In heroic 93- run win over World XI
By - Clifford Landers (SNNI) Melbourne - Images by - Johann J & Vernon T (SNNI) Melbourne

Melbourne - Australia dished out a self-inspiring performance by trouncing a formidable ICC World XI by 93 runs in the first of three one-day Johnnie Walker Super Series matches played at the Telstra Dome here yesterday.

The Aussies grouped valiantly and successfully as they inflicted defeat on the best of the world players thus discrediting critics who called for various changes to the squad.

Aussie left-hand openers Adam Gilchrist and Simon Katich built a sound foundation after their skipper Ricky Ponting had won the toss and elected to bat before a disappointing 4000-odd crowd. The pair seemed to have regained form piling on 80 runs in just 14.1 overs before Gilchrist’s brisk knock of 45 in 48 balls with seven fours ended bowled by medium pacer Jacque Kallis’s inswinger.

Katich started off slowly and gained momentum whilst playing some effective strokes and brought up the team 100 in just 16.2 overs. While his side’s score was threatening to rise rapidly his partnership of 48 in 8 overs with Ponting ended. Ponting’s controversial Kookabura bat dubbed ‘Kahuna’ earned him a quick 23 in 26 balls which contained a solitary four and six. When Sri Lankan spin maestro Muttiah Muralitharan was brought on in the 18th over and slowed down the run flow, Damien Martin- the victim of the Ashes who was axed from the Test squad- inflicted pressure on his one-day career as he was foxed for a duck by Murali - caught at mid-on.

Katich who was caught off a no-ball when on 36 at fine leg notched up his fifty in 68 balls with four boundaries. He was Murali’s second victim caught and bowled for a noteworthy 58 off 79 balls with four fours as the Aussie scoreboard gathered concern at 142 for 4.

The World XI spin duo of Murali and Daniel Vettori claimed six of the eight Aussie wickets to fall. Although Murali who delivered an outstanding first spell claiming 2 for 19 off six overs and finished with 2 for 41 from 10 overs, it was Kiwi left-arm spinner Daniel Vettori who bagged bowling honors with 4 for 33 off 10 overs.

The world’s leading all-rounder Andrew Flintoff bowled poorly conceding 66 runs from 9 overs.

After the dismissal of Clarke (6) to be 154 for 5, the inform and hard hitting Andrew Symonds was joined by workhorse Micheal Hussey and the pair rebuilt the innings with a 63 ball 52 run partnership before Symonds held out to long-on off Vettori for 36 in 54 balls with one four and six. The tail with modest partnerships boosted the score to 255 for 8.

When the ICC World XI challenged the Aussie total, Sri Lankan Kumar Sangakara opened the batting with Indian Virender Sehwag but was compelled to watch helplessly as wickets tumbled at the other end. Once again it was the disciplined and ageing Glen Mcgrath that caused the damage capturing Sewag (6) and Jacque Kallis (8) during his first spell of 2 for 14 from 7 overs. When Brian Lara was dismissed for a 2-ball duck by Nathan Bracken the World XI was in spot of bother at 3 for 50 in 13 overs.

Two balls prior to Lara’s dismissal Sangakara was given a virtual life on 32 by Simon Katich off Bracken at mid-off due to a miscalculated overhead attempt. He made good of the ‘life’ and notched up his 50 in 62 balls with his seventh boundary- a dangerously lofted cut shot which flew past the diving fielder at cover.

India’s disciplined ‘giant’ Rahul Dravid was shaping up for a big innings but was beaten for pace by Brett Lee as his effort to place the ball on the leg took a top edge and was caught at short point by Ponting for 4.

England’s Kevin Pieterson joined Sangakara with the score at 4 for 75 but failed to find the Ashes form and lasted just 2 overs before he was trapped leg-before by Watson for a disappointing 2.

An easy catch was dropped by Lee off Flintoff at deep-square leg off Watson on 6 with the score at 90/5 but immediately after entering the 100 mark off 28 overs Sangakara’s attempt to accelerate the score proved futile as his powerful cut was brilliantly caught by Ponting at point off Watson for a gallant 66 in 94 balls and seven fours.

His dismissal to steady the innings failed and the World XI’s chances disappeared as the latter batsmen crumbled to the accurate bowling and tight ground fielding by the Aussies to be all out for a paltry 162 with over 8 overs to spare.

All five Aussie bowlers shared the wickets with man-of-the-match in all-rounder Shane Watson most outstanding with 3 for 43 from 10 overs.

A jubilant Ricky Ponting said that it was a great team effort that brought about this much sought after win and will be looking forward to Friday’s game in a bid to prove to the world that they are no pushovers despite losing a Test series by one games in England.