Ind vs Aus T20 World Cup Live Blog; Live cricket scores and commentary

At times, two innings of a Twenty20 match can appear as though they were played on two different continents.

So it was on Friday, when India's batting appeared to have taken place on a slow and low R Premadasa Stadium deck while Australia's openeRs  seemed to bat on a flat, even-paced one at the Sydney Cricket Ground.

Shane Watson (72 off 42 balls) registered yet another half-century - to go with his three-wicket haul - and David Warner made an unbeaten 63 off 41 balls as Australia crushed India by nine wickets with 31 balls to spare in their opening Super Eights game here.

Having chosen to bat, India posted 140 for seven, which was pretty much par for the couRs e, given the preceding low-scoring thriller between Pakistan and South Africa. But a short, sharp shower in the fiRs t over of the chase seemed to freshen up the pitch beyond recognition, and the Aussies' strokeplay was also assisted by some rubbish bowling by four of India's five specialist bowleRs .

While India managed just two sixes in their innings, the two Ws hit 10, with Watson dealing almost exclusively in the big hits. He slammed seven of them, peppering all parts of the ground at will, and with Harbhajan Singh, Piyush Chawla, R Ashwin and Irfan Pathan bowling a lot of short balls, his favourite pull shot was often on display.

Watson thus won his third successive man of the match award, despite falling to Yuvraj towards the end. Warner played the perfect foil, going a little slower but hitting the ball as well, though he was lucky to be unbeaten after surviving two very close lbw appeals from Zaheer Khan. The senior left-armer bowled with venom on his return to the team, and was the only positive for India.

Earlier, the pace of Watson, Pat Cummins and Mitchell Starc seemed to rattle the Indians.

In the space of seven balls at the halfway mark of the innings, India's middle-order had virtually served the game to Australia on a platter with Yuvraj Singh, Irfan Pathan and Rohit Sharma's dismissals reducing them to 74 for five.

It was Suresh Raina's 19-ball 26 and Ashwin's unbeaten 12ball 16 that helped them regain some respectability. Aussie skipper George Bailey surprised one and all by handing the new ball to part-time off-spinner Glenn Maxwell, but Gautam Gambhir negotiated the first few overs with ease to give India a good start.

But at the end of the third over, Gambhir was run out in a freak way, as Cummins kicked the ball onto the stumps at the striker's end.

Virat Kohli began like a man possessed, punching a back-ofa-length ball from Starc to the boundary, before Pathan took over the scoring, smacking a straight six and a lofted off-side four against Shane Watson. India reached 50 for one after six overs , but Cummins delivered on his promise to rattle them with short balls, getting Kohli caught off a top edged pull.

Watson then produced a double breakthrough with the wickets of Yuvraj and Pathan, and Rohit misread the line of Starc's angled delivery from around the wicket and lost his off stump.

The final flourish through Raina and Ashwin was too little too late for India, after Cummins & Co. had kept things tight. The youngster finished with two for 16, while Watson took three for 34. Score

Ind vs Aus T20 World Cup:

MATCH SUMMARY: Hard to explaining the bowling show from India. Yes, there was a shower and gripping the ball could have been more difficult for the spinners but India seemed to have lacked a plan B. There was nothing else to fall back on. Once the spinners failed, Dhoni went on to try all his part timers as a gamble. Nothing worked though. Watson and Warner continued their stupendous run as an opening pair and knocked the wind out of India with some explosive batting. This is the 7th consecutive loss for India at the super 8 stages in T20 championships. They are yet to win at this stage since that final of 2007.

10:25 pm | 14.5 overs: It's all over and Australia win by 9 wickets. Ashwin to Glenn Maxwell, 1 run, there it comes. A misfield by Zaheer at cover gives Glenn Maxwell a single and the game for Australia. An absolutely comprehensive victory this. This will be very hard to take for India.

Glenn Maxwell, right handed bat, comes to the crease

10:15 pm | 13.3 overs: WICKET! Finally a wicket for India. Yuvraj to Shane Watson, out Caught by (sub)Manoj Tiwary!! A wicket finally. Not too short from Yuvraj, Watson gets back and slaps it straight into the hands of short extra cover. Tiwary takes the sharp chance and flings the ball up in delight. His enthusiasm is not shared by many other Indian fielders. Watson has played his part in demoralising them. Shane Watson c (sub)Manoj Tiwary b Yuvraj 72(42) [4s-2 6s-7] (Aus 133/1 in 13.3 overs)

10:09 pm | 12.5 overs: Rohit Sharma to Warner, 1 run, fuller length, Warner pushes it down to long off for a single and brings up his 8th T20I FIFTY. This has been a fabulous knock.

