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Prem -> Good day all, you have the news, Shane Warne is out of the World Cup for using a banned substance. REducing Aus to 14 men, two of whom cant play -- Bevan and Lehmann. Prem -> So Aus has to pick a team from 12 players, effectively. Pakistan just got a huge bonus when Waqar won the toss, he has opted to bowl. In this world cup, as Brian Lara pointed out the other day, the first twenty overs are the most difficult for batting, the pitches then ease off. Prem -> Which means Pak, with a very strong bowling lineup, have the early advantage against an Aus team that should be reeling from the multiple blows. Prem -> Out there, the outfield looks lush, but there seems to be a bit of a cloud cover which should help the seamers even more at the start of the innings. There was a forecast of possible light showers, which explains the clouds I guess -- what it does is give a big advantage to the side bowling first Prem -> The real question is, which Pak will turn up for the party - the guys who can play electric cricket, or the one that, as in the last WC final, sent their bodies to the ground and their minds elsewhere? Prem -> Those are the early updates. Need to do some work on the audio side, so will be back here in about 15 minutes tops. Till then, adios. Prem -> Okay back. And let's take a longer look at the Aussies, who started this tournament as 11-8 favorites -- in other words, every 11 bucks you placed on the defending champions got you a reward of just 8 bucks, and that is as huge as favorites are ranked Prem -> I'm wondering, though, how those odds will change now, in altered circumstances. Rather funnily enough, it was an Aussie, David Warren, who in 1958 invented what is famously called the Black Box -- the indestructible gadget that is put in planes, to tell you what is wrong when the plane goes down. If this Aussie team had such a gadget in it, wonder what it would read? Prem -> Firstly, the sacrifice of experience for youth is now coming back to haunt the team. Secondly, and rather ironically given that the call was for a younger, fitter side, the Aussie lineup looks like a hospital report -- Warne out, Bevan still to be fit, McGrath a bit of a question, remember he had a back strain which he says is fine, but how it will stand the strain is anyone's guess. Lee has had one shoulder surgery. Gillespie is accident prone. Prem -> But meanwhile, we are ready to start -- the Pak team is out there, having elected to field after winning the toss. The Aus openers are out there too, and Matt Hayden is taking strike to Wasim Akram Prem -> 351 odis, 490 wickets, that is wasim akram, who has already announced that this world cup could be his last international outing. Prem -> asokha d'silva is one of the umpires and that is not particularly confidence inducing. Meanwhile, Gilchrist, not Hayden, will face Akram, Hayden at the other end. Prem -> ball one, and gilchrist pushes gently out from line of off into the on side, gets the single and brings hayden on strike. Prem -> akram nice and quick, the second ball like the first is just back of length on off and middle, hayden content to square up and defend in front of his body Prem -> akram, and this one is fuller with the first hint of swing in the air. lands in the blockhole and hayden digs itt out, onto the off side Prem -> akram, to a standard odi field, and that is overpitched. there was swing there early, but it was too full, and just wide enough outside off to allow hayden onto the front foot, driving free with the full swing of the bat, through extra cover, four. 5/0 the score Prem -> akram, and this is a wide down the leg side, till now the way akram is bowling, seems like he is not sure what the ball and pitch are doing so he is trying things out. a bit of waywardness about him, but nothing wrong with that ball, inswing, landed justt outside off bringing the batsman forward, then went off the seam the other way. hayden lets it go. akram for the last ball of the over, on off, hayden guides to the left of point, single, ends the over, 6/0 and hayden keeps strike Prem -> good first over for the aussies, no alarms there yet. ponting, maher, symonds, hogg, ian harvey, lee, gillespie and mcgrath are the rest of the lineup, which makes for a somewhat dodgy middle. and pak have opted for Akthar to open, backing his pace. 76 matches, 122 wickets, an economy rate of 4.5, is more than fair for such a mercurial performer, and ball one is 148k, right up, and a bouncer that kicked from just back of length forcing hayden to duck, rashid latif had to go very high to pull it down one handed Prem -> akthar, working up a head of steam, quick ball angled across the left hander, hayden opts tto let it go Prem -> the speed gun is stuck on 148 these two balls, the second being 148.7 so that is .3 quicker than the first. akthar in again, and that was a beaut -- quick, on the middle stump, cutting back enough, hayden lets it go over the stumps for height and that was 151k so akthar is warming up nicely Prem -> hayden says the key is to see akthar off, but that is a long time to go yet, since he has just begun. quick ball but strays to legg stump, hayden takes his opportunity, pats him out on the on side, where it is pretty untenantted, gts two for it, 9/0 in the second over Prem -> akthar and this time hayden again raises his bat high and lets a ball go about half a foot over the stumps, quic, seamed in, but akthar might want to think of increasing his length. that last was a magnificient delivery. 152.4 -- full length, brought hayden forward, bent back off the seam at extreme pace and went between bat and body, missing the inner edge by a coat of paint. that was a torrid opening over, 9/0 aus, and gilchrist on strike to akram, short, gilchrsist swipes. misses. that was going a long way off the seam, so long that it is actually a wide. 10/0 Prem -> top ball that, very full, squared gilchrist up, then left him off the seam and now akram is stepping up in pace as well. ball three, on leg stump swinging in, and that is gilchrist gone!!!! that was full, on the leg stump, coming in, gilchristt swung looking to hit it out of the ground over long on, the inseam meant the edge, up in the air and held at midwicket. 10/1 aus, and the vice captain walks back Prem -> top ball that, very full, squared gilchrist up, then left him off the seam and now akram is stepping up in pace as well. ball three, on leg stump swinging in, and that is gilchrist gone!!!! that was full, on the leg stump, coming in, gilchristt swung looking to hit it out of the ground over long on, the inseam meant the edge, up in the air and held at mid on. 10/1 aus, and the vice captain walks back. younjis, appropriately enough, takes the catch and had to run back -- at mid on, running back kept his eye on the ball as i came over the shoulder Prem -> That is one of the three big batsmen down. Ponting to the wicket. akram, outside off, wide again as he makes the ball go along way off the seam. 11/0 Prem -> That is one of the three big batsmen down. Ponting to the wicket. akram, outside off, wide again as he makes the ball go along way off the seam. 11/0akram, and that was almost number two. full length, drew hayden forward, beat him with late movement, hayden didnt have a clue there. Prem -> the pak players geeing each other up, on the ground, two three guys running up to pat akram for that ball. next one is on leg, hayden puts it out on the on, not in control, no run to square leg Prem -> another good ball, very full, very close to off, hayden backs his judgement and lets it go. Prem -> akram, with two slips, in to hayden and that could have been number two. no wide gully, hayden fished, the movement away found the edge, in the air through the vacant gully, single to third man, ends the over. Prem -> gilchrist, meanwhile, had two big heaves in the three balls he faced, the second did for him and now akthar back to hayden. quick, but wide of off, 147.9 k that ball and wide called again. 13/1. Prem -> akthar, again with two slips. i think at this pace nd with this movement, you need one more, or a gully, the edge wont be fine, more likely to fly wide, more so because these guys go at the ball hard Prem -> akthar, in to hayden, and quick, short, lifting on middle, hayden pushes out on the on, just the single, 14/1, into the 4th over here Prem -> akthar, now to ponting taking strike for the first time. a third slip now in place. akthar to the aus skipper, that one cut in and hit the pad as ponting walked, his bat hadn't even come down. lucky the ball hit just outside line and was prolly missing for height as well Prem -> akthar going for pace there, strays to leg, ponting quickly forward, plays it down to fine leg, gets the single. 15/1. last ball of the 4th over, and that was a good ball, quick, fullish on off and passing hayden on the climb, hayden keeps his bat out of line. 15/1 in 4 aus Prem -> 9 off 18 hayden, 1 off 3 ponting. and it is ponting on strike now to akram, with the amount of walking ponting does, he is an lbw candidate. here, ball one, he walked across his stumps, was falling away, hit on the pad but they do a very very quick leg bye, good calling and running there. hayden back on strike Prem -> 16/1 and akram to handen, short, pulled, and a long chase there for wide third man, razzaq, cuts it off and keeps it to two. 18/1. Prem -> SHOT! Akram too full there, looking to york but ending up losing control of length, hayden took the opportunity, put his front foot outt, and went through with a full flourish, hitting back over the bowler's head, up and over, and his power muscles it to the fence for four. 22/1. next ball, outside off, seaming away, hayden lets it go Prem -> 15/21 hayden, and a no ball now. there have been some brilliant deliveries so far, but overall, this is as wayward as bowling gets, there is wides and no balls and leg side lines and off loines and about 50 different lenghts, and this one is a wide down leg now! Prem -> akram in particular looks that bit too eager, he is trying a different thing each time, and that is causing problems of control. that one, he eases back, keeps it in the corridor outside off and hayden lets it go. 24/1 aus Prem -> the last ball was what akram was looking for, or should be. bowled from wide of the crease, angling in to off, hitting on length, then leave the bat late. meanwhile, 24/1 in 5 and akthar back, that should have been a wide but d'silva figures not, was wide of off and seaming away a bit. 3 slips in place, third man, point, cover, mid off on the off Prem -> akthar, to ponting, wide of the crease, full length, closer to off and ponting lets it go Prem -> 6th over, akthar, ball three, to ponting. that one pitched length, went away, ponting was on the front foot, found the thick edge, kept his hands soft so the ball ran away through the backward point region instead of in the air, gets the single and hayden on strike. 