Welcome to the highlights of India vs Australia - The 6th match of the 1996 Singer World Series quadrangular One-Day International cricket tournament between India and Australia was played at Sinhalese Sports Club Ground, Colombo on September 06, 1996.
Match Overview:
Glenn McGrath and Paul Reiffel's combined 5-wickets before Half-centuries from Steve Waugh and Stuart Law sets up to Australia thrilling three-wicket victory over India, despite Sunil Joshi's all-round efforts and Australia enter into the final in a rain-hit, nail-biting sixth match of a Singer World Series.
Match Report:
Half-centuries from Steve Waugh and Stuart Law propelled Australia to a three-wicket victory over India and into the Singer World Series cricket final.
Australia will now play Sri Lanka in tomorrow's final of the four-team limited overs tournament.
Waugh and Law took advantage of missed chances to thrust Australia to the brink of success with a fourth wicket stand of 113 as they pursued a target of 202 in 45 overs in the rain-hit match.
Waugh, dropped by Vinod Kambli at 34, went on to make 55 off 83 balls, hitting two fours. Having also taken one for 20, he won the man-of-the-match award.
Law struck a stylish 67 off 70 balls, including two sixes and three fours, after being dropped by Indian captain Sachin Tendulkar at 25.
After Waugh and Law were out in quick succession, Sri Lankan umpire K.T.Francis was the centre of controversy when India's fieldsmen challenged his decision to give Australian skipper Ian Healy not out on an appeal for run out.
Francis subsequently called for the third umpire to adjudicate on a slow motion television replay which showed Healy was in fact run out, having made four.
Healy and Michael Bevan, exchanged a few words with the umpire before Healy departed to some jeering from the crowd.
With four wickets left, Australia had to score five runs off the last over, bowled by leg-spinner Anil Kumble.
Brad Hogg was bowled for two off the first delivery but Paul Reiffel took a single off the next, giving the strike to Bevan, who struck the third ball through mid-on for four to clinch the win.
India, who were put in to bat, were dismissed for 201 in 41 overs after morning rain delayed the start by 85 minutes, reducing the game from 50 to 45 overs.
Indian wicketkeeper Nayan Mongia, promoted to open, provided a good start with 38 off 30 balls, hitting eight fours.
But wickets fell regularly, including Tendulkar for seven, so that India slumped to 89 for six in the 18th over.
Left-handers Saurav Ganguly and Sunil Joshi led a revival with a solid century stand off 20 overs. Ganguly was top scorer with 59 off 75 balls, including seven fours, while Joshi struck five fours in his 48 from 67 deliveries.
Paceman Glen McGrath was the most impressive Australian bowler with three for 33 off nine overs.
In-Depth Match Highlights:
India bowled out for 201 in the allotted 45 overs - match reduced from 50 to 45-overs per a side - due to morning rain delayed the start by 85 minutes - with top scorer by Sourav Ganguly struck 59 off 75-balls including 7-fours.
Sunil Joshi cracked a 48 off 67-balls - who fell two-run short of his half-century - including 5-fours and Nayan Mongia blasted a 38 off 30-balls included 8-fours with strike rate of 126.66.
Australia best bowler by Glenn McGrath picked up 3-wickets for 33-runs in 9-overs including a maiden with economy rate of 3.66, Michael Bevan, Paul Reiffel took 2-wickets and one for Steve Waugh - Mark Waugh.
Australia chase down the target of 202, finishing at 202 for 7 in 44.3 overs with top scorer by Stuart Law struck 67 off 70-balls Including 3-fours & 2-sixes.
Steve Waugh cracked a 55 off 83-balls, Michael Slater struck 29 off 56-balls including 4-fours and Mark Waugh hit 23 off 33-balls contained 3-fours.
India best bowler by Sunil Joshi, Anil Kumble and Venkatesh Prasad each took 2-wickets.
Steve Waugh named Player of the match for his match-winning all-round performance to scored a 55 off 83-balls including two boundaries after taking 1-wicket for 20-runs in 6-overs
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