10:00 pm | 10 overs: Irfan Pathan to Shane Watson, 1 run, the 100 comes up in no time. Shane Watson (53) and David Warner (45) are still in the middle.

9:58 pm | 9.4 overs: Irfan Pathan to Shane Watson, FOUR, Shane Watson has suddenly raced past Warner and gets to his FIFTY. Poor bowling though. On the pads with fine leg up in the circle. Watson flicks it with ease. Ninth fifty in T20Is for Shane Watson.

9:45 pm | 6.4 overs: 50 up for Australia and their openers are still in the middle. Harbhajan to Warner, FOUR, terrific placement from Warner, Harbhajan keeps it flat from round the wicket, Warner goes deep in the crease and pulls it right between deep mid wicket and long on.

9:36 pm | 3.6 overs: Zaheer to Shane Watson, no run, very loud appeal turned down. It was straight and on middle. Australia are 22/0 at the stage with David Warner (16) and Shane Watson (5) are at the crease.

The players are walking out already. So are the umpires.

Looks like it is just a passing shower, the crowd has got excited. The covers are being removed. We should have play in a short while

9:15 PM: The rain has got heavier and the umpires decide that it is time for the groundstaff to do their job, the players rush to the confines of the dressing room. Rain stops play

9:10 pm | 0.1 overs:  Ashwin to Shane Watson, no run, flighted delivery outside off, some bounce for Ashwin, Watson punches it to cover

Shane Watson and Warner are at the crease. Shane Watson is on strike. Ashwin will open the attack

INDIA INNINGS: A decent score on this pitch. India started well but lost their way towards the middle of the innings. The pitch is showing signs of slowing down, it has not been all that easy to play strokes. Irfan struggled his way to 31, Raina played a neat little cameo. India have the runs on the board and the bowlers to defend this. Join us in a short while for the chase..

9:03 pm | 19.6 overs: INNINGS! Shane Watson to Ashwin, 1 run, full ball outside off, Ashwin gets across and drives it to the right of point, the batsmen settle for a single, India end up on 140

Harbhajan Singh, right handed bat, comes to the crease

9:00 pm | 19.3 overs: WICKET! Raina was playing well, but could not clear Maxwell in the deep... Shane Watson to Raina, out Caught by Glenn Maxwell!! Raina falls after playing a decent hand, this was a length ball outside off, Raina was looking to go over extra cover, does not time it all that well, gets it right off the toe end and straight to long off. Maxwell accepts the offering with glee. Raina c Glenn Maxwell b Shane Watson 26(19) [4s-4] (India 137/7 in 19.3 overs)

Ravichandran Ashwin, right handed bat, comes to the crease

8:42 pm | 15.6 overs: WICKET! Captain Dhoni falls! P Cummins to Dhoni, out Caught by George Bailey!! Dhoni falls and India slump futher, this was a slow and wide ball, Dhoni reaches out for the drive, gets it right off the toe end of the bat and presents a straight forward catch to Bailey at short extra cover. Cummins strikes another body blow for India. Dhoni c George Bailey b P Cummins 15(21) [4s-2] (India 104/6 in 15.6 overs)

8:36 pm | 14.4 overs: Brad Hogg to Dhoni, 5 wides, bonus runs for India, the googly goes wrong, spins down the leg, Dhoni lets it go, Wade can't collect it either, the ball races away to the fence, brings up the 100 for India.

MS Dhoni, right handed bat, comes to the crease

8:22 pm | 11.1 overs: WICKET! Another one takes a walk... Starc to Rohit Sharma, out Bowled!! Australia are on fire and India lose another one, exceptional bowling from Starc, comes from round the wicket and angles it back into Sharma, he was caught in the crease as he looked to defend, the ball stays a tad low and crashes into the off-stump. India have lost their fifth wicket. The ball deflected off the pads, but Sharma was beaten for sheer pace. Rohit Sharma b Starc 1(2) (India 74/5 in 11.1 overs)

Suresh Raina, left handed bat, comes to the crease

8:20 pm | 10.6 overs: WICKET! And Pathan who was holding fort all this while falls... Shane Watson to Irfan Pathan, out Caught by Cameron White!! Soft dismissal for Pathan, this was full and on the pads, Pathan clips it sweetly but straight to White, he makes a sharp catch look easy, India are losing the plot in the middle overs. Irfan Pathan c Cameron White b Shane Watson 31(30) [4s-2 6s-1] (India 74/4 in 10.6 overs)