25/1 and aus going at 4.55. akthar to hayden, quick ball on middle, pushed to just wide of younis at mid on and good calling and running, gets the single. 26/1. Prem -> akthar, to ponting, very full angling in on off and leaving late. ponting lets it go. be interesting if akthar can bring one in -- ponting, ehre, is playing for the ball levaing him, so feels comfortable about letting it go. one ball cuts in, it begins to put doubt in the batsman's mind. akther, quick, fuller on line of off and ponting defneds, and for no reason whatever, the point fielder has a shy at the stumps and gives an overthrow. no one was going anywhere actually, so no idea why that overthrow was conceeded -- a very pak thing to do. Prem -> 16 off 29 hayden, 3 off 9 ponting, and ponting it is to face akram, quick ball lifting around off and ponting pushes at it, guides it just left of point, two. Prem -> Huge swing, there, for akram. that one was anggling, from outside off, huge inswing on full length, ponting forward, missed the line completely, lucky to get the outer edge of his pad flap to the ball and it goes for four leg byes. 33/1 and a single next up takes the score to 34/1 in the 7th over Prem -> hayden having a rather gilchrist like swing there, to a ball on leg cutting in. gets it on the pad, and ponting spots the opportiunity, and rushes the single. next ball, and it is ponting's turn to lose the ball with all that swing and seam, somehow finds the ball hit thick edge onto pad and fall at his feet. akram ends the over, 35/1, bowling around the 135-139 mark through this over. Prem -> akthar will continue, to hayden. 16/26 hayden, 7 overs gone. short ball and hayden saw that coming. that was not quite the bouncer, just short and lifting and hayden immediately rocks into the pull, was in the air but well wide of the fielder on the line, four and good control to put it that far out of reach. 39/1 and akthar resumes his war against hayden, who has a swing. i the air, just over cover, risky but managed to keep it out of the fielder's catching zone, and brilliant running by ponting in particular makes three. Prem -> ponting looks to drive from outside off, but finds cover, no run, 42/1 so it is a ggood start despite the loss o gilchrist. Prem -> 8th over, four ball, akthar to ponting, two slips, outside off and ponting plays a very loose drive, more of a slash blind, the seam and bounce beats the bat and just flahses past the edge. Prem -> akthar, to ponting, ball five, outside off and again, ponting playing well away from body, finds point, no run. Prem -> last ball of the 8th, akthar to ponting, that was a beauty. perfect line around inches outside off, length good, draws ponting forward, then moves very very late and misses the edge, akthar has a now what do i do look. Prem -> gilchrist facing akram, and that was a very very loose shot. just carted a ball from off high in the air, and razzaq, pretty quick supposedly on his feet, slows down, and doesnt make a try of what looked a fair catching chance. pak at its mercurial best out there, as the cliche goes it is all happeneing. 2 for it, 44/1. Prem -> ball three, on middle and leg and akram is furious as the square leg fielder escorts the ball for a bit, to a hayden push, instead of stopping it. two more taken, and the pak fielding is proving a weak link thus far Prem -> akram tto hayden, and another slash. that was a no ball, but hayden is batting in rather wierd fashion here, just swinging, feet nowhere in line, that is three such shots in this over, and he is surviving by luck here. ball four pushed out on the on side, no run. 47/1. Prem -> 9th over, two balls to go, akram to hayden who seems to have decided he wants to live dangerously. the run rate is good for the aussies, akram adjusting his field a bit now, in to hayden who opens his bat face and runs one through slip to third man, 48/1. Akram now to ponting, last ball, outside off and left alone. And that resumes a war between hayden and akthar that has been hotting up, both on the pitch and off, for some months now. with hayden now in do or die mode, stand by for anything and everything next over Prem -> 48/1 in 9 overs, and surprise, surprise, waqar younis takes over from akthar. 257 matches, 409 wickets to the pak captain in his last world cup and probably into the last few months of his career. just one slip, to matt hayden, and a good ball first up. that was angled across hayden, he flashes, this one came in where the other two bowlers have been moving it out, the inswing beats the bat, close to the edge Prem -> younis, to hjayden, 48/1 the score, and a bouncer down leg side, 133.4 the speed, wide called, 49/1. 26/35 hayden Prem -> that could be close. very quick and full length ball, hayden moving all over the place there trying to go off to play to leg, beaten for length and the ball straightens, hits the pad, lbw appeal but the ball landed outside line of leg before homing in on middle. next ball, on leg stump, and played out on the on, single, 50/1. Prem -> 50 off 59 deliveries, 5.26 the run rate, younis now to ponting. thus far, younis has been the steadiest if the least dramaticc. short ball, ponting into his pull, nicely controlled, man out in the deep cuts it off, single. 51/1. Prem -> younis to hayden, straight line on off and cutting in to middle, hayden pushes out on the off, no run. Prem -> younis, to hayden, on leg stump, played out behind point, single, 52/1 in 10 overs aus Prem -> 5.2 the run rate, 10 overs gone, hayden 27, ponting 8, and akram continues. hayden on strike, two slips in place, hayden pushes looking to run it down to thrid man, finds point, no run Prem -> akram again, and that is the end of hayden. he has been going hard at the ball for quite some time, plays another loose shot, flashing outside off, hitting hard at a ball outside off cutting in, ends up getting the under edge and onto his stumps. that was too close to the stumps for that shot, hayden gone 27 for 41 and that is a wicket that has been coming for a while, hayden started out playing wel l, then seemed to lose focus, started flashing, and paid for it. Prem -> damien martyn the new man in and that is that, first ball back goes martyn!!! brilliant delivery, very full, cutting in, martyn pushes the wrong line and the ball tkaes off stump out. 52/3 aus Prem -> the real responsibility of that belongs to hayden, really -- having a game plan based on attack is one thing, but swinging wildly when the conditions are favoring bowlers is another, more irresponsible thing. more so when you ahve a weakened batting lineup thanks tto bevan and lehmann not being there, the senior trio at the top needed to keep their heads. two hat tricks in odis, and jimmy maher out ther to try and prevent a third for akram Prem -> three slips and a gully, and akram puts it in the right spot, just outside off, seams away, and maher lets it go, that was level headed work, didn'tt push at it. akram, off his short run up now after an erratic start, bad ball, way down leg side, would have been called wide if maher had left it but maher plays the lenght, which is full, puts bat to it and it races through the square leg region for four. 56/3. Prem -> 3 slips and a gully still, and outside off seaming away, end of the over, 56/3 aus. Prem -> ponting 8/20, maher 4/3, andrew symonds next man, aktram now has three wickets and that was almost number four. younis, outside off, and ponting flashes. that was an inch over the head of point, standing back, absolutely no reason why anyone would play that shot, he just stood there, no foot movement, just a push with that four. 60/3. Prem -> ponting 8/20, maher 4/3, andrew symonds next man, aktram now has three wickets and that was almost number four. younis, outside off, and ponting flashes. that was an inch over the head of point, standing back, absolutely no reason why anyone would play that shot, he just stood there, no foot movement, just a push with that four. 60/3. Prem -> one thing for sure, the nerves are showing. this though is perfect 0-- fullish from younis,a nd ponting easily forward, driving, straight and perfectly timed, four behind the bowler. 64/3. Prem -> sorry, had to go off to fix something, back now and younis to ponting, who pushes defensively, three fours in this over, 68/3 the score, i missed one four there. Prem -> younis, to ponting, last ball of the over, outside off and ponting lets it go. 68/3 after 12. Prem -> akram continues, this is his 7th over. 13th of the innings, three wickets in his bag, and maher on strike. ball on leg stump, maher pushes to square leg. no run Prem -> akram again, this one outside off, ball angles in, kicks off length, then seams away, and maher, who looks more composed out there than any of the others including ponting, lets it through Prem -> akram again, this one outside off, ball angles in, kicks off length, then seams away, and maher, who looks more composed out there than any of the others including ponting, lets it through Prem -> akram in again, 16 extras and 3 wickets is a fair way to sum up the bowling effort so far, maher meanwhile pushes one off his pads, from line of leg, to fine leg for one more. 69/3. one ball left and akram and younis having a chat Prem -> ponting on strike to akram's last ball, lots of talkin between younis and akram, they seem to be discussing whatever it is akram wants to do. ball quick, lifitng on off, ponting on his toes playing it down. 69/3 the score at the end of 13. Prem -> 20/27 ponting, and maher on strike to younjis, inswinging yorrker length ball, maher blocks, ball runs away backward of square and more bad work in the outfield, two fielders each thinking the other is going for it. 2 given for what at best was a one, and younis looks upset. 