India nail Aussies at Gabba

Team India created history at the Gabba on Tuesday (March 4) after it defeated Australia by 9 runs in the second finals of the cricket tri-series. It was a special moment for Team India as it won series in Australia after 23 years. Indian bowlers ripped through the Australian top and middle order.

After scoring a competitive 258 for nine largely built around Sachin Tendulkar's majestic 91, the Indians held their nerves in the tense dying moments to stop the Australians at 249 with two balls to spare and wrap up the best-of-three finals with a 2-0 margin.

It was a remarkable display by the Indians who not only conquered the mighty Australians in their own den but brought about a happy ending to a turbulent tour, marked by a racism row involving Harbhajan Singh and a series of on-field bickerings.

The Indians had entered the tri-series finals in 1986, 1992 and 2004 but had never managed to win a single match but made amends for their past failures with the thrilling win at the Gabba.

Paceman Irfan Pathan dismissed James Hopes in the very last over to bring India's moment of glory, triggering scenes of wild celebrations among the players as they hugged each other.

Man of the Match

Praveen Kumar has been declared as the 'Man of the Match'. He knocked out Adam Gilchrist, Ricky Ponting, Michael Clarke and Brett Lee cheaply. While Harbhajan Singh sent Symonds packing just when he looked dangerous at 42. India had set a target of 259 runs to win the 2nd final at Gabba on Tuesday (March 4).

Indian bowlers struck early on Tuesday (March 4) after setting Australia a target of 258 at Brisbane in the second final. Sachin Tendulkar missed out on his 43rd one-day century by 9 runs.

Praveen Kumar's triple strike early on gave India an upperhand. Adam Gilchrist was first to go, the wicket-keeper batsman edged one back to MS Dhoni at 2. Ricky Ponting's struggle with the bat continued as the skipper was caught by Yuvraj Singh at mid-on with Australia struggling in their chase losing two wickets with just 8 runs on the board.

Michael Clarke tried to steady the innings with Hayden, but soon Praveen Kumar broke through his defence.

Earlier Sachin Tendulkar and Robin Uthappa powered India to a solid start with a 94 run opening stand. Sachin Tendulkar continued his golden run with the bat but this time the master blaster missed out on 43rd ton by nine runs. A brilliant knock of Tendulkar was ended by a Ponting catch at 91 and soon after India lost the momentum. Skipper Dhoni led the way and made sure see India passed the 250-run mark.

Brief scores:

India: 258 for 9 in 50 overs (S Tendulkar 91, Yuvraj Singh 38, M.S. Dhoni 36; N Bracken 3/31 Michael Clarke 3/52)

Australia: 249 all out in 50 overs (M Hayden 55, J Hopes 63; P Kumar 4-46, S Sreesanth 2-43).

India score 258 for nine

India scored 258 for nine in 50 overs in the second of the best of three finals against Australia in the cricket tri-series here today.

Tendulkar guides India to 258 for 9

Sachin Tendulkar missed scoring his second successive century by nine runs as India piled up a competitive 258 for 9 against Australia in the second finals of the cricket tri-series here today.

Tendulkar, troubled by a groin niggle in the later part of the innings, provided the foundation with a controlled 91 but the Indians lost the momentum towards the end as they lost six wickets for 53 runs in a their bid to accelerate the pace of scoring.

Tendulkar faced 121 balls and hit seven fours as he gauged the slowish pace of the Gabba pitch to perfection and provided the heart to the Indian response. He put on significant stands of 94 and 54 for the first and third wickets with Robin Uthappa (30) and Yuvraj Singh (38) respectively before being dismissed in the 40th over at the team total of 205 for 4.

The day unfolded perfectly for the Indians as they won the toss and opted to bat on a surface which overtly favoured the batsmen. The start was slowish but solid as India moved to 50 inside the first 13 overs and were 73 for no loss at the first drinks break after 16 overs.

Uthappa hit the first four of the innings by hoisting Brett Lee in front of square but then clearly played second fiddle to Tendulkar who, dropped once early in his innings, decided that it after all was going to be his day.

Tendulkar was let off by Ricky Ponting at short cover off Nathan Bracken when he was on seven and team total was 23 for no loss in the seventh over, and from then on made Australia pay for their lapse.

Quotable Quotes

After the emphatic win, the Indian Captain M S Dhoni said:"I think, we didn't get a good start at the initial stage of the series but the way Sachin Tendulkar played in the last two matches, I think he blasted at the right time and that's what was expected of him. So, it's really good to have a team that is performing. Young guns, fresh legs on the field and the overall improvement. I think, it is one of the best tours that I have been in."

"Playing the top country in the world and beating them consecutively in two finals and not really playing the third final, the credit goes to the boys," a smiling Dhoni added

While Indian leg spinner -- Harbhajan Singh -- said:"We have won the series and that is what we eventually wanted to do. It's a great feeling and we are much more relieved and happy." When questioned about the controversies surrounding the series, Bhajji said:"Well, I was not bothered about that. I was here to play some good cricket and I have played throughout the series. I am really happy and we are really proud. Go India!," he exclaimed.

Indian pacer -- S Shreesanth -- reiterated:"It's fun to win in Australia since they are the world champions. I think, we can surely say that it's a great achievement."

While a dejected Australian skipper -- Ricky Ponting -- congratulated Dhoni and his men on the emphatic win in Gabba. "I think, the entire credit goes to the Indian team -- MS Dhoni and his men -- the way they played over the last week. They have certainly outplayed us in the two finals and they certainly deserve to go home with the trophy. You can't take anything away from India after the way they have played cricket. Our congratulations to them," he added.

