On this day in 2004: This was the 7th match of the VB series between India and Australia at the Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG). Against World Cup holders Australia, Sourav Ganguly won the toss and decided to bat first. India had a poor start and lost their captain in the second over to Brett Lee in the same over. Parthiv Patel and VVS Laxman laid the foundation with a half-century partnership before the wicket-keeper batsman was dismissed for 28. Rahul Dravid did not last long in the middle and Andy Bichel dismissed him for 12 runs.
Yuvraj Singh joined Laxman after scoring 80 for 3 in the 16th over. While Laxman kept the scoreboard aloft for another two and got the occasional boundary, Yuvraj went on the attack from the other end. His fifty came off 61 balls and included 5 fours. Hundred partnerships came off 115 balls and soon after India crossed 200 in the 39th over.
The partnership went from strength to strength and was equal to 150 runs off 168 balls. Yuvraj made his second ODI century in just 104 balls with 12 fours. Laxman soon joined the party and also completed his century – a little more observant – in 127 balls. Both added 200 runs in 202 balls.
He scored 22 runs in the 49th over of Ian Harvey – 1, 1, 6, 4, 4, 6. Laxman’s contribution remained single. The partnership ended in the 50th over when Yuvraj was dismissed for 139 runs in 122 balls with 16 fours and two sixes. The partnership of 213 runs in 206 balls between Laxman and Yuvraj was India’s best partnership for the fourth wicket against Australia.
India scored 296 for 4 wickets. Laxman remained unbeaten on 106 off 130 balls. Irfan Pathan got the first wicket of Simon Katich. Adam Gilchrist and Ricky Ponting then added 126 runs for the second wicket in a very short time to take the game away from India.
Although Australia lost wickets early, rain interference helped them and the target was revised to 225 in 34 overs.
India put up a fight but the home team lost by two wickets with a ball to spare. Irfan Pathan and Ganguly took three wickets each for India. For Australia, Gilchrist scored 95 runs in 72 balls. But Yuvraj Singh was declared the player of the match.
get all IPL news and cricket score Here
,