Cricket: India humbled in Tri-Nation Series encounter

Australia qualify for final after crushing 87-run win.

SYDNEY: India face an uphill task in their bid to reach the Tri-Nation Series final after an 87-run loss to Australia at the Sydney Cricket Ground.

India showed little fight in their chase after Australia made 252 for nine, being skittled out for 165 off 39.3 overs.

The loss was India’s fourth in seven One-Day Internationals (ODI) of the tournament and means that they must beat Sri Lanka by a bonus point in Hobart tomorrow to have any chance of making it to the final.

On the other hand, Australia are already through with their crushing bonus-point victory and have one more match to play against Sri Lanka.

We have not performed to our potential: Dhoni

It was another miserable night for India, who have showed little conviction during their tour to Australia, losing all four Tests, winning one Twenty20 match and going down in four of their seven ODIs with another match tied.

“It wasn’t a good night,” said India captain MS Dhoni. “We have not performed to our potential in these ODIs.

“It was an ideal opportunity for the youngsters and I’m sure they’ve learnt a lot. Unfortunately we’ve lost all the tosses and kept batting in tougher conditions.”

Man-of-the-match David Warner top-scored with 68 in Australia’s innings, while Matthew Wade and David Hussey also contributed half-centuries.

Tendulkar’s poor form continues

In reply, India put in another woeful batting display and crashed to 104 for six.

Sachin Tendulkar again failed to score his elusive 100th international century and has now scored just 104 runs in six knocks in the series.

Shane Watson, leading the Australian side in the absence of the sidelined Michael Clarke who had back trouble, picked up two for nine in his five overs in his comeback match from a hamstring injury.

“It was a very nice start as captain,” said Watson. “It helped that wickets fell at appropriate times. I kept trying to get the bowlers and their ends right. I felt good and had a lot of fun.”

Published in The Express Tribune, February 27^th, 2012.