PTI

with exclusive pics by Akash Poojari Polali
Daijiworld Media Network - Bangalore (MB)

Bangalore, Sep 30: Rain played spoilsport, washing out the first One-Day International between India and Australia at the M Chinnaswamy stadium in Bangalore on Saturday. The second ODI of the seven-match will be played in Cochin on October 2,

India, replying to Australia’s 307 for 5 wickets, were 9 for the loss of Sachin Tendulkar’s wicket in 2.4 overs when a heavy shower forced the players to return to the pavilion.

The flood-lit stadium and covered ground

Tendulkar (0) was trapped leg before wicket by left-armer Mitchell Johnson in the second over of the innings.

Gautam Gambhir hit Lee for a four and the innings was into its third over when heavy shower sent the players and match officials scurrying for covers. Efforts were made to dry the ground, but in vain. The umpires carried out an inspection at 2130 IST and after consultation with the two captains decided that the outfield was too wet to continue with the match.

After an early collapse, Michael Clarke's 130 led Australia's recovery and lifted the total to 307

Earlier, Clarke thrived in his happy hunting ground at Chinnaswamy stadium, where he had scored a Test century on his debut in 2004, and struck a blistering 130 off 132 balls as Australia overcame early jitters to post a mammoth 307.

Clarke notched up his third ODI century before being run out in the final delivery. His well-paced innings was studded with 10 fours and three sixes. He found an able partner in Brad Haddin whose 69 came off 83 balls that included seven fours and a six.

S Sreesanth was pick of the Indian bowlers, claiming 3-55.

Spectators, hoping against hope for the game to continue, finally left disappointed

Thanks to Sreesanth’s three-wicket burst, India had the visitors on the mat, with Australia reeling at 90 for four, but Clarke first stitched together a 60-run stand with Matthew Hayden (34) and then added 144 runs in 25.2 overs with Brad Haddins (69) to prop up the innings.

Down the order, James Hopes threw his bat at everything to garner 37 runs off 25 balls to swell the tally.

Adam Gilchrist won the toss and it was probably India’s poor record while chasing that prompted him to bat first. Gilchrist, however, could not vindicate his decision and fell to a stunning catch pouched by Yuvraj Singh at point for 12.

Zaheer Khan, who had begun his first over with a wide, pitched the first ball of his second delivery full and outside the off-stump as Gilchrist went for a wild swish. Yuvraj, however, dived to right, his wrong side, to pull off a beauty and it was all over for hard-hitting batsman.

Sreesanth, as "appealing" as ever, as he claimed his third victim, Andrew Symonds

Sreesanth too struck in his second over. The speedster looked erratic as he began the over with two wides in a row before trapping Brad Hodge with a peach of a delivery that pitched outside off and jagged in to beat Hodge’s prodding bat and hit him plumb in front. At 18 for two, Australia were in for some early trouble.

Clarke and Hayden looked cagey before the opener opened up. The towering Hayden hit RP Singh for two fours in the 10th over and again in RP’s next over, the left-hander drove the bowler for a four and swivelled one for the maximum in the next delivery.

Sreesanth, however, cut short Hayden’s stay and castled the batsman with one that swung in to hit the top of his middle stump.

The Kerala speedster compounded the visitors’ problems in his next over with a slower ball, delivered from the back of his hand, which foxed Andrew Symonds and caught him leg before. Australia seemed in a mess at 90 for four.

Earlier report:

from Akash Poojari Polali
Daijiworld Media Network - Bangalore (MB)

Bangalore, Sep 28: With barely 24 hours left for the first ODI, Teams India and Australia went through net practice in right earnest at the Chinnaswamy stadium here on Friday.

Preparations for the match were personally overseen by KSCA president and scion of the Mysore royal family, Srikanthadatta Wadiyar.