India-Aus WC quarter final: Tight security greets spectators

The second World Cup quarter- final match between co-hosts Indian and defending champions Australia began at the fully packed Sardar Patel stadium, Motera, here today amidst tight security.

With all tickets sold out, a sea of humanity outside the stadium was waiting to get in even three hours before the match began as people on cars, two wheelers and on foot all moved towards the same destination.

Traffic police had a hard time controlling the ever increasing crowd which had jammed traffic from both the approach roads to the stadium. One could see over a kilometre long traffic jam from Sabarmati area to Motera Stadium, while a similar scene was observed from the road from the other side from Chandkheda area towards the venue.

Every person entering the venue was frisked several times including at the entry gate, near the stands and once after entering the stands. Following the security checks by police, long queue was seen at entry point of each stand. With the match being played under the threat of a possible terror strike security for the quarter-final is much more robust than that for the earlier two World Cup matches played here. 

Security beefed up in Ahmedabad for India- Australia cricket quarterfinal

Ahead of the quarter final match between India and Australia today, authorities have beefed up security in Ahmedabad.
Strict security measure are being taken following an Intelligence Bureau (IB) warning about a probable threat from Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) on India's World Cup cricket venues.
The IB issued advisories to the state governments and the police to be on high alert after it intercepted LeT messages discussing dates and timings of matches being played in India.
Scores of police and security personnel were seen carrying out random checks on vehicles in and around the match venue.
India will be looking to beat Australia in the World Cup for the first time in 24 years when the two top ranked teams clash later today.
Australia has won the last three World Cups and defeated India in the final in 2003. (ANI)

Cong-NCP created ruckus to watch Ind-Aus match: Maha Oppn leader

How far would someone go to watch the India-Australia World Cup cricket match, billed as the final of the contest, despite it being a quarter-final match?

Leader of Opposition in Maharashtra Assembly Eknath Khadse alleged MLAs of the ruling Congress-NCP combine created ruckus in the House as they wanted to watch the match.

"The ruling alliance legislators created noisy scenes because they wanted to watch today's India-Australia match," the senior state BJP leader said, soon after the House was adjourned for the day.

Opposition Shiv Sena-BJP members created noisy scenes, protesting the suspension of five Sena and four BJP MLAs for disrupting the budget presentation by Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar on Wednesday.

Ruling alliance MLAs also shouted slogans against Opposition members for obstructing Pawar during the budget speech and vociferously demanded action against them.

Ind vs Aus: Who should India guard against

Shane Watson: Ever since the two-time Allan Border winning medalist metamorphosed into an opener, he has become a fearsome prospect. All his five hundreds have come as an opener and 19 of his 22 half-centuries have come there. Out of the 129 games he's played for Australia, he's starred in 92 wins and his average in winning games is 46.17 compared to his career average of 41.58. Add his explosive opening partnership with Brad Haddin and you know why India should be worried.

Oz Pace-Attack: The Indian batsmen will get plenty of short stuff from Brett Lee, Shaun Tait and Mitchell Johnson. While batsmen with greater pedigree like Sachin Tendulkar shouldn't have a problem with it, it's the Yuvrajs, Kohlis and Yusufs who have struggled consistently against the delivery aimed at the ribs. The runs won't come that freely against that type of bowling and how they negotiate 30 overs of hostile bowling will decide the contest.

KEY CLASHES

Harbhajan Singh vs Ricky Ponting: This is one contest that gets the feisty sardar going. Nothing inspires Bhajji more than a contest against Australia and when he sees the Aussie skipper take guard, the adrenalin flows even more. Harbhajan terrorized Ponting in the Test series in 2001 and the Aussie skipper hasn't quite forgotten that. This is his chance of redemption.

Mike Hussey vs Indian Spinners: With the arrival of Michael Hussey the Australian batting has got more batting muscle. Mr Cricket is a world class operator against spinners and his ability to dance down the pitch and negate the turn can irritate the best. He has historically played Harbhajan well and has seen plenty of R Ashwin in the nets while playing for the Chennai Super Kings.

Sachin Tendulkar vs Brett Lee: Of the 50 Indian wickets he has picked in 29 matches against them, Lee has dismissed the great Tendulkar nine times. Bowling the fuller length has generally worked for Lee against the Master with his extra pace generally inducing the error early on in the innings. But on the occasions when the legend has been settled, he has put his great eye to good use. Upper cutting the short ball, driving Lee straight whenever he has pitched up and even pulling and hooking him when he has targeted the body. Their duels in Australia three years ago were arresting. The fare could be a tantalizing one on Thursday too.

Ind vs Aus: India off to a good start against Australia

Chasing 261-run target, India lost Virender Sehwag (15) in the ninth over after a good start against Australia in the second quarterfinal of the World Cup at the Sardar Patel Stadium in Motera, Ahmedabad on Thursday.

Scorecard | Photos

Sehwag and Sachin Tendulkar started Indian run-chase aggressively and added 44 runs for the first wicket.