An ecstatic BCCI Chairman -- Sharad Pawar -- congratulated the Indian team on its victory and said:" Team will arrive on the 6th of March in Mumbai.I wish to take the team to Delhi, where they will be given a grand reception. All the players have worked very hard for this win; especially, senior players have nurtured the news comers effectively. We listened to the players' recommendation of giving a chance to young players and it has payed off. "

The Indian Prime Minsiter -- Dr Manmohan Singh -- lauded Team India's performance against Australia at the Gabba and gave a statement in the Rajya Sabha:"Our warmest congratulations to all the cricket players, who have done our country immensely proud. What they have achieved is an indication of a great potential in the world of sports that exist in our country; given good leadership, good management, other sports can excel as well."

Dhoni lashes out at Aussie media after victory

Indian captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni lashed out at the Australian media for their unrelenting attempt to pin down Harbhajan Singh all summer after his side had won their first-ever tri-series title here today.

"Tomorrow we would be gone. They now need someone to replace him (to keep themselves occupied)," said a calm Indian captain.

"Sometimes it wasn't clear if it was only Harbhajan or Michael Jackson (they were covering)," Dhoni said after India beat the Australians by nine runs to win the best-of-three finals by a 2-0 margin.

Dhoni commended Harbhajan for standing up to the pressure and gave a backhanded compliment to the Australian cricketers and media for keeping him stirred.

"As a captain it helped me. More controversies and he became more determined. He is an aggressive, expressive player - someone who fights hard and wins the game. "The backlash worked for us. After sometime we got used to it. We knew everyday we open the newspaper there would be something.

"The best thing about human beings is that they get used to it. Maybe now in India, I would search the net for what is going on in Australia (now that we wouldn't be here)," he said.

Indian fans erupt in joy after tri-series triumph

For a nation that has always treated its cricketers like demigods, it was hardly a surprise to see fans taking to streets and thronging players' residences to celebrate India's historic ODI tri-series triumph in Australia today.

Soon after James Hopes' dismissal put paid to Australia's hopes in the match, the fans around the country erupted in jubilation.

The celebrations also had a hint of vengeance as some fans took it as India's answer to the Aussie swagger and their repeated targetting of Harbhajan Singh both during the Test series and the ODI tri-series.

Harabhajan's home, in fact, was thronged by the fans in Jalandhar soon after the last Australian wicket fell. Fans raised slogans in favour of Harbhajan, who was accused of racist abuse during the series, and danced to the tunes of Bhangra.

Harbhajan's mother Avtar Kaur congratulated the Indian team for the win. "Australians knew that Bhajji is emerging as a successful all rounder, they wanted to put mental pressure on him by making false allegations against him. At last, India through its win, gave a befitting reply to all the controversies," she said.

Similar scenes were witnessed at Uttar Pradesh allrounder Praveen Kumar's Meerut residence, where jubilant fans joined his family in celebrating the win.

Praveen took four wickets in today's match to wreck the Australian line-up and the impressive haul also earned him the man of the match award.

The mood was equally ecstatic in other parts of the country as people burst crackers besides dancing on the streets.

BCCI announces Rs ten crore award for Indian team

The Indian team which made history by beating Australia today by nine runs at the Gabba to clinch the ODI tri-series Down Under for the first time, will be given a cash award of Rs 10 crore, Cricket Board President Sharad Pawar has announced.

"Sharad Pawar has announced a cash award of Rs 10 crore. It will also be given a public reception in Delhi at the DDCA on March 6 on its return," said BCCI CAO Ratnakar Shetty from Brisbane.

India overwhelmed Australia in the best-of-three finals by a straight 2-0 margin, after having taken a 1-0 lead on Sunday at Sydney.

Grand reception awaits Indian team at Delhi

A grand reception will be accorded to the Indian team at New Delhi on March 6 to celebrate their first-ever cricket tri-series victory in Australia, BCCI President Sharad Pawar said here today.

The team will arrive in Mumbai and will later be flown to New Delhi, he told reporters during an informal interaction. Defeating Australia on its home turf was a "fitting reply". The future of Indian team appears to be bright, Pawar added. Lauding the team spirit of the Indian players, he said despite the fact that ace batsman Sachin Tendulkar has been hit with a ball, there had been no complaints from his side. The team had displayed great sportsman spirit, he said.

Vijay Mallya (Chairman Kingfisher Airlines and BCCI Marketing Committee member), who was also present described the victory as a "great day for India."

Fans celebrate India's win

There was an air of euphoria at Eden Gardens, the country's oldest cricket ground, with fans celebrating India's first-ever cricket tri-series title win on Australian soil in Brisbane today. Cricket fans held posters of Sachin, Dhoni, Harbhajan and Yuvraj and danced and burst crackers to celebrate the historic win against Australia.

We have closed the gap on Australia: Vengsarkar

Chief national selector Dilip Vengsarkar today described the Indian team's triumph against Australia in the ODI tri-series as "a fantastic and a historic one."

"It has come after a gap of 23 years (last ODI triumph in Australia was in 1985 in the world championship of cricket) to beat a team which has been the number one side in the world for the last ten years or so shows very clearly that India is fast closing the gap on Australia," Vengsarkar said.

The former India skipper said that over the last eight to ten months the squad is showing tremendous consistency and has developed the winning habit. "Before the end of my tenure (in September), I would like India to be the number one team in the world", he said, adding "We have won consistently over the last eight to ten months. The team has got the winning habit. It augurs well for the future," he said.

(With inputs from PTI and TIMESNOW)