Ball by Ball Commentary & Live Score

Over8

1 run, 2 wickets

IND 35/5CRR: 4.37 RRR: 6.42

Suresh Raina 1 (1b)

Mitchell Johnson4/11 (4)

10pm Play abandoned. I'm afraid there's very bad news from Kuala Lumpur. Incessant rain has washed out any chance of play and the points will be shared two apiece between India and Australia. India were floundering at 35 for 5, chasing 170 in 29 overs, when rain intervened for the final time and they're lucky to salvage any points at all from this game.

As it stands, Australia are leading the table with seven points. West Indies have five because they gained a bonus point in their win against India who are bottom with the two points gained out of today's wash out.

It's been a pleasure bringing you today's game. Please do join us on Monday when Australia take on West Indies. That match starts at 12pm IST. That's about it from me today, cheers!

9.30pm And it's raining again. The players have gone off. India won't mind this really because they've been blown out of the match by a fiery spell of left-arm fast bowling. Australia on the other hand will be very disappointed, at 35 for 5 chasing 170 in 29 overs, they have India by the proverbial scruff off the neck.

Johnson in two overs after lunch has virtually ended India's chase. He's taken four in the space of twelve balls and that needless run-out of Sehwag has worsened the situtation.

7.6

Johnson to Yuvraj, OUT

Johnson is on fire! Short on a length on off stump, moves a shade away, Yuvraj fends aimlessly outside off stump, gets an edge and first slip gleefully accepts the offering

Yuvraj Singh c Jaques b Johnson 0 (3b 0x4 0x6 6m) SR: 0

7.5

•

Johnson to Yuvraj, no run

short off a length just outside off stump, punched off the back foot to cover

7.4

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Johnson to Yuvraj, no run

short of a length on off stump, defended off the back foot

7.3

Johnson to Raina, 1 run

straight ball, Raina pushes forward and gets an edge past square leg for one

Wickets are falling in a heap here and Raina is the new batsman. How long will he last?

7.2

Johnson to Tendulkar, OUT

and Tendulkar goes as well! Full and outside off stump, Tendulkar goes for the drive and gets a thickish outside edge, Haddin takes it easily

Sachin Tendulkar c †Haddin b Johnson 12 (17b 2x4 0x6 30m) SR: 70.58

7.1

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Johnson to Tendulkar, no run

played with an open face to point

Yuvraj Singh is the new batsman. Johnson on a hat-trick

Over7

14 runs, 1 wicket

IND 34/3CRR: 4.85 RRR: 6.18

Sachin Tendulkar 12 (15b 2x4)

Stuart Clark0/14 (1)

6.6

Clark to Sehwag, 2 runs, OUT

a disastrous mix up and Sehwag is run-out. He creamed that through covers but the ball pulled up in the soggy outfield. The batsmen ran two and Sehwag went for the third. Tendulkar initially set off but then decided against it. However, Sehwag kept coming and was left stranded mid-pitch when the throw came in from the deep to the wicketkeeper

Virender Sehwag run out (Clarke/†Haddin) 8 (5b 0x4 1x6 6m) SR: 160

6.5

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Clark to Sehwag, no run

short of a length and in the channel outside off stump, Sehwag pokes forward and gets beaten

6.4

Clark to Sehwag, SIX runs

upper cut for six! Short outside off stump, Sehwag gets under it and cuts it over third man

6.3

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Clark to Sehwag, no run

6.2

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Clark to Sehwag, no run

cut to point on the front foot

6.2

Clark to Sehwag, 5 wide

five wides ! banged in short and that bounces high and beats the keeper

6.1

Clark to Tendulkar, 1 run

Stuart Clark is the new bowler. MCGrath has been taken off because he has only three overs left

Over6

4 runs, 2 wickets

IND 20/2CRR: 3.33 RRR: 6.52

Sachin Tendulkar 11 (14b 2x4)

Mitchell Johnson2/10 (3)

India in big trouble now. They've lost two wickets in the first over after play resumed.

5.6

Johnson to Pathan, OUT

bowled first ball! short of a length, pitches on middle and off and moves away a touch, Pathan plays inside the line and the ball crashes into off stump

Irfan Pathan b Johnson 0 (1b 0x4 0x6 1m) SR: 0

Irfan Pathan is the new batsman

What this wicket means is that the par score which was 99 for no loss after 20 overs will now increase

5.5

Johnson to Dravid, OUT

the first wicket falls, short of a length and wide outside off stump, Dravid tries to loft over cover but doesn't get the elevation and offers a simple catch.

Rahul Dravid c Martyn b Johnson 6 (22b 1x4 0x6 24m) SR: 27.27

5.4

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Johnson to Dravid, no run

short of a length again outside the off stump, Dravid reaches out at it but the away movement beats the bat

5.3

Johnson to Dravid, FOUR runs

short ball and it doesn't rise that much, Dravid swivels and pulls it behind square to the fence

5.2

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Johnson to Dravid, no run

short of a length, pitches outside off stump and move away from Dravid who fends at it but gets beaten

5.1

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Johnson to Dravid, no run

full on middle and leg stump, driven to mid-on

Right, we're all set for the restart. Johnson to bowl to Dravid.

Over5

7 runs

IND 16/0CRR: 3.20 RRR: 5.08

Sachin Tendulkar 11 (14b 2x4)Rahul Dravid 2 (17b)

Glenn McGrath0/10 (3)

The official word is that it will be a 29-over game and 169 is the par score.

India will have to get a move on now. They need another 154 runs in 24 overs at 6.42 an over. If there is further interruption because of rain, the par score after the minimum 20 overs is 99 for no loss. A bowler can bowl a maximum of six overs.

It's a tricky situtation, India have all ten wickets to chase their target of 170 but if they lose wickets the required par score after the minimum 20 overs, should rain interrupt again, will increase. However, Australia do have a wet outfield and a soggy ball to contend with.

8.45pm Umpire Mark Benson says that he hopes play will be able to start at 9pm local time. He's concerned about the dampness of the outfield but the news is improving fast. If play does begin at 9pm Benson said that it would be a 32 over game. The Australians are out there warming up.

8.27pm: Some positive news at last. The rain has let up and the covers are coming off. The groundstaff are working on removing the water on the outfield and hopefully we'll have a restart sooner rather than later.

7.46pm It's still raining at Kuala Lumpur and Cricinfo's man on the spot Dileep Premachandran reports that it has just increased in intensity.

7.06pm: The umpires have called for the covers and the players have trooped off. Plenty has happened in this brief passage of play, McGrath hit Tendulkar on the helmet, he beat his outside edge with an unplayable legcutter and foxed Dravid by bowling the odd offcutter. Tendulkar replied with a four over midwicket moments before the rain came down. India have scored only 16 in the first five overs but haven't lost a wicket. Lets hope the weather doesn't ruin a fascinating contest. Watch this space for regular weather updates.

This is a tense battle between McGrath and Tendulkar, stay tuned. It promises to be explosive.

And the rain comes down to spoil proceedings again.

4.6

McGrath to Tendulkar, FOUR runs

Tendulkar says enough is enough, he gives McGrath the charge and pulls him over midwicket and the ball reaches the fence even though it wasn't timed perfectly

Australia vs India, 3rd Match at Kuala Lumpur, Sep 16 2006 - Ball by Ball Commentary