71/3. again, maher tucks off his pads, again a bit slack at square leg the fielder, two more, 73/3. Prem -> younis here is bowling a very full length at around the off and middle line. 19 runs to waqar, ponting had those three fours last time to mess his analysis up. younis keeping to that line, not looking for the line outside off, bowling very full, getting some swing in to the batsman Prem -> younis, and gain, ball angles, starts line of off, comes in to middle, maher plays back down the track Prem -> just one slip in place, a short midwicket being the other close catcher. younijs to maher, that one beat the push and took the pad, but maher well forward plus it would have ggone down leg on the seam movement Prem -> younis to maher and again, good angle across to land ball around off, then seam in, cramps the batsman, who defends. end of the over and 73/3 in 14 overs and drinks coming on a couple of overs earlier than normal, thanks to all the fun and games, pak a bit slow on the run rate at this point Prem -> change in bowling, razzaq takes over from akram and at the slower pace, ponting happily onto the front foot early, lifts over mid on, perfectly executed shot, four. tht was hit very very clean, the pick up drive. 15th over, 77/3. ball two, in the corridor and ponting lets it go Prem -> 120 matchhes and 153 wickets, a good economy rate of 4.2 razzaq, no ball next up, 78/3 and another extra to the total. Prem -> i fact, that would have been wide if it was not a no ball. 8 leg bes, 6 wides, 3 no balls, that is already 1.3 extra overs, and razzaq tries too hard there, short and wide of off and ponting at once onto the front foot forcing the cover drive, through the infield, another four. putting pressure on razzaq, rather strange that akther is off after just three overs where he kept beating the bat for pace and the much slower razzaq is bowling at this point. 82/3 Prem -> razzaq again, no slip now and again, a bad ball. very full but wide of off, nice room for ponting and he moves forward, perfect footwork, hitting on the rise and slamming tht ball, picture perfect really and four. 86/3. tht shot, you want tos ee about five replays at least Prem -> as krishna prasad, the guy who broke the betting story on outlook and who is with rediff for the world cup said just now, this is ponting's moment of reckoning. no steve waugh, many key players out, the two openers gone, a good bowling side facing him. what can he do? younnis, meanwhile, to maher who is playing a cautious innings, taking a long look at the ball, preferring to let the ball go as much as he can. 5.6 the run rate, 86/3 the score. Prem -> younnis, and again, maher content to let it go. maher has been on the fringes of team selection for a while, this is his chance to make his presence felt. youn nis, and maher pushes forward, no run. 5.49 the run rate now. 86/3 the score. Prem -> younis to maher, batting 9, and that is the wicket. quicker ball, outside off, full in length, forced maher to play, the ball kicked high off length and left the bat late, maher reaching for it, guided it to laticf and maher gone 9/19 and pak 86/4. Prem -> the aussies are, here, facing a team that is not backing off. generally, when one of the batsmen goes for the bowling, bowling sides tend to back off. herre, the pak bowlers are going for broke, all or nothing, and suddenly it seems a different ball game out there. younhis now to andrew symonds, and greets him with a bouncer, then pumps himself and his team up with a war cry. end of the over, 86/4 aus. Prem -> razzaq continues. 86/4 the score, 16 overs gone, ponting on strike. wicket to wicket line, full line, and ponting onto the front foot, defending, batting 32/35. ball two, cut in off length, quick single taken, a direct hit would have made things close, but the throw flashes over the stumps. 87/4. Prem -> 4-0-15-0 akthar, and taking a long break, prolly pak using him in short, explosive bursts. and that one is through symonds. fullish length outside off and symonds was walking around, pushing on the move, down the wrong line, ball flashing past the edge Prem -> 14 in 1.3 overs, razzaq thanks to the treatment ponting gave him, but seems to have steadiedhis nerve here. outside off, back of length, cutting in and climbing and symonds lets it go. razzaq again, outside off and symonds lets it go Prem -> 17th over, last ball, razzaq to symonds, 2 fifties in his career so far in 39 trips to the wicket, no ball meanwhile so it is now 1.4 free overs to the aussies. 88/4 in 16.5. Prem -> razzaq, that one cuts in sharply, symonds pushes, edge onto pad and falls in front of him, no run, 88/4 the score Prem -> younnis continues, good ball, quick, around off, jagging sharply in, ponting was playing for te strright one, looked to drive, cut in two as that one came in sharply, off bat handle into groin, no damage to either wicket or groin seemingly. ball two, 88/4 the score, youno ponting and pushed, finds point, no run. Prem -> 5.08 the run rate, 88/4 the score, ponting the last of the recognised batsmen out there and a huge amount of responsibility on him as best batsman and captain. younnis, on off, driven, finds mid off. younnis now around the 139k mark, which is about as fast as he can be now. akther at mid on encouraging him after every ball, one slip in place so pak still attacking, fair enough having got four batsmen out cheap. slower ball down leg next, wide called, make that 1.5 free overs. 89/4 in 17.3. Prem -> 7 no balls, 4 wides. and pak could be docked an over or two if they cant do anything about this over rate. unlikely they can, when you remember that akther has 6 overs still to bowl and he takes the heck of a long time to bowl his overs. younnis meanwhile full on off and middle, ponting trying to flick to leg, falling away and overbalancing, misses the shot and gts it on the pad. next ball, same shot, better controlled, down to backward square, good running -- these two are very quick -- and the second taken to the throw, 91/4. Prem -> 18th over, last ball, younis to ponting. spread out field now for ponting, who plays to afridi at point, no run, 91/4 the score at the end of that over. Prem -> razzaq getting creamed here, again bowls a very full length, which in itself would be fine, except he is tending to put the ball outside off in driving zone, symonds this time forward and driving, on the up, four despite a despairing chase by younis, that chase must have taken something having just completed an over. 95/4. good shot symonds. 19th over, razzaq this time, closer to off and enough seam movement in to keep the batsman quiet. 5.18 the run rate Prem -> razzaq, and again, a ball identical to the first one. in the driving slot, outside off, symonds accepts the invitation and bye bye ball. four through extra cover and this time, no one bothers chasing. trouble with razzaq here is, he is bowling the full length down the wrong line -- ona track with the ball coming on, at his pace, he needs to be seaming itt in hard to keep batsmen quiet, cant do it with his slower pace without the movement. this one cuts in, and symonds defends. same again fifth ball, on off cutting in forces the defensive push. Prem -> 99/4 aus, 8 in the over so far and this should by rights be razzaq's last, again full, on off cutting in and symonds defensive. tall strong guy, symonds, has a decisive front foot movement forward and is very straight in backlift, bat coming down very full Prem -> 35/42 ponting, 8/12 symonds, 19 overs gone, younnis continues, and ponting shuts the bat face on a ball on off, gets one square on the on, 100 up for aus, for four. 5.2 run rate, into the 20th over here. run rate in fact pretty steady, first 50 in 59 balls, second 50 in 60 balls. Prem -> younnis to symonds now with two slips, attacking wh he can, the pak captain. for the new guy, field more aggressive. on off, this ball, very full, late in seam, symonds defensive Prem -> again, very full length, on off, symonds forward and defends. 100/4 into the 20th over, three balls gone Prem -> younis in to symonds, 20th over, ball four, one slip going off, now just one slip, on off and played to square leg, ponting calls, a bit of a stutter between wickets, but in the end symonds responds and ponting is behin the sttumps when the throw comes in, they talk of bevan but ponting is blazing quick between wickets Prem -> 20thj over, and younnis to ponting, on off, guided to the right of point and again, they are off quick. 102/4, this is one way the aus players release pressure, they run for everything and most times, their understanding is bang on thanks largely to all the time they spend practising this, and a simple rule that parnter has to accept the judgement of the caller, without hesitation. end of 20, 102/4 the score Prem -> razzaq continues, and cuts one in, ponting a long way forward looking to flick, hit on the pad, would have been lbw but for the distance ponting had come forward, and the height the ball hit. 37 ponting, 102/4 aus. and razzaq this time, shortish, cutting it in, ponting swings it around to deep square leg, single, 103/4. Prem -> razzaq is in his first world cup here, but think back five years, and he was one of the stars for pakistan in the under 19 world cup, plays for middlesex in the english county. a bit of numerology coming inot play here, he used to be abdur razzaq, but now prefers to spell his first name with the l, not r. quiet period here, with razzaq keeping itt far closer to the stumps and that one almost did for symonds. tried to drive, ball cut in, thick edge onto pad, balla ctually was going to slip when ponting stole that single to end the over. this really is amazing running from the aus skipper. 104/4 in 21 aus, 38/46 ponting, 10/20 symonds, brad hogg next to the plate. Prem -> younnis, starts with a bad ball and is punished. short on middle, right in the slkot and a nice swivel into a pull by symonds, powered the ball behind square for four. that was too short really. 