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World Cup 2015: Australia crush India by 106 runs in warm-up match

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DC Correspondent
8 Feb 2015 8:16 AM GMT
Stellar batting performances by Glenn Maxwell, David Warner responsible for huge win
World Cup 2015: Australia crush India by 106 runs in warm-up match
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Centurions Glenn Maxwell and David Warner scored 122 off 57 balls and 104 off 83 respectively. (Photo: AFP)

Adelaide: Mahendra Singh Dhoni and Team India still can't change their fate Down Under as the Men in Blue lost their first warm-up game against Australia in Adelaide Oval on Sunday by 106 runs. Electing to bat in a match where the two teams were playing their full 15-member squads, the hosts rode on David Warner's 104 and Glenn Maxwell's 57-ball 122, before he was retired out, to put up a challenging score as they lost all their 10 wickets in 48.2 overs. Warner and Maxwell smashed strokeful centuries to help Australia post 371 against a hapless Indian bowling attack.

Here's how the action unfolded:

Stuart Binny, who started off proceedings for the Indians was welcomed with a boundary courtesy Warner, who seems to be in great touch. Warner and Aaron Finch made sure Australia got the start they wanted with both of them attacking the Indian bowlers. Boundaries were flourishing but not until the ninth over when Binny sent Finch back to the dressing room. Finch tried to loft Binny only to find Virat Kohli at mid-on.

After Finch's departure, Australia lost two wickets in quick succession. Mohit Sharma proved yet again why he's the ideal replacement for the injured Ishant Sharma picking up Shane Watson with a well directed short delivery. Watson tried to pull the ball but he lost control of it and Akshar Patel did a good job at the end to hold on to the catch before he lost his balance and toppled backwards.

In no time, the inform Steven Smith was walking back to the pavillion after being clean bowled by an Umesh Yadav delivery. Smith didn't trouble the scorers much adding only one run to his name. It's been a striking feature of his batting in the tri-series, jumping outside off and whipping balls on middle and off stump through leg side, but this time he's overdone and Yadav capitalised on the blunder.
Spin looked to have done the trick for India and young Akshar Patel picked up the danger man David Warner just after the Australian scored his century. Patel fired one full to beat Warner who was trying to get under the ball missing it totally before crashing into the woodwork.
Skipper George Bailey found some form back striking the ball well picking up regular boundaries and he along with Maxwell were doing a good job ensuring the Aussie run rate didn't dip. But that was short-lived after Mohammad Shami picked up Bailey with a short pitch delivery. Bailey tried to make room for himself but was caught at point by Jadeja. The Aussie skipper was six runs short of his half-century scoring 44 of 66 deliveries.

Maxwell continued to torture the Indian bowlers at the other end picking up his half-century in just 34 balls. He along with new batsman Mitchell Marsh put up quite a partnership and the 300 figure didn't look far.

However, injury scares struck both sides. First Shami, after Marsh drove one straight back at the bowler causing his left thumb to bleed. After medical attention, Shami entered the ground with bandage all over his left thumb. Maxwell too seemed to look uncomfortable with his back and a physio and doctor were immediately called onto the pitch.

Maxwell and Marsh took responsibility of the Aussie innings and they both steadied the ship. Mawell brought up his second century and but retired hurt on 122. Mitchell Johnson and Starc struck a couple of boundaries after the magician Maxwell already made sure Australia cruised past the 300 mark.

It was a poor performance by the Indian bowlers with Shami standing out with three wickets going for an expensive 83 runs. Shami picked out Johnson, Pat Cummins and Bailey while Mohit Sharma picked up Watson and Starc. Umesh Yadav proved to be India's most economical bowler with figures of 2-52 in his nine overs.

India certainly took away some positives from the match after Shikhar Dhawan showed that he's back in form with his 59 off 71 balls. He along with Ajinkya Rahane put on a 104-run partnership and were looking dangerous. Rohit Sharma looked uncomfortable and was caught at slip trying to run one Josh Hazlewood delivery down to third man. Star batsman Virat Kohli was in at number three and meant business at the start itself going after the Australian bowlers but couldn't hold himself too long at the crease after he struck a Mitchell Starc delivery back on to the stumps. Kohli made a quick 18 off the 19 deliveries he faced with three boundaries.

Such an intense match had to have some drama. Kohli and Aussie wicket-keeper Brad Haddin were spotted in a war of words just before Kohli walked back to the dressing room.

Rahane and Dhawan looked to be doing damage control as the required run rate was slowly creeping above 7.92. They both scored their half-centuries with impressive strike rates and were looking dangerous.

Glenn Maxwell was brought into the attack for Australia.

But the partnership was broken as Rahane tried to loft one over mid-on and was caught by Marsh. Cummins struck at the right time as Rahane, who was looking to accelerate his innings departed for a well-played 66.

India seemed to be at the receiving end after the loss of quick wickets. Dhawan was the first to go after trying to pull a Johnson delivery only to be caught at mid-on.

Suresh Raina joined Dhawan at the crease but he too couldn't help India come out from the slump scoring a mere nine runs after being run out by a superb piece of fielding from David Warner.

'Captain Cool' Mahendra Singh Dhoni was up next but to his and Team India's surprise, went out for a duck trying to pull and was caught beautifully in the deep by Mitchell Starc on the boundary line.

Stuart Binny, who currently is the star for India entered the crease strong scoring a graceful boundary but he too couldn't sustain himself at the crease after a Johnson delivery crashed the woodwork sending Binny back only for five runs.

Ambati Rayudu and Ravindra Jadeja looked to have one final go at the Australian bowlers. Rayudud struck a quick 53 off 42 balls that included four boundaries and four big hits. India had a glimmer of hope when Rayudu was smashing the ball everywhere but his party was brought to an end by Hazlewood. Jadeja too misfired on Sunday, falling prey to a Pat Cummins delivery. Ravichandran Ashwn was the last man to enter and his duration at the crease was limited after Cummins struck again to seal the match.

Australia used nine bowlers in their warm-up match, Pat Cummins being the pick amongst them for his brilliant three wickets in six overs with an economy rate of five runs. Starc, Johnson and Hazlewood all chipped in with two wickets each. The Aussies wanted to play like they were defending 280 and they've done that with a decent margin to spare. Maxwell's whirlwhind century won him the Man of the Match.

Here are the playing XI:

( Source : dc/pti )
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