Champions

Champions

How India defeated Australia at the WC Quarter-Final


It was the clash of the titans, battle between the two best one day sides in international cricket today. There was not much to chose between the two sides and India emerged triumphant because they kept their nerves better than the Aussies did. Experts were always of the view that the team which would apply itself better and would maintain the same intensity in the game would tred forward to the semi finals.

Both teams had their moments in the games, like Australia losed key wickets everytime they looked to take the game away from the Indians. Ponting was left alone in the middle with no substantial support from the other end. During the Indian innings too they had the Indians on the mat quite a couple of times but they failed to drive the advantage home.

On the contrary, India played like potential world champions for the first time in this tournament. They raised their bowling and fielding standards when it really mattered the most. The kind of intensity and the killer instinct was visible in the Indian ranks. There were moments of madnes in the ways both Kohli and Gambhir got out but they were over come by some cool performances from Yuvraaj and Raina.

While India escaped those jittery moments, the kangaroos were baffled by those two huge overs by Lee and Tait which leaked 14 and 13 runs respectively. However it's Yuvraj who has got most of the limelight for toppling the Aussies but it was a disciplined team performance which got India through. Half centuries from Sachin-Gambhir, timely wickets from Ashwin-Zaheer and a wonderful fielding performance which saved at least 15-20 runs all contributed to a common good.

And finally the most defining moment of the day was when Raina dispatched Lee over Log on for six. It was a statement that the Aussies have been dismissed from the perch of world cricket and we are here to rule.

If you thought it can't get bigger than this, then think again. The mother of all games is here, as it's India vs Pakistan at Mohali on the 30th of March. While India have an edge here but you can't brush aside Pakistan.

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