261 was not an easy target to get. And when India were 187/5, it was Advantage Australia.
Then in walked Suresh Raina. Sachin had told Raina that he should play well, as this is a golden opportunity. And what an innings he played. He gave support to the in form Yuvraj. Yuvraj scored his fourth fifty in the WC, along with a century. He completed 300 runs in the WC. And he has eleven wickets. Most probably he will be the Man of the Tournament !
Raina finished with 34 not out. The six he hit off Brett Lee just blazoned forth his talent.
India has ended Aus's WC hopes. Now Aussies are out.
India now meet Pak in the semi final.
It was Aus who lost, not Ricky Ponting. His innings was without scintillating strokes, but was one of great character. He will be remembered for his swan song. He said his side did pretty well, till an in form Yuvraj and Raina snatched victory away from the Kangaroos.
Dhoni said Raina is technically more superior to Pathan. " With Pathan, we were not able to bat the entire 50 overs. Raina is technically better. I knew that if Yuvraj and Raina could bat the 50 overs entire, we would win" And win he did.
Can one four change the match? India were choking themselves, after Kohli and Gambhir did hara kiri and then Yuvraj hit a superb four past point. Another game changing shot was by Raina, who lofted Lee for a huge six. When the Australians were trying to take one wicket to put Ind under mighty pressure, Ind batsmen rose to the occasion, returning fire for fire !
The admirers, who thronged the Motera stadium to see Sachin's hundredth hundred, were not disappointed. They saw his 94th fifty and him cross the 18 K landmark ! Now he has 18008 runs in ODIs. He reads the WC with 379 runs ! He now has 32710 runs in international cricket, with 99 hundreds. He has scored 14692 runs in 177 Tests ! ( In ODI, Ponting is behind him. Ponting has 13288 runs ). In the World Cup, Sachin has 2175 runs, with 14 fifites and six hundreds !
Regarding Yuvraj, he has become India's talisman. This is the fourth time he is getting the Man of the Match Award. He may go on to become the Man of the Tournament ! He has 341 runs, with 11 wickets, with four fifties and one hundred !
This century may be the swan song of Ponting. He had his last WC supper yesterday. This is the end of a 15 year career. His brilliant century did not give Aus semi final berth. This is his 30th ODI hundred and fifth in the World Cup. His 104 off 118 balls, was characterised by seven fours and a six. He has 1743 runs in the WCs, with an average of 44.29. His highest score is the 140 no he made against India in the WC Final 2003. Most probably, the Aussie selectors may meet him with a Cross. They may not show mercy !
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