Rohit Sharma, right handed bat, comes to the crease

8:15 pm | 10.1 overs: WICKET! And Yuvi walks... Shane Watson to Yuvraj, out Caught by Glenn Maxwell!! As I say, Yuvraj has perished, this was short and on the stumps, sticks in the pitch and does not come onto the batsman, Yuvraj plays the pull a bit too early, gets a thick top-edge that goes high in the air and drops in the safe hands of Maxwell at deep mid-wicket. Yuvraj c Glenn Maxwell b Shane Watson 8(10) [4s-1] (India 70/3 in 10.1 overs)

Yuvraj Singh, left handed bat, comes to the crease

8:02 pm | 7.2 overs: WICKET! Big wicket for Aus, Kohli falls! P Cummins to Virat Kohli, out Caught by Christian!! The short ball has done the trick, Cummins bangs in another short ball, Kohli was in no position to play the pull, gets it high off the bat, Christian runs back from mid-off and takes the skier with both hands. A rare failure for Kohli. Good catch in the end, the ball seemed to going away all the time. Virat Kohli c Christian b P Cummins 15(13) [4s-2] (India 56/1 in 7.2 overs)

7:52 pm | 5 overs: India are 42/1 at the stage with opener Irfan Pathan (15) and one-down batsman Virat Kohli (8) in the middle.

Virat Kohli, right handed bat, comes to the crease

7:42 pm | 2.6 overs: WICKET! And Gambhir departs on the last ball of the over... P Cummins to Irfan Pathan, out Gambhir Run Out!! Gambhir falls after looking good. This was banged in short from Cummins, Pathan fended at at that, gets a thick inside edge onto his body, Gambhir called for a quick single, he had to go wide off his stride as Cummins rushed forward, Cummins wins the race, kicks the ball onto the stumps with Gambhir inches short of the popping crease. Gambhir run out (P Cummins) 17(12) [4s-3] (India 21/1 in 2.6 overs)

7:38 pm | 1.5 overs: Starc to Gambhir, FOUR, beautifully played, width from Starc, Gambhir waits for the ball, throws his hands at that and gets it into the gap between point and cover point, no need to run for those

7:35 pm| 0.6 overs: Glenn Maxwell to Irfan Pathan, leg byes, 1 run, Maxwell drifts one on the pads, Pathan looks to paddle it fine and misses, the ball rolls off the pads and behind the keeper, the batsmen take a single

7:30 pm | 0.1 overs: Glenn Maxwell to Gambhir, 2 runs, fab shot, that deserved a boundary, this was tossed up outside off, Gambhir gets well forward and drives it past cover, the ball slows down near the ropes and the batsmen scamper across for a second run

Gambhir and Irfan Pathan are at the crease. Gambhir is on strike. Glenn Maxwell will open the attack 

Welcome back. Time for the national anthems. Pathan will, in all probability, walk out to open again. Got to be very interesting.

Sehwag has been left out to make way for the fifth bowler.

Bailey: "We have the same team. This wicket will be slower and lower. The spinners will play a big part. India have real depth in spin bowling and in their batting."

Dhoni: "We want to put runs on the board. The wicket is on the slower side and the spinners will be useful. Dinda and Balaji are out and we are playing three spinners. Ashwin and Piyush Chawla can bat. Sehwag is not playing this game."

7:00 pm | TOSS: India have won the toss and elected to bat

Teams

Australia (Playing XI): David Warner, Shane Watson, Michael Hussey, Cameron White, George Bailey(c), Glenn Maxwell, Daniel Christian, Matthew Wade(w), Brad Hogg, Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc

India (Playing XI): Gautam Gambhir, Irfan Pathan, Virat Kohli, Yuvraj Singh, Rohit Sharma, Suresh Raina, MS Dhoni(w/c), Piyush Chawla, Harbhajan Singh, Ravichandran Ashwin, Zaheer Khan

Imp news: Just heard that Virender Sehwag has been ruled out for today's Super 8 match due to an injury.

Team News:

India: In their last group stage game, India went in with a team that saw quite a few changes. Harbhajan Singh and Piyush Chawla were brought in to the side and R.Ashwin and Zaheer Khan were rested. That change led to England being bowled out for a paltry score of just 80, with Harbhajan and Chawla managing to take six wickets collectively. With "the Turbanator" and Chawla coming good, Mahendra Singh Dhoni will have to think twice before opting to exclude either spinner when they take on Australia, a side that also has shown some difficulties against spin in the past.

Australia: George Bailey has made it clear that his side are ready for the spin challenge and has acknowledged that this Indian bowling line up needs to be treated with respect. He has also stated that his side aren't totally dependent on Shane Watson and that they can do well as a team. "Do well" is exactly what they have done so far in this tournament. First the Australians demolished Ireland and after hammering West Indies all over the park for nine overs, they were helped by some rain as the Duckworth and Lewis method ruled in their favour.

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