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Australia vs India, Only T20I at Melbourne, , Feb 01 2008 - Ball by Ball Commentary

RESULT
Only T20I (N), Melbourne, February 01, 2008, India tour of Australia
(11.2/20 ov, T:75) 75/1

Australia won by 9 wickets (with 52 balls remaining)

Player Of The Match
37* (36)
michael-clarke
New
AUS
Full commentary

Well, that was emphatic, Australia strolling to a nine-wicket win, the first time they've beaten India in a Twenty20. It was Australia all the way from the off, with some superb fielding which set their tone. Michael Clarke's captaincy record is two in two. What a crowd tonight, and they're celebrating the win and Adam Gilchrist's last Twenty20 too.

While we're waiting for the Man of the Match, you can always log in to fantasy cricket of course.

Here's the losing captain Dhoni. "We lost a few early wickets. I think some of the guys failed to realise they have a role. If we learn from our mistakes we will come back strongly." And as for Tendulkar: "I asked him whether he wanted to practice for the IPL match and he said no, he wanted to have a break and I said: 'Yah, that's good for you'."

And Clarke comes to the podium. "What a fantastic performance, the crowd were fantastic. Before we walked out on the field tonight the boys were so excited. Dave Hussey in his first international game did a great job. We did our research, we had a look at all the players, the bowlers knew their plans." Clarke is also the Man of the Match, and a deserved one given his fielding, captaincy and then batting.

Thanks a lot for joining us today, sorry about the technical glitches, and we look forward to you coming back soon.

11.3
1w
Sharma to Clarke, 1 wide

and a wide finishes the job

11.2
Sharma to Clarke, no run

another dot ball, straight, defended back down

11.1
Sharma to Clarke, no run

short ball, bouncer angling in at the right hander, who defends back down, looks for the run, and calls "No!"

Ishant now

end of over 114 runs
AUS: 74/1CRR: 6.72 RRR: 0.11
Michael Clarke37 (34b 1x4 1x6)
Brad Hodge10 (10b)
Harbhajan Singh 2-0-7-0
Irfan Pathan 3-0-18-0
10.6
1
Harbhajan to Clarke, 1 run

finds the gap between square and midwicket this time with a push off the front foot to take the strike again

10.5
Harbhajan to Clarke, no run

on leg, driven out to midwicket, still no run there

10.4
Harbhajan to Clarke, no run

wide down leg, Clarke helps it on its way... all the way to the fielder at square

10.3
2
Harbhajan to Clarke, 2 runs

bent down leg, driven back out to mid-on

10.2
1
Harbhajan to Hodge, 1 run

jogged a single out to long-on this time

10.1
Harbhajan to Hodge, no run

on leg, pushed to mid-on, no chance of a single

end of over 104 runs
AUS: 70/1CRR: 7.00 RRR: 0.50
Brad Hodge9 (8b)
Michael Clarke34 (30b 1x4 1x6)
Irfan Pathan 3-0-18-0
Harbhajan Singh 1-0-3-0
9.6
1
Pathan to Hodge, 1 run

another push-and-go takes Australia closer to victory

9.5
1
Pathan to Clarke, 1 run

a nibble-and-run, pushed down in front and they set off immediately

9.4
1
Pathan to Hodge, 1 run

turned off the legs in front of square now

9.3
Pathan to Hodge, no run

on leg, pushed back down into the track

9.2
1
Pathan to Clarke, 1 run

on leg, swivelled round behind square this time

9.1
Pathan to Clarke, no run

in straight, driven back hard to the bowler, a bump-ball flying up and taken on the bounce

end of over 93 runs
AUS: 66/1CRR: 7.33 RRR: 0.81
Brad Hodge7 (5b)
Michael Clarke32 (27b 1x4 1x6)
Harbhajan Singh 1-0-3-0
Praveen Kumar 2-0-15-1
8.6
Harbhajan to Hodge, no run

right up there on middle, defended on the front foot

8.5
1
Harbhajan to Clarke, 1 run

a touch of air, straight, and swept in front of square

8.4
1
Harbhajan to Hodge, 1 run

a wild throw from Karthik this time

84041 spectators in tonight

8.3
1
Harbhajan to Clarke, 1 run

well bowled, following him on leg, driven out to mid-on

8.2
Harbhajan to Clarke, no run

squares up to that one, plays on the front foot, the edge skewing tamely out to point

8.1
Harbhajan to Clarke, no run

starts well, a touch of turn, and cramping Clarke, who defends forward, for room

Harbhajan's on now