Virat Kohli

Both India and Australia teams picked for the ODI tournament were novices. But, both the teams displayed superb game of cricket. The spectators were enthralled. The Aussies went in to bat first. They set a huge target of 290 for India to chase. And, at one stage when India were stumbling at thirty five for loss of two wickets in nine overs the game beheld to be one-sided. But, the Indian fans were all flabbergasted!

Kohli and Yuvraj were standing at the crease. They ensured that India remains in the game. Though a bit slowly but both of them completed their half-centuries. Kohli did it of 69 balls and Yuvi of 64 balls. At drinks India were 171 for loss of two wickets in 32.2 overs.  But, India lost Yuvraj at 172 in the thirty fourth over. McKay bowled him out at an individual score of 58 which took him 87 balls. Raina stepped in at the wickets. He mesmerized the crowd with his fireworks. He just went boom-boom. And, so was the requirement for India at this time.

Raina and Kohli went on to be aggressive. They were making runs at fast pace. Raina collected 17 runs of 38th over of the innings of Hopes. Kohli also completed his century in the forty second over. Finally, at the score of 256 India lost Kohli when he gave a simple catch at long-on to Hopes of Hastings. Kohli made a pronounced 118 runs of 121 balls. Dhoni came in but lasted only for his first delivery as he was bowled by Hastings.

Raina and SS towary sealed in the victory for India. Raina had a foremost contribution in the victory. His 71 runs of a mere 47 balls were a mark of the kind of splendid finisher he is of the game! He launched boundaries at just the perfect time of the innings ensuring there were no nerves. His captivating innings was composed of 9 boundaries and 1 six.

Earlier the Aussies also had a similar kind of start to their innings. They lost both of their openers Marsh and Paine at 16 in the eight over. But, Clarke and Hussey then parted to take the present score 10 times of its current value. Hussey finally departed of Ashwin at 69. Clarke played a real gem of an innings of 111 remaining uneaten for it. At the loss of Hussey the detonator White came in. He found the Indian bowling line-up too rookie as he was consistently able to guide the ball past the boundary. He made a grandiose spellbinding 89 runs of a mere 49 balls! With a strike rate of 181.63 I guess he just found the game to be a T20 encounter. His innings consisted of 6 each of fours and sixes.

So, in all we can call it a youngster’s day. Good signs for both the countries as these young guns are the ones who will make the future of their nation.

Tags: Australia, Cricket, India, ODI Cricket, ODI Series, Sports, Suresh Raina, Virat Kohli, Yuvraj Singh