Australia started with a bang, Gilchrist hitting RP Singh for 3 consecutive boundaries before RP struck with a beautiful yorker uprooting his stumps. Ponting and Hayden steadied the innings, and then cranked up the tempo, and at one time, it looked like Australia would put up a score well over the 200 mark... but some awesome bowling by the spinners Harbhajan and in-form Murali Kartik ensure they managed only 166. Dhoni marshalled his resources beautifully, and some great strategizing ensured that India's plan of frustrating the Australians, especially Hayden, worked to a T - the Aussies could not capitalize on their start, and lost the initiative in the middle overs.India lost Sehwag very early, but young guns Robin Utthappa and Gautam Gambhir (who later won the man of the match award - a sexy white Maruti SX4) took charge, and carted the Aussies all over the field, coming especially hard on Brett Lee. And as the game progressed and the Indians took charge, the Aussie captain looked completely at a loss for strategies and tricks - boundaries and singles came with equal ease, the Aussie gifted away runs by the dozen through wides and no balls, with the free hits being taken for some serious runs. And by the time UV (Youraj) showed his devastating form hitting 3 sixes, including a consecutive pair, the win was just a formality. Dhoni did not waste time - a final six cementing the victory and proving this young Indian side could really take on the best in the world, and win!
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