Twenty/20

2010 T20 World Cup Super 8: Australia beat India

Australia outclassed India in all three departments to take a crushing 49-run win in their Super Eight Group F clash in Barbados and make it three wins out of three in the 2010 ICC World Twenty20.

After being invited to bat by India, openers David Warner and Shane Watson hit belligerent half-centuries as Australia charged to 184 for five and their quick bowlers then reduced India to 50 for seven and although there was a rally from the lower order, they were dismissed for 135 having never threatened to get on terms.

Left-hander Warner thumped two fours and seven sixes while Watson hammered a four and six maximums as Austraila tucked into some ill-advised short bowling from India’s bowlers, Ravi Jadeja disappearing for 38 in two overs after Harbhajan Snigh began the game by bowling a maiden.

The pair put on 104 in just under 11 overs and the hitting continued with David Hussey’s 35 in 22 balls and Brad Haddin’s eight in seven before India prevented Australia from passing the 200 mark, an outcome that looked likely after their explosive start.

Yuvraj Singh had Warner caught by wicket-keeper Mahendra Singh Dhoni and Haddin stumped to return two for 20 while Ashish Nehra picked up figures of two for 31.

Australia’s fearsome pace attack then tore into the Indian batting, Dirk Nannes taking two wickets in the third over to see off openers Murali Vijay (2) and Gautam Gambhir (9) and the slingy Shaun Tait removed in-form Suresh Raina for five when he was caught by Michael Clarke.

Nannes struck again to bowl Yuvraj for one to reduce India to 23 for five and when Dhoni (2) holed out in the deep, they were all but out of the game at 37 for five. His dismissal was followed by Yusuf Pathan being superbly caught by Warner off the bowling of Mitchell Johnson for two and then Jadeja’s miserable day ending when he was punished for a lazy piece of running with a direct hit and a run out by David Hussey.

Sharma then showed what could be achieved by hitting four fours and six sixes in a stunning counter-attacking innings of 79 not out in 46 balls.

Alas, he had little support although Harbhajan chipped in with 13 and Zaheer Khan made nine but the pace bowlers quickly ran through the tail to leave Sharma high and dry in the 18th over.