 Heavy rain at Centurion washout the game between India and Australia that means now India’s Champions Trophy fortunes will be decided after the game between Australia and Pakistan. Indians have to pray that Pakistan will come out better of Australia in the game on Wednesday and then they have to beat West Indies with better run rate to qualify for the semi finals.
However if Australia beat Pakistan then they will qualify for the Semi Finals of ICC Champions Trophy 2009. When rain arrived to pour down at Centurion Australia were well placed at 234/4 in 42.3 overs to reach well over 300 runs score. Both teams India and Australia got one points each and Pakistan is qualified for the semi finals of ICC Champions Trophy. Earlier Ricky Ponting has no hesitation in electing to bat first on a run-feast Super Sports Park pitch. But Indian opening bowler Ashish Nehra has other ideas as they removed Shane Watson for second consecutive ducks. Indian opening bowlers Praveen Kumar and Ashish Nehra bowled exceptionally well and in eight overs they have bowled between them conceded just 23 runs to the Australians. However the introduction of Ishant Sharma in the 9th over of Australians inning gave Australia a momentum they were looking for. Ishant Sharma conceded 16 rusn in that over and from there onwards it was all Australia till rain started to coming down at centurion. Tim Paine (56 runs of 58 balls), Ricky Ponting (65 runs of 88 balls) and Mike Hussey (67 runs of 65 balls) set up Australia with quick-fire half-centuries. Cameron White (35 runs of 30 balls) and Callum Ferguson (2 runs of 7 balls) were at the crease for the defending champions when rain intervened. Once again two of the Indian bowlers Harbhajan Singh and Ishant Sharma look short of ideas as they given away too many runs. Harbhajan conceded 54 runs in his spell of 9 overs while Ishant conceded 53 runs of his 7 over spell. Now both teams will play their next game on Wednesday. Their fortunes will be decided only after the outcome of Pakistan-Australia and India-West Indies game. Match Summary (Match abandoned) Australia– 234/4 in 42.3 Overs M.Hussey- 67 R.Ponting– 65 A.Nehra– 8-1-38-1 A.Mishra- 9-0-45-1 |
