Brisbane: A listless India’s batting failed miserably as they slumped to a massive 110-run defeat in a cricket tri-series match against Australia, who managed to get a bonus point, here on Sunday.
Chasing Australia’s mammoth 288 for five, largely built around a blistering onslaught in the last 10 overs, India never really recovered after the three early jolts to fold up for 178 in 43.3 overs on a bouncy Gabba track. The Indians were outplayed in every department of the game by the hosts who made amends for their back-to-back defeats to take top position in points table.
Australia now have 14 points from five matches while India are second in the table with 10 points from five games. Sri Lanka have collected seven points from four matches.
The top-order Indian batting crumbled in the face of some hostile bowling in early overs. The late rally by skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni (56) only ended up in delaying the inevitable.
Pacer Ben Hilfenhaus marked his return to Australia’s one-day side with career-best figures of 5 for 33, including the scalp of Sachin Tendulkar (3) who still remains in search of his elusive 100th international century. Hilfenhaus and Brett Lee (3 for 49) were hostile on a spicy wicket and ripped out the heart of Indian batting in their first spells.
Meanwhile, Indian captain MS Dhoni has been banned for the next match against Sri Lanka due to the team’s slow over rate on Sunday (PTI)
