17 March, 2011

Aus vs Can: Watson, Haddin help Australia beat Canada by 7 wickets



Shane Watson and Brad Haddin scored 183 runs for the first wicket as Australia beat Canada by 7 wickets in their World Cup Group A match at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bangalore on Wednesday. Score

Chasing 212, Australia reached home in the 35th over with Michael Clarke and Cameron White at the crease.

Earlier the two openers Watson and Haddin started off slowly aware of the fact that the target wasn't something that called for heavy hitting. But as the innings progressed the two upped the scoring rate.
Their innings even got a boost when Canada captain Ashish Bagai missed an easy stumping chance in the 20th over off Balaji Rao when Haddin was at the crease. Haddin had even got a reprieve early in the innings when Rizwan Cheema dropped him off Harvir Baidwan in the second over.

The two took the Batting Powerplay in the 21st over and scored 41 runs in it. But, the Aussie scoring rate spiked in the over that followed with both batsmen charging away at the opposition bowlers, who didn't have an answer to their shots. Their effort of breaking the partnership came a cropper due to some sloppy fielding by the fielders.

After much effort the Canadian bowlers managed to break their stand in the 29th over when a John Davison ball took the edge of Haddin's bat and keeper Bagai didn't miss it this time. Haddin scored 88 hitting 11 fours and two sixes on the way. Australia lost their fist wicket at the score of 183.

But as luck would have it the other opener Watson too departed in the very next over missing his century by six runs. He wanted to pull Baidwan for a six but the ball didn't quite come on to the bat and instead ended up giving a catch to Henry Osinde in the deep. Australia were 185/2 at the stage.

Skipper Ricky Ponting was the last man to go down on the day. He fell in the 35th over off Henry Osinde.

Michael Clarke and Cameron White were at the crease when Australia touched the meagre 212-run target on the penultimate ball of the 35th over which turned out to be a wide ball.

Canada innings

Earlier, Hiral Patel scored a fine 54 as Canada posted 211 after electing to bat. But before that experienced paceman Brett Lee drew first blood by scalping Canada opener John Davison (14 runs) in the fourth over 41/1. But the surprising part was the Canadian run rate, which was tottering above 10 runs an over at this stage.

Post that wicket, the Canadian opener Hiral Patel and Zubin Surkari got busy with a partnership with Patel leading the way. Batting with resolve he went after the Aussie paceman and got rewarded. The best part about the 19-year old cricketer's batting was that he didn't shy away from hitting those odd ball to the boundary.

Finally, Patel's innings came to an end post his quick-fire half-ton in the 12th over. An edge off Shane Watson was taken by Mitchell Johnson in the deep. His 54 that came off just 45 balls was punctuated with five fours and three sixes. Canada were 82/2 at the stage.

Post Patel's dismissal, captain Ashish Bagai and Zubin Surkari got involved with a partnership. The two had put on 68 runs for the third wicket before Shaun Tait got the better of captain Bagai on 39. A short and wide ball saw Bagai reach out for a drive but ended up giving an edge to keeper Brad Haddin and Canada lost their third wicket on 150 in the 29th over

With new man Jimmy Hansra at the crease, Aussie spinner Jason Krejza got an opportunity to open his account and he got what he wanted. He removed Hansra in the very next over post Bagai's dismissal. And Canada were reduced to 157/4 in 30 overs.

Once again the change of pace worked for Australia with the next wicket falling to paceman Shaun Tait in the 31st over. A quicker ball pitched on the off and nipped in to take the inside edge of Zubin Surkari and crash into his stumps. He fell for 34 and Canada fell to 157/5.

Another over and another wicket, this time it was Brett Lee's turn to join the party and he did that by removing Rizwan Cheema with a slower ball and timber! Canada were 161/6 now. Lee finished with a four-wicket haul.

A little later, Mitchell Johnson sent back Nitish Kumar on 7 to reduce Canada to 169/7. From here in was just a matter of a few more minutes and Canada were walking back on 211 all out.

However, they can take heart from the fact that their batsmen stayed at the crease till almost the end of the innings as their last wicket Karl Whatham fell in the 46ht over. Even otherwise they batted pretty well on the day. Especially noteworthy was Hiral Patel's quick-fire half-century.

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