5/1 the run rate. next ball, symonds has a hit outside off, thick edge, in the air but over slip and short of third man, safe, single. 109/4. Prem -> just in passing, 90 per cent of the world's footballs are made in pakistan. not that this has anything to do with anything, just thought i'd toss that bit in. also, the fact that the world's oldest vibrator, or to be more politically correct, massage implement, was found in pakistan, dating back to 4000 BC> all of which indicates s a stoppage in play, and waqar upset about something, in argument with asoka d'silva. Prem -> d'silva called a wide there, to a ball outside off and waqar got upset and into an argument with the umpire. rather an odd thing to do, really, meanwhile symonds again uses that educated outer edge of his for a single to third man. 22nd over, younis operating, and that is the quickest single yet, ball pushed to cover, standing well in, and they are still through with the run. 113/4 in 21.5 and symonds back on the plate Prem -> last ball of the over and after those two outer edges, locks put on the stable door in the form of two slips. otuside off, symonds square drives, and great divin stop by youhanna at backward point on the line keeps it down to 2, 116/4 at the end of the over. Prem -> razzaq resumes, and ponting guides a pull ball one backward of square, another single, 41/49 ponting. 23rd over, 116/4 the score, and symonds back on strike to razzaq. one slip in place, good idea, been a few streaky singtles to third man in this innings. 136, more or less, is razzaq's speed. Prem -> razzaq to symonds, just outside off, symonds has a hit trying to smash through extra cover, edge onto pad and the ball remains right there Prem -> 23rd over, 117/4 and razzaq in to ponting, short and a brillaintt short arm pull. ponting loves that shot and plays it way better than most. just swivelled a touch, picked the ball off his hip and powered it past backward square. four. lovely execution. 121/4 and now a checked drive to point, no run. 23 overs gone, 121/4 the score. 5-0-31-0 razzaq, proving the weak link ehre and pak just might wish they had saqlain in the lineup, they only have afridi for spin, and there is no telling how afridi will bowl on any given day. 5.26 the run rate now Prem -> younis continues. has symonds facing, with a slip in place and standing wide, puts an away swinger in the corridor, symonds lets it go. 121/4. Prem -> the aus batsmen playing it just right, now, looking actively for singles, and waiting for the losoe ball that with pak bowling is sure to come along to punish. 5.19 the run rate, and ponting checks a push, spotted the slower one, played it out on the on, got the one. that was the attempted off break from younnis. Prem -> 123/4 in 23.4 andyounnis to symonds, short, on middle, and symonds defends Prem -> younis to symonds, outside off but wide, driven, finds the sweeper out at cover, single. 124/4 at the end of the over Prem -> uh oh, now this could be the key period of play. 174 matches, 128 wickets, 4.59 economy rate, mr afridi, in to the attack with aus 124/5 in 24 overs, ball one played by symonds out on the on side, to get the single. Prem -> um, the pak over rate now is 12.1, which is not doing pakistan any favors, at this rate they will be docked more than one over which, if they are chasing anything over say 22o, will end up proving crucial. afridi meanwhile on fullish length around off and ponting defneds, ball three driven gently down the ground to get the single, 126/4 in 24.4 and now symonds cuts, great stop at point by younnis khan Prem -> that was a decent first over and more to the point, it was rushed through, they need nine more of these to make any kind of imprvene t to the run rate. ponting 47 and here we go, akthar back, he has six overs, 4-0-15-0 his spell so far Prem -> 40 off 56 the partnership, a very good one in this context, and akthar starts with a slower ball of all things, but loses control, another wide as it goes down leg. 127/4. Prem -> and another wide. at 136k. down leg again, for some reason, shoaib looking undercooked, not sure if he was expecting to bowl at this point, runnin in a bit tentative. younis chats him up, and ball three, ponting to a ball on off, plays it out into the covers, single. 129/4 and now ponting and symonds have a chat. 48 off 56 balls ponting. Prem -> symonds shuts the bat face on a ball on off, gets a single in front of mid on, very quick calling and runnning to mid on standing right up. direct hit, but symonds by then was past the stumps at the otehr end. akthar in again, 26th over, 143k that last ball, and driven to inzy in the covers, 131/4 with that single. Prem -> akthar in again, to symonds, quick ball that, 146.9k and swinging in, symonds blocks and they run. this pair is running for pretty much everything. Prem -> 132/4 the score, akthar finally gets it all together, quick ball, good length, in the corridor, away swing, ponting walking forward, pushing blind, and very very close to the edge that ball. Prem -> batting 49 ponting, 24 symonds, 132/4 aus and akthar in again, on off, driven, that was fuller and a single, ponting makes his 50 and given how the others have gone, this is a great innings. couple of false shots, one completely needless shot that could have had him walking back, but ponting is always a nervous starter and today he had more reason than most to be nervous. 133/4 and he keeps strike, to afridi. Prem -> batting 49 ponting, 24 symonds, 132/4 aus and akthar in again, on off, driven, that was fuller and a single, ponting makes his 50 and given how the others have gone, this is a great innings. couple of false shots, one completely needless shot that could have had him walking back, but ponting is always a nervous starter and today he had more reason than most to be nervous. 133/4 and he keeps strike, to afridi. Prem -> afridi on middle, turned around, and single out to backward square, 134/4 and the partnership now worth an invaluable 48 Prem -> afridi doin well here, mixing them up, the quick ball and the regular, and symonds having to watch things a bit more closely than he imagined. being forced to play very late, the ball skidding off the deck on line of stumpds, the good thing is it is wicket to wicket, 27 gone, 134/4 Prem -> akthar running in, with ponting on strike. 4.93 the run rate. under five for i think the first time today, and ponting drives, but finds mid off, no run. akthar again, his second over of this spell, wide of off and going wider with the swing, ponting reaches for a drive, single. 135/4. 28th over in progress, 22 more to go Prem -> SHOT!! that was a rank bad ball, outside off, short and wide, lots of room so symonds winds up and blasts a cut high over point, one bounce onto the advertising boards, and that is 53 for the partnership off 71 balls, 139/4 the socre, 28th over in progress, akthar, and pak after that initial flourish struggling a bit here. Prem -> SHOT!! that was a rank bad ball, outside off, short and wide, lots of room so symonds winds up and blasts a cut high over point, one bounce onto the advertising boards, and that is 53 for the partnership off 71 balls, 139/4 the socre, 28th over in progress, akthar, and pak after that initial flourish struggling a bit here. Prem -> akthar, second over of his second spell, ball on off and defended by symonds. last ball, quick, outside off, seaming away, beats symonds on the checked drive and flashes through to latif, no damage done. Prem -> afridi, and symonds tucks into him. that was outside off, frist sign of loose stuff from him, and symonds latches onto that, muscles a drive over wide mid off, four all the way. that was hit very very hard. now a cut, and two to some very good running again between wickets. 146/4 aus. Prem -> faster ball, symonds cuts, misses, beaten by the extra pace. end of the over. 29 gone, 21 left and pak going further and further behind the clock, leading to a situation where they not only have giv en aus extra overs with some wayward bowling, but are also will be docked overs. 53/64 ponting, on strike to akthar in the 30th over, this is akthar's 7th. Prem -> 30th over, akthar in, and ponting up on his toes driving on the off but afridi fields well at cover. a bit of the buzz cominng off the pak outfit in the field, they were all over the place earlier, but seem to have run out of steam a little bit just now Prem -> that was a bad ball getting a wicket. wide of off, really wide, that would have been called, ponting swiped at it for no reason whatever, got the edge, and the one slip in place clutches on to it. he reached a long long way for that, taufic umar holding, 53/67 ponting and 146/5 aus in the 30th over. Prem -> quick breather here, be right back Prem -> quick breather here, be right back. brad hogg to face akthar, digs one in, hhogg defends and that one runs down to thrid man, would have been a catch in teh gully if there was a man there. single. 147/5 and a quick bouncer, that is seriously quick, 150k. symonds goes under it Prem -> akthar, last ball of the 30th, quick and on off, thick edge through the third slip region, single to end the over, 148/5. Prem -> afridi continues. symonds to the first ball, strokes out to the left of cover, gets the single. 149/5 and now symonds, 36 off 53, has to play the guiding, senior, role. ian harvey to come with lee, gillespie and mcgrath to follow and for aus, a need to try and bowl the aus out to make up for the slow rate. brilliant stop at point by afridi to a push by hogg, gets the single. next ball, symonds steps away from his stumps and cuts, this time makes the shot clean, gets the four he was looking for. 154/5 in 30.3. 40 off 54 balls symonds, and a paddle for two to the next ball. 156/5. Prem -> 67 runs for the third fifty, which is peretty quick. meanwhile, akram goofs. dived to stop in the gully, then flung a needless throw at the stumps when symonds wasn't going anywhere, latif taken by surprise, the aus ends up with a free single. hogg gets one to a drive down the ground to end the over. neat looking bat, hogg, decisive footwork on show thus far. end of the afridi over, 158/5 in 31 and the run rate 5.1. akthar off and razzaq back on. 5-0-31-0 so far Prem -> single to hogg first ball, to a ball on off, driving nicely to mid off standing back. 159/5. 