Hogg And Johnson Bowl Australia To Victory In Nagpur
Brad Hogg, who took four for 49 in Nagpur.
©REUTERS/Adnan Abidi (INDIA) Picture Supplied by Action Images
Sachin Tendulkar, who hit a half-century to give India a flying start to their run chase.
©REUTERS/Adnan Abidi (INDIA) Picture Supplied by Action Images
Andrew Symonds, who hit an unbeaten 107 for Australia.
©REUTERS/Fayaz Kabli (INDIA) Picture Supplied by Action Images
317 for 8 (Symonds 107no, Gilchrist 51, Zaheer 2-62)
India 296 for 7 (Ganguly 86, Tendulkar 72, Hogg 4-49) in Nagpur
Australia won by 18 runs and lead the seven-match series 4-1
Brad Hogg took four for 49 and Mitchell Johnson two wickets in an over as Australia sealed the one-day international series against India with an 18-run win in the sixth match in Nagpur after Andrew Symonds had earlier hit an unbeaten century.
Hogg's wickets put the brakes on India's pursuit of 318 after half-centuries from openers Sachin Tendulkar and Saurav Ganguly had put them in the driving seat.
Nonetheless, Robin Uthappa and Mahendra Singh Dhoni struck late blows in bringing up a fifty partnership in 29 balls to give India hope of a remarkable victory before Johnson bowled a double wicket maiden in the penultimate over.
Uthappa was well caught by James Hopes having made 44 from 28 balls, with Dhoni (26) departing in similar fashion two balls later, taken by Ponting at long-on, which left India's bowlers too much to do.
Tendulkar reached his fifty, and with it bringing up India's century, with a mighty six over midwicket off of Hogg. Ganguly then repeated the trick, reaching his fifty with a huge blow over long on in Hogg's next over.
The partnership was finally broken on 140 when Tendulkar was brilliantly stumped by Adam Gilchrist to a Hopes slower ball for a beautifully crafted 72. There was no let up for Australia, who opted for the third power play only for India to counter by sending in Irfan Pathan who hit 29 from 29 balls before guiding Hogg straight to Michael Clarke at gulley.
Hogg then removed Ganguly (86) and Rahul Dravid (seven), both caught in the deep by Brad Hodge, and Yuvraj Singh, trapped in front for six to bowl Australia back into contention.
The pair added a century partnership as Australia failed to make any breakthrough in their defence of a substantial score, which was set up by an Andrew Symonds century.
Symonds blasted 107 from 88 balls with four sixes, after Gilchrist (51) and Ponting (49) added 97 for the second wicket after Clarke, opening in the absence of Matthew Hayden, was dismissed for a duck.
Symonds' brutal assault was backed up by contributions of 39 from Hopes, 25 from Brad Haddin, and 20 from Hodge.
Australia lead the series 3-1 after the opening match in Bangalore was washed out.
© Cricket World 2007
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