Aussies humble India by 49 runs
BRIDGETOWN, Barbados: David Warner smashed a rapid 72 as Australia thrashed India by 49 runs in the teams'' opening Super Eights match in the World Twenty20 at the Kensington Oval here on Friday.
Left-handed opener Warner''s innings was the top score in an Australia total of 184 for five built around his first wicket stand of 104 in 11 overs with Shane Watson (54) after India captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni won the toss.
In reply, India collapsed to 50 for seven but Rohit Sharma (79 not out) and tailender Harbhajan Singh (13), the only batsmen to reach double figures, helped them to reach 135 in 17.4 overs.
Australia''s victory maintained their perfect record at this World Twenty20 as India suffered their first defeat.
Australia pacers Dirk Nannes and Shaun Tait bagged three wickets each for 25 and 21 runs, raising questions once more about India''s ability to handle fast bowling on a lively surface that assisted the quicks but was no terror track.
Sharma went to his fifty in 33 balls with four sixes and two fours after Suresh Raina, who struck 101 against South Africa last time out, fell to Tait for five.
Australia''s openers were especially severe on left-arm spinner Ravindra Jadeja, whose two overs went for 38.
Jadeja conceded six consecutive sixes, split across those two overs, with both Watson and Warner striking three in a row.
Watson clouted Jadeja''s fourth ball for six, pulled the fifth high over midwicket and sent the sixth soaring over deep backward square.
Jadeja returned for the tenth over and saw Warner flat-bat his first ball back for six over long-on. The second ball, tossed up, was sent soaring into the gap between mid-wicket and long-on, with the third driven straighter.
Recalled quick Zaheer Khan also suffered, his four overs costing 45 runs.
Watson went to his fifty with a six off a Yusuf Pathan long-hop before he was bowled next ball to end a 32-ball innings featuring six sixes and a solitary four.
Both teams continue their bid for a last four spot here on Sunday when India face the West Indies and Australia play Sri Lanka.
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Aussies humble India by 49 runs
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