117 dot bals and 46 singles, 19 twos and 17 fours in the aus innings, make that 18 fours. razzaq on middle and symonds moves across his stumps and flicks backward of square, this is brilliant batting. Prem -> razzaq, and symonds this time cuts, hard, umar at point throws his body behind it, correction that is younnis khan, manages to sttop the four, gives one. 164/5. Prem -> 32nd over, last ball, 38 in 5.5 for razzaq and under pressure, as is pakistan because their reliable fourth bowler is proving too expensive here. even more expensive in fact, as symonds steps out and slams one through cover, on the rise, four to end the over. that was again a good shot to a bad ball, short, wide of off, no movement, and at that pace, the tall, powerful symonds has no problem covering the line to drive. 52 off 60 symonds, 169/5 pak. 32 overs gone. Prem -> afridi resumes, and hogg cuts, gets the single out to point, 170/5. 33rd over. symonds on strike, finds an overpitched ball outside off, uses the width to drive hard, mid off dives to stop, single, 171/5. Prem -> 33rd over, and both batsmen now looking to push afridi around for singles to force the errors, good ploy, if afridi keeps getting taken for runs, he has to keep changing his line and that can cause errors. 173/5 at the end of 33. Prem -> Ironically, Warne's column today starts with the words: "MY third world cup starts today." It ended, unfortunately, and that is one of the big stars gone, self-destructed. Meanwhile, part time off spinner younis khan to bowl, and he is greeted by a fierce cut by symonds, four through point. rocked back to make room for that shot. 177/5. an on drive next up, single, 178/5. 5.25 the run rate Prem -> 34th over, hogg on strike, younis bowling primarily to do something about the over rate i would imagine, which right now is in the pits. 34th over, hogg takes the single, symonds takes the next ball on the full and drives, razzaq runs around and dives to bring off a great stop. two for it, that could have been four. another drive, to mid off, gets symonds one more, 182/5 in 33.5. Prem -> younis khan to hogg, cut, finds point, no run, 182/5 at the end of 33, 17 more overs to bowl in 50 minutes by my watch. Prem -> afridi continues, and another brilliant cut. symonds to a ball just outside off, lays back, lets the ball cross the stumps then cuts hard, to put the ball between the two point fielders, that was pinpoint placement. 186/5. next ball, afridi under pressure goes wide of off and is called. 187/5. Prem -> ball two rebowled, and driven, hard, and akthar on the line at mid off does some wierd stunts on the dive, lets the ball through for four where there was a run at best. next ball is short and symonds clubs that through midwicekt, four, so that is 13 runs in the over already and three balls to be bowled. Prem -> 35th over, last ball, afridi to symonds and bang, onto the front foot and blazing an extra cover drive, four more. 17 runs scored and one more ball to go, 199/5 and symonds is turning it on now, against the two part timers. no run off the last ball, 199/5 in 35, 16 more to be bowled. Prem -> suddenly, the run rate is up to 5.69, the last five ovrs produced 10.2 rpo. younnis ckhan continues, and gets one to turn from outside hogg's off stump, makes you wonder what saqlain could have done here. ball two again, fullish, just outside off, and younis tries to cut then pulls out. ball three, driven down the ground off the front foot, single, 200/5 the score, in the 36th over. the fourth 50 came off just 31 balls, the previous 50 had come off 67. symonds drives, straight abck down the track, single, 201/5. Prem -> suddenly, the run rate is up to 5.69, the last five ovrs produced 10.2 rpo. younnis ckhan continues, and gets one to turn from outside hogg's off stump, makes you wonder what saqlain could have done here. ball two again, fullish, just outside off, and younis tries to cut then pulls out. ball three, driven down the ground off the front foot, single, 200/5 the score, in the 36th over. the fourth 50 came off just 31 balls, the previous 50 had come off 67. symonds drives, straight abck down the track, single, 201/5. Prem -> hogg has his role clearly defined. take the single, let symonds muscle aus through to a huge score. 5.64 the run rate here, and younnis completes what, in the circumstances, qualifies as a very decent over. taking a break here, be right back in two. Prem -> okay, back and picking up play with aus on 208/5. just one scored off afridi so far in this over, now another as hogg off drives, he's been doing this well, hogg, hitting the drive on the off for the single, they might want to block that shot to him. 209/5 at the end of 37, afridi really rushed through that last over Prem -> symonds now 84 off 79 and motoring. younnis khan to hogg, makes that turn, he is flighting well and landing his off breaks around off stump, hogg sweeps and misses the second ball. 38th over, khan for the third time, hogg cuts, fielded at point, they sneak a single as akthar fumbles, and symonds gets the strike rate back. 2 hours 48 minutes gone in the innings, 3.30 is the cut off, so 40 minutes left to bowl 13 overs here. hogg looked for a single there, came a long way down, had to go back as symonds played to point and never looked likely to run. paddles the next ball, down to fine leg, two for it, 212/5 the score. Prem -> younnis no balls. that is another extra. 38th over, last ball, hogg plays to midwicket, no run, another decent over by the part timer. Prem -> younnis has led pak in 56 odis and won 35, but his captaincy is not exactly up there in terms of strategy, the team tends to do well when one of the stars fires. afridi to symonds, single on the paddle sweep. meanwhile, point here is, pak's best bet is to bring akram back and attack for wickets. bowl aus out, and the slow rate wont matter. otherwise, pak is sure to be docked over,s and that will make things tough. single meanwhile to hogg, afridi into his 8th over, already gone for 50. 216/5 pak. symonds cuts, but finds point, no run Prem -> that's the wicket, younnis khan brilliant at the more backward of two points. symonds cut, hogg again went for the single, younis dives, stops, throws before he can recover his footing and hogg short a meter or more from his ground. gone for 14, and aus 216/6 aus which will bring ian harvey to the crease, in the 40th over. Prem -> afridi to harvey, on off and pushed out to mid off, no run, ends the 40th over, 216/6. Prem -> correction, that is 39 overs gone, younnis bowling the 40th, 10 more to go after this in about half an hour, and symonds cuts, hard, gets two, a ball after a powerful on drive had gotten him a brace to the first ball. 220/6 and now a single to widecover, aus 221/6 Prem -> if symonds can power aus to 275 or so, that puts aus in control here. afridi meanwhile rushing his overs, at the expense of control, and both batsmen working him around the park for singles, 223/6. one ball left, in the 40th, on off and no run as it is played back down by harvey. 223/6 the score after 40 Prem -> afridi continues. symonds smashes that one. salim elahi does brilliantly, running from cover on the line to wide mid off sweeping, to cut it off. next ball, symonds chops on line of off, and almost plays on, ball bounces over the stumps. ball three, pucnhes, through point, and that completes a magnificient 100, his first in odis and the celebrations are on, ponting leading the cheering. ponting backed him, wanted him in the side, and symonds has paid him back. 92 balls, 15 fours, in the 42nd over, and he celebrates with a blazing cover drive next ball tha went through waqar at cover and to the fence before anyone could move. 233/6. Prem -> there was much negative comment to symonds selection, at the time the squad was announced. if this is any indication of what he can do, then it could well be the most inspired of their selections. younis khan meanwhile to bowl over number 42. 234/6 and a single to harvey to mid off Prem -> younis khan sacrificing control in the interests of just zipping the ball down quick, here, to finish off overs, symonds and harvey milking him for singles through the off but singles are a lot better than what symonds in particular has done to afridi. 239/6 and six singles in that younis over. Prem -> 5.69 the run rate, 8 overs to go, 57 minutes left so pak have pulled it back a bit and are more control in of the time. which signals the come back of akthar to the crease. harvey on strike, defends on line of off Prem -> akthar, annd symonds works the single. akthar now bowling around the 140k mark, well within himself. one ball left in the over. that is short, hooked, and a single ends the over 245/6. Prem -> younis khan continues, strays down leg and that is suicide, flicked gently down to the fine leg fence for four. 249/6. the over rate is really hurting pak here, since they cant really attack with the quicks. single next ball, 250/6. Prem -> 44th over, last ball, younis khan to ian harvey who has been giving symonds good support, huge swing there but misss, end of the over, 251/6 aus and now looking at, what, 280, 290? Prem -> that, plus overs docked, and pak could be in big trouble for its own lack of thought. meanwhile, symonds, 111, takes a single off the first ball of akthar, harvey on 11 back on strike Prem -> that was a good slower ball, swinging in on yorker length,harvey slips trying to control the defensive push, but manages to recover and still run the single. symonds backs away looking to slap one over point, misses. 253/6. Prem -> 44.3 overs gone, akthar again to symonds, fullish, punched to mid on, single. 