BRISBANE, 19 January 2004 - Australia failed in its bid for a second record-breaking innings in as many days, suffering its first defeat of the tri-nation one-day cricket series against India at the Brisbane Cricket Ground here yesterday.
A valiant effort by opening batsman Matthew Hayden, who walloped 109 from 107 balls to try and lift his side past India's impressive tally of 303 for four, didn't get the support it needed from Australia's early order. It was Hayden's third one-day century and his first in Australia.
In the end, the home side was dismissed for 284, still 20 runs short of victory with two balls remaining in their quest to pull off what would have been a record-breaking win.
On Friday, Australia had clocked up the biggest one-day score by any team on its soil when it reached 344 for seven against Zimbabwe.
India's tally, which included a first-ever one-day century on foreign soil to man-of-the-match V.V.S. Laxman, was a record one-day total at the Brisbane ground.
Laxman was well supported by both an injury-hampered Sachin Tendulkar who scored 85 from 95 balls, including eight boundaries, and Rahul Dravid, who finished with 74 from 64 deliveries on a good batting wicket. It was later discovered that Tendulkar had twisted his ankle in the second over, although he shunned the use of a runner throughout his innings.
Australia had seemed well placed at 204 for four, needing 100 from as many balls, but its hopes faded with the loss of Hayden and Michael Clarke, who had made 42 from 45 deliveries.
Lakshmipathy Balaji with 4-48 took bowling honors for India while left-arm quick Irfan Pathan, who finished with 3-64, captured the key wickets of Adam Gilchrist for 21, Hayden and Clarke.
Despite a steady hand from Michael Bevan, who remained not out on 41, Australia never seemed likely to reach its target. India then worked its way through the tail to register only a second win in its last 10 matches against the world champions. The match also marked the international debut of Rohan Gavaskar, son of the legendary Sunil Gavaskar.
