 37 when Canada captain Ashish Bagai fumbled a possible stumping chance, was caught by Bagai off 40-year-old off-spinner John Davison, playing his final match before international retirement.

The score soon became 185 for two when Watson, who hit the tournament’s biggest six at 104 metres during his innings, holed out off Harvir Baidwan.

Watson, who was also given a reprieve on two when Rizwan Cheema failed to hold a swirling chance off paceman Baidwan, struck four sixes and nine fours in his 90-ball innings.

Captain Ricky Ponting fell for just seven, miscuing a hook off fast-bowler Henry Osinde to Davison.

Looking forward to  Pakistan

“We haven’t been fully tested yet, but we will be by Pakistan in Colombo and we are looking forward to it,” said Ponting, whose team tackle the 1992 winners in their last group engagement on Saturday.

Bagai said his team will learn from their experience.

“The boys will take a lot from this World Cup,” said Bagai, whose side finished the tournament with one win and five defeats.

Patel troubles Australia

Earlier, Hiral Patel, a 19-year-old India-born opener, took the attack to Australia’s quicks with a career-best 54 after Bagai won the toss.

Canada, who have completed their World Cup campaign with one win and five defeats, were well-placed at 150 for two.

But Australia, now unbeaten in 34 matches at the World Cup since 1999, then took five wickets for 19 runs. Brett Lee ended with figures of four for 46.

The way Canada set about Australia’s pacemen would have concerned Ponting ahead of the match against Pakistan.

Ponting angrily threw the ball to the ground after catching Baidwan when, despite his repeated calls, Steven Smith collided with him.

Canada promoted Davison but he fell for 14 when caught behind off a clever slow bouncer from fast-bowler Lee.

Patel though took Canada, whose only win at this World Cup came against fellow associates Kenya, to the fastest fifty of any team this tournament – in 29 balls – when he miscued a six off Mitchell Johnson over third man.

But Patel made no mistake in hooking a bouncer from Lee for six. He completed his fifty in just 37 balls, with three sixes and five fours.

However, his innings ended when he slashed Watson to Johnson, leaving Canada 82 for two in the 12th over.

Published in The Express Tribune, March 17^th, 2011.