254/6. Prem -> fortune favors the brave symonds -- a slash at an inswinger from akthar, in the air and younis khan gets a hand to it but out it goes, tough chance but it should have been taken. last ball, short, and harvey pulls the four. 5.78 the run rate now, 260/6 in 45 the score Prem -> 5 overs to go, i make it 10 minutes or less on the clock, and akram brought back. pak needs wickets, four of them and quick, if it is to not be docked overs. akram, and symonds carves it to deep cover, single, 262/6 in 45.2 Prem -> akram, and harvey walked across trying to play to leg, popped it up, but the ball fell short of akram, and they snuck a single under his nose, that is amazing stuff. Prem -> brilliant. akram on middle, but symonds walked across and flicked, took toll of the fact that short fine leg was standing up, four. followed by a single off the outside edge, to third man. 52 ff 42 the partnership, following a 70 off 57 partnerhsip by hogg. 45.5 gone, 268/6 and if symonds continues, aus are looking at 300. meanwhile, now they take a single to the keeper, slight fumble by latif and they are off, amazing. 269/6 at the end of 46. Prem -> 115/110 hogg, 24/18 harvey. four overs to go, so buckle up, because this is when symonds will want to really push things. akthar, yorker, pushed back hard down the track, good stop on the follow through.; Prem -> interesting, walked down thet rack as akthar ran in, then put his bat in front of body and angled it over to the on side, single, 270/6 Prem -> akthar, third mall,a nd harvey makes room, swings, gets the toe of the bat on it and he is gone, younis right on the line at long off, runs around and takes a great one, his second for the game. 270/7 in 46.3. Prem -> that wicket puts lee, gillespie and mcgrath on the plate and a very very faint chance for pak to retrieve things. lee the new man in, 270/7 and the batsmen crossing means symonds is on strike, powers a drive for a single to cover. 271/7 Prem -> Lee defebnds to the next ball, 47th in progress, one ball left, 6 minutes left on the clock. pak just might sneak clear of penalities, since there is only three more to go. akthar, to lee, bouncer, and left alone. 271/7. Prem -> 117 off 113, symonds, and on strike, takes akram from off, by steppoing away, and bangs it over point, incredible power on that shot and four more. really made room, that was premeditated. next ball, another swing, thick edge, and four to third man. you could say that was out to first slip, but no first slip here, and 279/7 now the score. Prem -> 125 now symonds, and a single next ball to short fine leg, lee on strike, defends to akram, 280/7 the score, in 47.4. Prem -> akram, to lee, ball five, yorker, lee digs it out Prem -> akram, last ball, full toss looking to york, lee drives, to long on, gets two, 282/7 in 48 Prem -> it is all suddenly going awry. younis tries a slower ball, that went as a head high slow full toss to symonds, umpire gives him his only warning, but more to the point, latif misjudges and two byes. next ball, symonds picks one from length and blasts it high over wide long on, huge wind up for that shot, six. that was brute force, and great eye. 291/7 now and symonds hits the next one to cover, single. Prem -> run rate up over 6 now, 296/8 at the end of the over, and one over left to play, pak stuffing up spectacularly after a spectacular start, which sounds oh so familiar really. Prem -> akram continues, and that has to be the shot of the match, symonds skips down the track and swings, line, length, everything irrelevvant, just powers that one over the bowler's head for a huge six, then cares the next to cover, single. 303/8 Prem -> akram, to gillesipe standing a long way outside his off, akram goes wider. gillespie misses, but the next ball, akram loses control, full toss outside off, slashed through point, four more. Prem -> yorker, and gillespie tries to glance and misses. 6.2 rpo now, 308/8 and two balls to go. akram, to gillespie, on middle, driven, single is all they take, to give symonds the last ball. Prem -> 309/8 in 49.5, akram to symonds, who makes room, tries to drive, akram follows him, edge, latif dives, stops, single taken and that is aus 310/8 in 50 overs and symonds walks off after an incredible innings, the best of the world cup so far if you look at all the contexttual points. And with that, off now for half an hour, be back for the chase. Prem -> Hi, and itt is back to the Wanderers, for the Pak reply to Aus mammoth 310. taufeeq umar taking strike to mcgrath, afridi at the other end and aus on the park will look to attack, since they have the runs to do it with. mcgrath goes wide with the third ball, down leg and going further, pak 1/0 Prem -> ball three rebowled, and taufeeq drives it back down the track, fielded at mid on, no run Prem -> pakistan has been docked an over for slow over rate and it needs saying that pak are lucky it is only one over. great ball from mcgrath meanwhile, just full enough to draw the batsman forward, stepped up pace a bit as well, and seamed it late, squared the left hander up and beat the outside edge. ball five, 132k or thereabouts, in the corridor around off and cutting in, umar lets it go Prem -> 1/0 at the end of the first over. umar, who plays for habib bank, is 21 or so they say, and has played six for pak, supposed to be one of the up and comers. meanwhile, at the other end it is shahid afridi with two slips behind him taking jason gillespie, a 136.55 k outside off delivery first up, seaming away, afridi lets it go Prem -> At 22, whichis Afridi's original age, he has already played 173 games for Pakistan, which is an indcation of the phenomenal amount of odis that are played these days. gillespie meanwhile focussed on that line outside of off going further, butt for now too wide of off to tempt afridi into flirting. ball three is good, 140.6k, on off straightening to middle, afridi squaring up to defend in front of his body Prem -> afridi's strike rate is 101, topped only by sehwag, his average though is a mere 24.4. beauty from gillespie, that was quick, right in the corridor, squared afridi up thanks to the line, then left the bat late very close to the outer edge. 1/0 still the score. ball four, same kind of delivery at close to the same speed, but wider of off, and that lets afridi watch it go Prem -> gillespie looks in very good rhythm, really. easy run up, which he has shortened from his early days without making much difference to his pace, makes that kick, afridi in trouble as he defends, ball hits the bat high and loops in the air but no one close in front on the on to hold. rollsout to mid on, no run, 1/0 after 2. Prem -> gillespie looks in very good rhythm, really. easy run up, which he has shortened from his early days without making much difference to his pace, makes that kick, afridi in trouble as he defends, ball hits the bat high and loops in the air but no one close in front on the on to hold. rollsout to mid on, no run, 1/0 after 2. Prem -> 6.6 the asking rate, be interesting to see how pak approach it. mcgrath continues, bowling around the 133k mark now, taufeeq defends, has an average of 30 with two fifties in his 7 games. that one cut in very sharply, taufeeq was playing the line outsiee off and looking to cut, when the ball jagged back in, he had to scramble to defend, ball off the inner edge flashes very close to the leg stump. next ball, outside off and taufeeq drives, and misses. Prem -> mcgrath to taufeeq, off line, a blocked push without much conviction, no run. Prem -> short ball, and pulled, beats square leg, they get two, got on top of that pretty well, taufeeq, and rolled his wrist to keep it down. 3/0 the score Prem -> 6.7 the ask as gillespie readies to bowl his second over. to afridi, who pushes with an open bat, thick edge takes it to point, misfield there by martyn, single taken, 4/0 Prem -> gillespie to umar, who tries to push, not sure of the line, the field meanwhile two slips, point, cover, mid off, which means aus are still not sure they can pack the infield, would rather sit on their huge total. umar meanwhile has a huge swing at the next ball, outside off, but thick bottom edge takes it to mid on, no run. bat face shut too ealry there. 4th over, 4/0 pak Prem -> gillespie to umar, this one is on middle and he drives, past mid on, a bit in the air and through to the fence for four. 8/0 Prem -> gillespie for the 5th ball of the fourth over, umar this time opens the bat face and runs one down from outside off to third man, gets the single. 9/0 Prem -> there goes number one. gillespie has been bothering afridi more than enough, that one was perfect, right in the corridor, bringing the batsman forward, leaving him late, finds the edge through to the keeper, and pak 9/1 with afridi, pushed to the top to provide a huge start, walking back in the fourth over. Prem -> when this guy is fit, his bowling is a treat to watch. picture perfect action, especially that delivery stride, which is as classical as they come. salim elahi meanwhile the non-striker as mcgrath resumes, to taufeeq umar. Prem -> elahi and taufeeq both play for habib bank, elahi is 26, with 36 caps for pakistan, and seen as one of their best youngg batsmen. mcgrath meanwhile focussing on that line around off, goes past the bat and it is close enough tto the edge for mcgrath tto try an appeal. no deviation, but on the snickometer, it shows there was a faint edge, no one really appealed with any vigor on that one so the umpire, d'silva, didn't give it. 9/1. next ball, hitting line of off, coming back, hitting umar on the pad, lbw appeal but that was too high to be given, would have gone over the stumps. Prem -> mcgrath again to umar, on off, umar for an opener moves around too much in the crease, bobbing all over the place initially which puts him at a disadvantage when it comes to judging line and length. actually, guys like rameez raja, wasim akram, even javed miandad on one occasion have all told us of how pak rushes its youngsters into the big time, without really giving them time to iron out their technical floaws. more of that later, it is abck to gillespie, bowling to elahi. Prem -> outside off that ball, and elahi nicely forward, drives, long chase there but the aussies drag it back, three for that, 12/1 in 5.2 the score Prem -> maher with the sliding save, brad hogg was following him, recovered the ball and threw it in. another great stop this time at mid on as umar drives fluently to the next ball, from ,ine of his off stump Prem -> gillespie to umra, wide of off, in fact wide enough tobe called and the batsman had a wild hevae at it, ponting style. lucky not to touch, he was actually looking to hit that over mid on froma bouit seven