India need 261 to beat Australia to play Pakistan in the Semis in the ICC World Cup

So far this ongoing ICC Cricket World Cup Q F at Motera Stadium in Ahmedabad has been going Ricky Ponting’s way…he won the Toss and elected to bat…he led from the front to score his sixth World Cup Ton and his 30th in ODIs as Australia compiled a relatively safe 260 for 6 on a relatively slow Motera Wicket….R Ashwin opened the Bowling but India got the first breakthrough only when he changed ends and bowled Shane Watson…Suresh Raina retained his place while Yusuf Pathan was dropped for Sehwag’s return

Dhoni used Seven Bowlers…except for himself,Gambhir,Raina and Sehwag,all bowled including Tendulkar and even Virat Kohli !….come to reflect all Indians can bowl !…In the past Sehwag and Raina too have been among wickets when given a chance to roll their arms……Two wickets a piece for R Ashwin,Zaheer Khan and Yuvraj…..Munaf Patel simply was ineffective and leaked too many runs

Methinks Dhoni made a tactical mistake both times when he called for Umpire Referral when batsman was adjudged Not Out….one was a LBW Appeal by bowler Munaf and the other was a caught behind by Dhoni…Review showed the height factor was huge in the first instance while the ball had grazed White’s arm in the second and not his Glove…what this meant is that India had used up it’s Two Umpire Referral Entitlements too early……so when Umpire adjudged  Ricky Ponting on 93 as Not Out when Bowler Harbhajan Singh appealed for a LBW decision,India could not ask for a referral….and Replay showed he was out…Commentators at the time were both Australian….Ian Chappell and Tom Moody…and both downplayed this by simply not commenting except opining before the replay that it must have pitched outside the stumps !…you can say Dhoni allowed Ponting to get to his Century ! 

Anyway Sehwag and Tendulkar should soon come out for India to chase 261 to enter the Semis and play Pakistan at Mohali later on this Month

Interesting Tussle ahead as genuine pacers Brett Lee,Tait and Johnson will come hard at the Indian Batsmen….we need to see the first ten overs out safely….let’s hope we don’t commit any batting harakiri !

Cheers !