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India vs Australia, 3rd ODI at Delhi, , Oct 31 2009 - Ball by Ball Commentary

RESULT
3rd ODI (D/N), Delhi, October 31, 2009, Australia tour of India
(48.2/50 ov, T:230) 230/4

India won by 6 wickets (with 10 balls remaining)

Player Of The Match
78 (96) & 1/30
yuvraj-singh
New
IND
Full commentary

Yuvraj and Dhoni made the difference today. A 148-run stand in a low-scoring game was too much for Australia to overcome. They fought till the end though, but just couldn't get the breakthrough they needed. India were certainly nervous after Gambhir was dismissed, but that big stand meant the home side take the lead.

Post-match presentation:

Ricky Ponting: "We were in a good position at 60 for 3, we needed to take a couple of wickets in the middle of the innings, Yuvraj and Dhoni were superb, we had our moments but did not capitalise.

"The ball change was the best time to score (when Aus were batting) but we lost a bit of momentum there. India outplayed us today. It was definitely a better batting surface earlier in the day. We have lost two games in a row, hopefully we'll get a few more runs on the board in Mohali."

MS Dhoni: "With Yuvraj at the other end it is always easy. With seven wickets in hand and a Powerplay to go, we wanted to play out their best bowlers and go after their part-timers.

"On this wicket, I think everybody bowled well. I'm really happy. If there was no dew 220-230 could have been difficult to chase. The pitch was looking really ugly. All in all, it was a great team effort."

Yuvraj Singh is the Man of the Match. "Yeah, I was a bit rusty at the start. It was a slow wicket at the start, so I wanted to take some time. Most of the time I have a lot of criticism that I can't play on slow wickets or against spin, so I was proving myself here. I think it was slightly better to bat on second, but it was not a good batting wicket. Hopefully, Mohali will be a better wicket."

That's it from us at Cricinfo today. Thanks for the mails and the company. Do joins us again on Monday for the Mohali game.

48.2
4
Johnson to Raina, FOUR runs

a misfield ends the game, Raina moves across and tickles the ball to fine leg, where the fielder gets across in time but can't collect the ball

48.1
Johnson to Raina, no run

that one kept a bit low, Raina manages to defend back to the bowler

end of over 487 runs
IND: 226/4CRR: 4.70 RRR: 2.00
MS Dhoni71 (95b 6x4)
Suresh Raina5 (11b)
Peter Siddle 10-0-41-0
Mitchell Johnson 9-2-39-1
47.6
4
Siddle to Dhoni, FOUR runs

a fantastic shot from Dhoni, just to show he's not all about brute force, pure timing and placement there, skips away and guides the ball behind backward point

47.5
1
Siddle to Raina, 1 run

Raina backs away to make room, and steers the ball from middle stump towards backward point

47.4
1
Siddle to Dhoni, 1 run

a flat-batted wallop to mid-off, Dhoni scampers through for a tight single

47.3
Siddle to Dhoni, no run

Dhoni goes for a flamboyant cut to a wide ball, gets the bottom edge towards the bowler

47.2
1
Siddle to Raina, 1 run

fullish ball on middle and leg, turned towards midwicket for a single

47.1
Siddle to Raina, no run

Raina goes for the big swipe, doesn't get hold of it, it dribbles towards mid-on

end of over 4711 runs
IND: 219/4CRR: 4.65 RRR: 3.66
Suresh Raina3 (8b)
MS Dhoni66 (92b 5x4)
Mitchell Johnson 9-2-39-1
Peter Siddle 9-0-34-0
46.6
1
Johnson to Raina, 1 run

another single, this time Raina uses his wrists to get the ball away towards deep midwicket

46.5
1
Johnson to Dhoni, 1 run

on legstump, whipped behind square leg for a single

46.4
Johnson to Dhoni, no run

length ball on off, defended towards cover, Raina wanted the single but Dhoni sends him back

Johnson switches to over the stumps

46.3
4
Johnson to Dhoni, FOUR runs

Dhoni is calming Indian nerves here, length ball outside off, crunched past mid-off for four

46.2
4
Johnson to Dhoni, FOUR runs

short ball from Johnson, cracked past a diving Voges at backward point, Dhoni has ridiculously quick hands

46.1
1
Johnson to Raina, 1 run

on legstump, Raina shuffles across and turns it in front of square leg

end of over 466 runs
IND: 208/4CRR: 4.52 RRR: 5.50
MS Dhoni57 (88b 3x4)
Suresh Raina1 (6b)
Peter Siddle 9-0-34-0
Nathan Hauritz 10-0-48-1
45.6
Siddle to Dhoni, no run

well outside off, Dhoni lets it go, Manou has a big smile on his face after collecting that ball

45.5
Siddle to Dhoni, no run

full and outside off, Dhoni looks to cross-bat it towards long-on, bottom edges it towards the bowler

45.4
4
Siddle to Dhoni, FOUR runs

Shot! overpitched ball outside off, Dhoni clouts it past the bowler for four, no one's stopping that rocket

45.3
Siddle to Dhoni, no run

Dhoni goes for the roundhouse cut to a ball outside off, misses the ball

45.2
1
Siddle to Raina, 1 run

nicely done by Raina, backs away and dabs the ball to third man

45.1
1
Siddle to Dhoni, 1 run

Siddle starts with a full ball on offstump, Dhoni punches it to mid-off

Is there a twist in this game? Or will Dhoni knock off these runs? It does help that it is the Powerplay now