feet outside off. gillespie again, to umar, 13/1 pak, in the 6th over and that one was down leg, umar flicked, gilchrist held, appeal for caught behind but there was no touch, and in the process, umpire shepherd gets distracted enough to not call the wide. Prem -> 5.4 overs gone, gillespie and a full toss outside off, again umar swings from well outside off to the leg side, no run, that was the thick bottom edge, and he has also done some damage to the bat with that cross bat heave. Prem -> gillespie to umar, that one was a beaut, on off seaming just enough and climiing as it passed the bat. no touch, no run, 13/1. be right backj Prem -> mcgrath to elahi, missed a boundary while i was away on a short toilet break, 17/1 the score, and now elahi moves across his stumps and works him through the square leg region which is vacant, gets two. elahi looks a lot better at the crease than umar does, far more compact. Prem -> mcgrath again, shiffules outside off and slams a square drive, superb stop by hogg at point Prem -> two slips and a gully now for elahi, mcgrath on off and elahi again to point, no run, mcgrath bowling around the 136k mark here. 6 in the over, one ball to go Prem -> 7th over, last ball, 19/1 pak and mcgrath to elahi, on off, flowing cover drive but straight to the fielder, no run, that is the kind of thing that will cause false shots, when you play it right and good fielding keeps the board static. that was hit very clean, but fielded with absolutely no fuss Prem -> 6.95 the ask, and gillespie continues to umar, wide of off and a slashing cut from the batsman misses. Prem -> umar has been trying to work the ball into the gaps, but for now, there aren't any gaps to be seen. meanwhile, off to one corner of the ground, lee stretching his hamstrings against the advertising hoardings, getting ready to bowl, should be in action soon. gillespie again fires in a quick ball past the outer edge of umar, on the slant across the off stump. pak has a problem with its openers and that is showing here. gillespie, two slips, no gully, on leg and played to point, again, good fielding, again, no way of taking a single. Prem -> gillespie to umar, 19/1 pak, fifth ball of the over, on middle and pushed to mid on, fielder in very quick. even when aus were struggling there were lots of quick singles on offer, the aus fielders though are giving absolutely nothing away. it was those singles that for aus kept the board ticking, the tighter fielding here is putting pressure on pak. gillespie, and this time, umar has the line in control, just around off and smashes it through wide mid on, no one moves as that rockets tot he fence, 23/1 at the end of 8 Prem -> the clouds are off, conditions are good for batting, 7.02 is the ask and mcgrath to elahi who shuffles a long way across and cuts, misses. the one problem with elahi is his shuffle, that takes him from leg stump, which is his guard, to a bit outside off, whicha crtually cramps him in that area besides exposing his leg stump. next ball, worked off the hips out to midwicket, two for it, 25/1 in the 9th over Prem -> 2 slips and a gully for mcgrath to elahi, that one cut in from outside off, tucked down to backward square, single, 26/1 Prem -> that one cut in a long way, really. umar, again, cuts without getting into line, misses. Prem -> mcgrath to umar, two slips, now a gully, there as well, and umar plays to gully, no run. Prem -> mcgrath, and umar has a swing, looking to pull, hits over the ball, hit on the pad but too high for the lbw, no run. 26/1, 9 overs gone, and the ask already up one point from the original six plus Prem -> 7.13 the ask, gillesipie to elahi who again shuffles across his stumps, and pushes out to the on side, gets the single, 27/1. Prem -> gillespie, and umar this time pushes from close to the off, out on the off side, gets the single, 28/1. 10th over in progress. third ball, gillespie, to elahi, again a long way across, trying to flick, misses, hit on the pad, gillespie appeals, but that hit the pad a long way outside off Prem -> gillespie, and a wide down leg. i suspect gillespie there was trying to bowl elahhi around his pads, seeing the exposed leg stump and trying to take advantage. 29/1 Prem -> gillespie again, on off and driven, thick edge onto his pads and out on the on side, no run Prem -> if pak is to have a chance, it has to keep the board ticking against the three frontline bowlers, then go after the part timers. but tight bowling and excellent fielding have blocked the possibility of runs here, gillespie cutting pace down in favor of accuracy here. Prem -> 29/1 at the end of 10, a run rate of 2.9 and an ask, now, above 8. which, for a side chasing, is not too much of a worry on a batting track, since two ggood overs is enough to bring it down, but the real worry is the aus fielding, which has given nothing away. Prem -> mcgrath, and umar to the first ball just pushes a leg out, not into line or anything, and has a swing. this time, he connects and powers it back past the bowler, four. 33/1. 11th over, ball two, and umar cuts and misses to a ball outside off Prem -> 16 in 38 balls with three fours umar, which means that barring those three boundary hits, he has managed just 4 singles in 35 deliveries, and that kind of thing wont do at the start of an innings. Prem -> mcgrath, and this time, umar comes two steps down the track, and swings, taking the ball on the rise and smashing it past mid on for four. that was a asmaching shot, hit like you would off a spinner. 37/1. Prem -> mcgrath, fullish, driven, edge onto pad and a quick single taken after some hesitation by elahi. Prem -> 9 in this over, mcgrath with one ball left, to elahi now. two slips, no gully. elahi across, drives on the up, finds cover, no run, 38/1 the score Prem -> 21 umar off 41, and now on strike to, guess who from the noise, brett lee, 100 wickets off 56 games. taking over from gillespie here. very full, umar reached for that, there was a noise, they ask for a caught behind, not given. not sure if that was bat onto ground, or not, but it doesnt matter, the next ball is a bouncer, lee's second in world cups, umar goes for a pull, taken by surprise by the height and the pace, hit high on the bat and held at square leg, simple catch to brad hogg, 21 off 43 umar and gone, 38/2 pak. Prem -> inzy the new man, and thee slips, a wide leg slip in place as lee steams in and lets fly outside off, no ball. 39/1. Prem -> lee has already won round one of his battle with akthar, i'd think -- got an early wicket, which akthar couldn't in his spell. in he comes, to inzy, on off and gently played on the on, single taken, 40/2. Prem -> lee has already won round one of his battle with akthar, i'd think -- got an early wicket, which akthar couldn't in his spell. in he comes, to inzy, on off and gently played on the on, single taken, 40/2. Prem -> lee has already won round one of his battle with akthar, i'd think -- got an early wicket, which akthar couldn't in his spell. in he comes, to inzy, on off and gently played on the on, single taken, 40/2. Prem -> lee has already won round one of his battle with akthar, i'd think -- got an early wicket, which akthar couldn't in his spell. in he comes, to inzy, on off and gently played on the on, single taken, 40/2. Prem -> lee has already won round one of his battle with akthar, i'd think -- got an early wicket, which akthar couldn't in his spell. in he comes, to inzy, on off and gently played on the on, single taken, 40/2. Prem -> lee has already won round one of his battle with akthar, i'd think -- got an early wicket, which akthar couldn't in his spell. in he comes, to inzy, on off and gently played on the on, single taken, 40/2. Prem -> lee has already won round one of his battle with akthar, i'd think -- got an early wicket, which akthar couldn't in his spell. in he comes, to inzy, on off and gently played on the on, single taken, 40/2. Prem -> lee has already won round one of his battle with akthar, i'd think -- got an early wicket, which akthar couldn't in his spell. in he comes, to inzy, on off and gently played on the on, single taken, 40/2. Prem -> a high speed of 98.2 miles per hour -- that was the no ball, that has to be the fastest ball. elahi meanwhile drives the next one outside off to point, no run. lee, ball five, to elahi, shortish, he pulls, but can't control it, lee has something to say, sort of like, what, boy, you want to pull? 40/2 in 11.5 Prem -> last ball of the over, 40/2 the score, elahi on strike, and pushing from line of off but finds cover, no run. end of the over. Prem -> last ball of the over, 40/2 the score, elahi on strike, and pushing from line of off but finds cover, no run. end of the over. Prem -> last ball of the over, 40/2 the score, elahi on strike, and pushing from line of off but finds cover, no run. end of the over. Prem -> last ball of the over, 40/2 the score, elahi on strike, and pushing from line of off but finds cover, no run. end of the over. Prem -> last ball of the over, 40/2 the score, elahi on strike, and pushing from line of off but finds cover, no run. end of the over. Prem -> 13 off 20 elahi, mcgrath meanwhile to inzy, who walks across his stumps and lets one through outside off. Prem -> 13th over, mcgrath's 7th, and that was outside off in the corridor, inzy pushes, lucky not to touch Prem -> that one was in the same slot as the previous ball, but jagged back off the seam, inzy letting it go for line and finds it flashing over the stumps Prem -> mcgrath, on off and inzy pushes to point. still no run, 12.4 ovrs, 40/2 the score Prem -> 5 dot balls, that is classic mcgrath, last ball to inzy, outside off, he has a hit at it, misses, lucky not to touch, 40/2 and a maiden in the 13th over. Prem -> lee, now, to elahi. aus at this point were 69/3, lee meanwhile bangs one down, elahi squares up, angles it down through the point region, gets the one. 41/2. Prem -> 26,620 the attendance figures for the day, meanwhile, lee bowls one on off and middle at 147.2k, inzy turns it round, gets one. 42/2 Prem -> 14th over, lee quick and full but wide of off, elahi has a rather ugly drive at it, edges onto pad, no run Prem -> lee, and elahi opens his bat face and runs it to third man, single, 43/2, that last was 156k which is furiously fast. Prem -> lee to inzy, that one kicked like crazy. inzy trying to get out of the way, as it climbed at high speed, gilchrist holds, but that is a no ball. that was a searingly fast ball, rising straight up into the batsman's face. 44/2 and lee in again to inzy with two slips. on leg and played ount in front of him, single, 45/2. Prem -> lee to elahi, outside off, seaming away and lifting, and left alone. 