The whole of India comes to a standstill today as the host nation face their nemesis Australia. In nine previous World Cup clashes between these two elite cricketing nations, the Australians have triumphed seven times.
Game on; with Australia having won the toss and will bat first. Captain Ricky Ponting admits his team were poor in the bat in their last game and will have to improve here today. Watson becomes the first man down for the Australians and he is clean bowled by Ashwin (25) after he attempts a sweep. Australia are 40-1 after 10 overs. Haddin managed 53 before becoming India's second victim as Raina catches at the slips. Australia are 110-2 after 22.5 overs. Captain Ricky Ponting is leading by example and piling on the runs as India grab the third wicket of Clarke who gets caught behind by Zaheer. Ponting moves passed his fifty as Australia are now 141-3. Hussey (3) and White (12) both fall cheaply as Australia reach 195-5 as Ponting continues to stack up his run total. In fact Ponting reaches his magical century as Australia reach 237 but there are just three more overs remaining and a power-play is needed now. Ponting finally gets caught behind from Zaheer as he finishes on an impressive 104. Australia 245-6 after 48.3 overs In the final nine deliveries Australia manage to add another 15 runs without further loss of wicket. The total is 260 for Australia. India target is 261 to win India Innings Tendulkar reaches a milestone 18,000th One Day International (ODI) run but eventually goes here for 53 after an long umpire decision. India 94-2 after 18.1 overs - India need 167 more runs to win Into the 24th over and around half way through India's innings and the match is finely poised. There is no indication which of these two cricketing giants is going to win. India now 118-2 after 24.0 overs. Australia were 114 at this stage during their innings. This is anybody's match. Into the 28th over and Kohli bites the dust. His 24 runs have helped to advance India to 143 and still needing 118 runs to win. The crowd have been cheering wildly every four and six smashed by India but there's a worrying silence from the home crowd here in Ahmedabad now. India 143-3 after 28.3 overs need 118 runs to win Ghambhir gets his 50 but he looks increasingly uncomfortable in the role and eventually gets run out while trying to take a double and India have lost another wicket. There are still 16 over to go and India need only 93 runs to win. At this stage it's looking like an Indian victory but only just. Australia are starting to rattle the wickets away now, India nerves are showing and the crowd are a little silent. You can feel the tension here now in Ahmedabad. India 173-4 after 35.0 overs need 88 runs to win Well, Pakistan await whoever wins this match today and it would seem Australia have taken a slight advantage as they take the fifth wicket of captain Dhoni. He goes for just seven runs after Clarke catches beautifully. India still are 74 runs shy of victory and now have just five wickets in hand. Yuvraj starts to excite the crowd with a succession of fours and single-handedly turns this game in India's favour once again. He is now on 38 not out and India are slightly edging this now. India 207-5 from 40.0 overs need 55 runs to win It is strange as to why Watson has not bowled since the 15th over as India are now starting to edge towards victory. Yuvraj has now amassed 47 and his partner Raina on 14. India still need 31 runs off 41 balls now Now Yuvraj smashes a six and goes to 52 not out. Incredible stuff here. India are heading towards victory and the crowd can sense this. India 246-5 from 46.0 overs need 15 runs to win India close now. They need just four runs from 18 deliveries and still have five wickets in hand. The next three deliveries are not scored but with 14 deliveries remaining India's Raina smashes a four and that's it. The crowd are jubilant. India 261-5 from 47.4 overs have beaten Australia 260-5 from 50.0 overs by 5 wickets
