A clinical and cool chase from India – thanks to the unbeaten 141-run stand between Dhoni and Kedar Jadhav. Australia’s 236 was under-par, but the tourists didn’t give up. NCN removed Dhawan in the second over of the innings. The captain/vice-captain duo then steadied the innings with a 76-run partnership. Zampa trapped Kohli with a quick googly, and within four overs Rohit joined his skipper playing a high risk stroke. When the local lad – Rayudu – was dismissed, India would have felt the pressure with the scoreboard reading 99/4. That’s when Dhoni and Kedar joined hands. Yes, the bowling was tight and few balls misbehaved off the pitch. However, the duo batted sensibly. They took their time to get their eye in, and steadily started to up the ante once the asking rate went over 6. They ensured that the required rate never touched 7 by hitting boundaries at regular intervals. And, in the end, they took their team past the winning line with 10 balls to spare.
India go 1-0 up in this series, but it was not for want of effort from the Australians. Australia gritted and fought away in the face of some superb Indian bowling to first post 236, but it was always going to be just about 20-25 runs short on a slow surface with variable bounce. They still did well to drag India back from 80 for 1 to have them reeling at one stage on 99 for 4. But Dhoni and Jadhav batted the situation astutely. Kept the runs coming, and never let the run-rate go alarmingly high. Fitting that they stayed together to see India over the line, with Dhoni getting the winning hit.
