The signs were there for all to see, but was only too clear when everyone looked at the result. India’s young guns had shown that they could fire, and had the old hands contributed, the now-valiant 18-run loss to Australia’s 317 could have ended differently. Though the No 3 bats in both the sides chalked up hundreds — Ricky Ponting made a magnificent 124 from 133 balls, while Gautam Gambhir’s 113 was more gutsy and responsible in comparison — the difference between both sides lay in the first 60 balls. The Indian bowlers had an unusual off day with the new ball, getting tonked for 92 runs with 60 runs coming in the form of 12 boundaries and 2 sixes. The experienced Indian openers, Virender Sehwag and Sachin Tendulkar, however, failed to respond with the same swiftness. After slumping to 47/3, and further to 51/4, India made a spirited effort to finish with 299 on the scoreboard.The team will have to maintain this approach, and get better with the result, as they travel to Hobart in a last-ditch attempt to directly qualify for the final. India’s opening woes have remained, and the collective failure of their three most experienced batsmen —Yuvraj Singh included — has left a bitter taste in what was otherwise a match that saw fine performance from Gambhir and Robin Uthappa. • Coming of ageGambhir’s 113, his career-best score, was also his best innings so far. The innings reflected his maturity and ability not to wilt under pressure. Gambhir’s early bid to up the ante was blunted with regular fall of wickets at the other end. He scored his runs all around the wicket — 56 on the off-side and 57 towards his legs — and even played the Australian spinners, Brad Hogg and Michael Clarke, well. Gambhir reached his half century in 65 balls and wove a 98-run partnership with Mahendra Singh Dhoni, who once again had to curtail his free-swinging style. Realising that the partnership was assuming dangerous proportions, Ponting brought back Brett Lee into the attack who scalped Dhoni for 36. With Dhoni’s wicket, Adam Gilchrist equalled a record of six dismissals in an innings. Uthappa walked in and sensed a big opportunity to play the role he had always wanted to. His guts and timing almost put India within reach of a win. Uthappa cracked an astounding six off Lee in the fast bowler’s eighth over. That same over had three consecutive free-hits. • Mighty heaveGambhir reached his fourth one-day hundred in 109 balls with nine boundaries, but at 186-5 with 15 overs to go, a tired Gambhir was stumped with his foot just outside the popping crease as he went for a mighty heave against Hogg. Irfan Pathan made a quick 22, but the required run rate was 11-an-over. Harbhajan Singh came and left with a little cameo that saw him earn 18 off Stuart Clark’s final over. Left sans any reputed partner in the pursuit off 34 in 3 overs, Uthappa dug deep for a 46-ball 51. But it was too late. With a win, Ponting’s evening ended in the same bright note it had started with in the afternoon. His first touch, which dissected cover and extra-cover, showed he had overcome his rough patch. There could be more to follow before this series comes to an end.Australian innings2.3 overs: After being hit for two successive boundaries, Sreesanth sends a shortish screamer as bait for Gilchrist. An inside edge does Gilchrist in, with Dhoni taking a diving catch to his far right.20.3 overs: Power-hitter Hayden sets off from the non-striker’s end only to be run out by a fumbling Sehwag.31.5 overs: Michael Clarke pulls a Sehwag delivery, finds the hands of Rohit Sharma.47.2 overs: Symonds is deceived by a slow Ishant Sharma delivery. 48.1 overs: Sreesanth take the all-important wicket of Ponting on 124, with Irfan taking the catch at long-off.49.5 overs: An attempted pull by Hussey, off Harbhajan, goes back to the bowler. Hopes, off his non-striker mark, is run out.Last ball: A repeat from Hussey and Harbhajan has Brett Lee run out as well.Indian innings 0.5 overs: Lee gets Sachin Tendulkar (2) trapped leg before as he tries playing across. 8.4 overs: Virender Sehwag tries to chip a short off Stuart Clark delivery to third man, only for Gilchirst to take a low catch.9.1 overs: Rohit Sharma caught behind.10.2 overs: Yuvraj is dismissed cheaply for 5 by Stuart Clark. India 51 overs: Lee comes back for his second spell to pick up the wicket of Dhoni for 36. Thick outside egde gives Gilchrist his fourth and record-equalling catch.39.1 overs: At 113, Gambhir sweeps a Brad Hogg shot only to be stumped.49.1 overs: The tail fails to capitalise on Gambhir’s momentum and is consumed by Brett Lee, who completes a five-wicket haul.ScoreboardAustralia: A Gilchrist c Dhoni b Sreesanth 16, M Hayden run out 54, R Ponting c Pathan b Sreesanth 124, MJ Clarke c RG Sharma b Sehwag 31, A Symonds b I Sharma 59, M Hussey not out 15, J Hopes run out 4 (Harbhajan), B Lee run out (Harbhajan) 0; Extras (lb-5, w-8, nb-1): 14; Total (7 wickets): 317; Fall of wickets: 1-21, 2-131, 3-194, 4-296, 5-304, 6-317, 7-317Bowling: Sreesanth 8-0-58-2, Sharma 10-0-65-1,Pathan 9-0-73-0, Harbhajan 9-0-50-0, V Sehwag 6-0-28-1, Yuvraj 8-0-38-0.India: V Sehwag c Gilchrist b Clark 17, S Tendulkar lbw b Lee 2, G Gambhir st Gilchrist b Hogg 113, R Sharma c Gilchrist b Bracken 1, Yuvraj c Gilchrist b Clark 5, MS Dhoni c Gilchrist b Lee 36, R Uthappa c Hussey b Lee 51, IK Pathan c Bracken b Hopes 22, Harbhajan Singh c Gilchrist b Lee 20; S Sreesanth not out 3, I Sharma b Lee 2; Extras (b-6, lb-5, w-12, nb-4): 27;Total (all out; 49.1 overs): 299Fall of wickets: 1-3, 2-45, 3-46, 4-51, 5-149, 6-216, 7-257, 8-290, 9-290Bowling: Lee 9.1-1-58-5, Bracken 10-0-53-1, Clark 10-0-55-2, Hopes 6-0-27-1, Hogg 9-0-62-1, Clarke 5-0-33-0.