45/1 at the end of the over. Prem -> 15th over, mcgrath into his 8th and inzy goes for it. huge wind up and a blasting drive over cover, four. 49/1 Prem -> correction, 49/2 Prem -> mcgrath, outside off and he's gone. mcgrath put it a bit wider, inzy went for the same shot, the extra width meant the difference between the shot, and the wicket, thick edge to gilchrist, 49/3 pak. inzy gone 6/13 and pak reeling, this is the 15th over. Prem -> so all three quicks have done their job, got one wicket apiece, 14.3 overs bowled, youhanna the new man in. another batsman with a nice long walk across his stumps as he faces the ball, but he has a whole mess of runs in recent times. Prem -> mcgrath, outside off and youhanna goes for it, thick edge, but in the gap and four, 53/3 the score pak chasing 311 of the best. that is the 15 over mark, incidentally, aus can pull the field back if they want to but why would they? another wicket, and they will be into younis khan, razzaq and the tail Prem -> lee continues, elahi on strike and on off, played out on the off side, no run Prem -> lee continues. mcgrath meanwhile looks likely to bowl out his ten, which is a bit of a twist, lee makes one climb, no ball, rose up as though it was climbing a ladder, brilliant bouncer, no for being above shoulder height but this is magnificient spell of fast bowling. lee again to elahi, the two slips in place, that is wide and elahi goes for it, bang, over oint off the toe of the bat, 58/3. Prem -> lee still storming in, ponting still attacking, 19 to elahi, on strike now. quick, full, elahi across the stumps, tucks it away to leg, symonds dives to stop. that was 153k, the ball, lee has kept this feroucious pace going right through. 59/3 th e score. yyouhanna now on strike after that single. stands tall and that is a glorious extra cover drive. moved into line to another 153k sizzleer, and drove on the up as though he was driving a spinner. that is cricket at its best, fast bowler, top speed, greatshot. 63/3. and now he forces to point, but finds the fielder, end of the over, 63/3 the score in 16 Prem -> mcgrath, outsie off, elahi has a huge hit looking to go over cover, misses, ball flashes ast the edge, and mcgrath says hello. next ball, angled away off the open face of the bat, single results to third man. 64/3 Prem -> 17th over, mcgrath's 9th, on off and pushed in front of him by youhanna, no run though as mcgrath comes storming down the track to field Prem -> the aussie card says 311. what is interesting is, besides symonds, the only innings of real substance was 53 from ponting. other than that, a couple of 20s, and 31 extras as the third highest score. Prem -> youhanna looking to force mcgrath away and failing, against these slight variations of length and line from aussies' premier bowler. mcgrath, outside off and youhanna lets it go. 64/3 at the end of 17 Prem -> lee to continue, no respite here for pak, that one flashes down leg side, elahi looked to help it along, no wide called. Prem -> lee to elahi, on middle and a no ball, played down and they scamper a single, 66/3. Prem -> lee again, on line of middle and a great shot, youhanna into position and whipping it through square leg, good use of the wrist, using the pace of the ball, four. 70/3. Prem -> 12 off 11 balls youhanna with three fours, lee again, and that one kicked off length, and youhanna has to turn his face away, hit on the handle and i'd think a touch on the finger as well Prem -> lee to youhanna, again flashing down leg side, again shep thinks that is fine, not a wide Prem -> lee to youhanna, on off and worked out into the cover region, jimmy maher, single, 71/3 with that single. Prem -> 3.98 the present run rate, 7.70 the ask rate. lee in again, around 152k that ball, and elahi guides it to third man, single. lee bowling pretty much every ball over 150k.72/3, at this point, aus were 91/4. Prem -> mcgrath, into his last over, on line of off and all kinds of confusion there, yes, no maybe, hello, good to see you, almost a shake hand in midpitch -- this is what aggressive fielding does, finally elahi manages to dive back into his ground and almost hit his own wicket. Prem -> 19th over, 10th for mcgrath, elahhi on strike, 72/3, two slips in place and elahi drives, and again, no run, but a shy ends in an overthrow and they get two. 74/3. Prem -> oh geez what kind of shot was that? at roland garros, that would have been a line drive, a big wind up and a forehand down the line by elahi is the best way to put it, four to the straight field, then walks across to the next ball and flicks over square leg, another single for that, and 79/3 the score in the 19th over Prem -> mcgrath, and now youhanna on drives, wide of midwicket, they come back for two, good throw but mcgrath fails to gether or that was a goner. two more and with that, mcgrath ends his regulation ten overs. Prem -> actually, an interesting thought that keeps floating around is, why limit bowlers to 10 overs per person anyway? why not give the captains the option of bowling whoever they want as long as they want. 91/3 the score, after 19, and ian harvey takes over from lee. Prem -> ian harvey, and ball one is chipped high, looking for the shot over mid on but playing too early, all the batsman manages to do, that is elahi incidentally, is to chip that loosener straight up in the air, fetching it from outside off to the waiting hands of lee at mid on, 30 off 40 elahi, and pak 81/4 in 19.1. Prem -> harvey in to youhanna who crossed while that ball was up there somewhere in the hevaens. played to point, no run Prem -> harvey in to youhanna who crossed while that ball was up there somewhere in the hevaens. played to point, no run Prem -> harvey and again, youhanna trying to work a rising delivery out on the on and gets in a tangle, no run. 82/4 the score, 19.4 overs gone Prem -> harvey to younis khan who parodies a pull, not really getting hold of that, single results, 83/4 and that is the end of 20 overs Prem -> brad hogg now comes into the attack, off spinner, pak meanwhile scoring at 4.15 and needed 7.86 from here. ball one is wide of off, but a premeditated paddle gets him single. 85/4. Prem -> younis khan on strike now, hogg taking ihs time as ponting fiddles with the field, slip in place, a blind push at the ball bowled over the wicket, by the left arm spinner. single. 87/4. Prem -> have to down the computer for some running repairs, will prolly take five, be right back Prem -> okay, back and picking up in the 22nd over, 88/4. younis facing harvey, outside off and pushed to point, another great piece of fielding by hogg at point, the two cross for a risky single. 89/4. Prem -> 8.07 now the ask, and youhanna goes dancing dwon, foxed by a slow ball by harvey, misses his attmept to glide. 22nd over here, in progress, harvey to youhanna who drives, harvey fields on the follow through. Prem -> last ball of the 22nd, pak 89/4, that was very wide of off and youhanna chases, lucky not to touch, wide called. 90/4. harvey ahs to bowl one more. 22nd over, last ball, on off and guided to third man, single, 91/4 in 22 Prem -> last ball of the 22nd, pak 89/4, that was very wide of off and youhanna chases, lucky not to touch, wide called. 90/4. harvey ahs to bowl one more. 22nd over, last ball, on off and guided to third man, single, 91/4 in 22 Prem -> hogg continues. turns the ball in, and youhanna defends. ball two, outside off, cut away, nicely controlled shot but finds point, no run. 23rd over in progress, next ball on off, youhanna defends Prem -> ball four, the sweep, youhanna reaching for that ball, hitting it behind square, four. 95/4. Prem -> a deliberately aerial paddle next up, from outside off going further, to fine leg, for a single, 96/4 to end the over, 23 gone Prem -> harvey continues. youhanna on strike, pak still needing 215. checked push gets the batsman a single on the off side, 97/4. Prem -> brad hogg, at point, is absolutely stunning. aus has ponting who mans that area but hogghas been given the job here and he is right up there with the rhodes, ponting types -- youhanna has been trying, throughout this over, to place it past him and no matter how he hits it, hogg is there cutting it off. 97/4 in 23.4 Prem -> harvey, slower ball and youhanna spots it and on drives, single. 98/4 Prem -> harvey, to younis who goes on the front foot and square drives, well hit but there is a man out there, just one to end the over. Prem -> back live, in time to watch as hogg bowls to youhanna who pushes out on the on and gets a single, 24.4 overs gone, 100/4 the score Prem -> hogg to younis khan who sweeps, single, 101/4 and the singles no longer a bother for aus, with the ask climbing steadily an the innings intot he half way mark. hogg floats one up, youhanna gets into a tangle trying to swing it around, that was a full toss but youhanna was moving before it was delivered, missed the shot. end of the 25th, 101/4 Prem -> 8.67 the asking rate, and harvey continues. and that is a magnificient catch. youhanna got under that ball, lifted it up and over midwicke, chipping it to make it fall short of the line, symonds racing down off the line and diving headlong in front of him at full tilt, pulls off a brilliant catch. 27/37 youhanna, and that is number five down for pak off the first ball of the 26th and now this game is as good as over. Prem -> which means that some tech work we need to this comp, to get it ready for tomorrow's audio commentary, can be done now, without really bothering with the rest of what has now turned into a formality. We'll turn the comp over to the tech types, guys, and tell you the rest of the story on the match report. And be back with you tomorrow, live, for India versus The Netherlands.

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