Tri-Nation Series: Dhoni swings India to rare win

Captain hits 44* as tourists chase down 270 against Australia .

ADELAIDE: India captain MS Dhoni proved to be the man for the occasion once again as he lifted his side to an extraordinary win over Australia in their Tri-Nation Series One-Day International (ODI) in Adelaide.

Australia made 269 for eight after electing to bat before India replied with their best chase at the Adelaide Oval to win with two balls to spare. The tourists looked beaten when they needed 13 off the last over and managed just a single from the first two deliveries from paceman Clint McKay, who had been the best of the Australian bowlers.

Dhoni turned down the opportunity of a second run from the second ball of the over, wanting to be on strike. He lived up to his confidence when he hit a massive six down the ground from the next ball to slash the target in half.

Dhoni was caught on the mid-wicket boundary off the next delivery, but it was called a no-ball for being a full toss above waist high, the Indian batsmen running two and collecting a third run for the sundry. With three balls still remaining, Dhoni flicked the next ball into the leg side for the winning three runs to cap a remarkable comeback.

The captain had barely taken a risk until the last over as he tried to be the anchor for the late run chase, and finished with 44 from 58 balls.

Clarke praises Dhoni

Australia captain Michael Clarke was not surprised Dhoni made his side pay for what he believed was a disappointing effort with both bat and ball.

“Dhoni is a very good ODI player,” said Clarke. “We were 10 to 20 runs short and the fielding was sloppy.”

While Dhoni got India home, opener and man-of-the-match Gautam Gambhir, recalled at the expense of Sachin Tendulkar, laid the foundation with 92 from 111 balls.

Gambhir said the team had confidence in their captain’s abilities.

“Cometh the hour, the most important shot of the match was played by him,” said Gambhir. “He has done a fantastic job, he has always been a fantastic finisher, that is his game plan.”

Published in The Express Tribune, February 13^th, 2012.