Sehwag hit two fours in his rare slow innings of 15 off 22 balls before Shane Watson gave Aussies the crucial breakthrough.

Earlier, Ricky Ponting slammed fifth World Cup hundred to help Australia set 261-run target for India in the second quarterfinal.

Ponting hit seven fours and a six in his 118-ball 104 innings to score his 30th ODI hundred.

R Ashwin took the prize-wicket of Ponting in the penultimate over of the match. Ashwin finished the innings with 2 wickets for 52 in 10 overs.

David Hussey remained unbeaten for the champions on 38 off 26 balls. David hit three boundaries and a huge 85 metres six during his late charge against the Indian bowlers.

Zaheer Khan dismissed Cameron White (12) and Mike Hussey (3) to halt the Australian innings in the middle overs. Zaheer scalped White after the batsman added 40-run with his skipper Ponting for the fifth wicket.

Yuvraj Singh was the pick of Indian bowlers with two wickets for 44 runs in his ten overs.

Yuvraj dismissed Michael Clarke (8) in the 31st over to check the Aussie innings.

Brad Haddin (53) scored a patient half-century and added a valuable 70-run stand with his skipper for the second wicket and slammed six fours and a six in his 62-ball innings before Yuvraj struck in the 23rd over.

Off-spinner R Ashwin provided India crucial breakthrough as he dismissed Australia's Shane Watson in the tenth over.

Openers Shane Watson and Brad Haddin started off well as they gave Australia a steady start against India. The duo added 40 runs for the first wicket.

Earlier, Australian skipper Ricky Ponting won the crucial toss and decided to bat first.

In what is Mahendra Singh Dhoni's 100th ODI as India captain, there is one change to the side with Virender Sehwag coming in for Yusuf Pathan.

Australia have brought David Hussey in place of spinner Steven Smith.

Teams:

India: Mahendra Singh Dhoni (c), Sachin Tendulkar, Virender Sehwag, Gautam Gambhir, Virat Kohli, Yuvraj Singh, Suresh Raina, R Ashwin, Harbhajan Singh, Zaheer Khan, Munaf Patel

Australia: Ricky Ponting (c), Brad Haddin, Shane Watson, Michael Clarke, Cameron White, Mike Hussey, David Hussey, Mitchell Johnson, Brett Lee, Jason Krejza, Shaun Tait.

Umpires: Marais Erasmus (RSA) and Ian Gould (ENG)
TV umpire: Richard Kettleborough (ENG)
Match referee: Ranjan Madugalle (SRI)

Pitch conditions: Usually proves an excellent batting surface so bowlers on both sides are set to have to be at their best to enjoy success.

Ind vs Aus: India lose Virender Sehwag after good start

Chasing 261-run target, India lost Virender Sehwag (15) in the ninth over after a good start against Australia in the second quarterfinal of the World Cup at the Sardar Patel Stadium in Motera, Ahmedabad on Thursday.

Scorecard | Photos

Sehwag and Sachin Tendulkar started Indian run-chase aggressively and added 44 runs for the first wicket.

Sehwag hit two fours in his rare slow innings of 15 off 22 balls before Shane Watson gave Aussies the crucial breakthrough.

Earlier, Ricky Ponting slammed fifth World Cup hundred to help Australia set 261-run target for India in the second quarterfinal.

Ponting hit seven fours and a six in his 118-ball 104 innings to score his 30th ODI hundred.

R Ashwin took the prize-wicket of Ponting in the penultimate over of the match. Ashwin finished the innings with 2 wickets for 52 in 10 overs.

David Hussey remained unbeaten for the champions on 38 off 26 balls. David hit three boundaries and a huge 85 metres six during his late charge against the Indian bowlers.

Zaheer Khan dismissed Cameron White (12) and Mike Hussey (3) to halt the Australian innings in the middle overs. Zaheer scalped White after the batsman added 40-run with his skipper Ponting for the fifth wicket.

Yuvraj Singh was the pick of Indian bowlers with two wickets for 44 runs in his ten overs.

Yuvraj dismissed Michael Clarke (8) in the 31st over to check the Aussie innings.

Brad Haddin (53) scored a patient half-century and added a valuable 70-run stand with his skipper for the second wicket and slammed six fours and a six in his 62-ball innings before Yuvraj struck in the 23rd over.

Off-spinner R Ashwin provided India crucial breakthrough as he dismissed Australia's Shane Watson in the tenth over.

Openers Shane Watson and Brad Haddin started off well as they gave Australia a steady start against India. The duo added 40 runs for the first wicket.

Earlier, Australian skipper Ricky Ponting won the crucial toss and decided to bat first.

In what is Mahendra Singh Dhoni's 100th ODI as India captain, there is one change to the side with Virender Sehwag coming in for Yusuf Pathan.

Australia have brought David Hussey in place of spinner Steven Smith.

Teams:

India: Mahendra Singh Dhoni (c), Sachin Tendulkar, Virender Sehwag, Gautam Gambhir, Virat Kohli, Yuvraj Singh, Suresh Raina, R Ashwin, Harbhajan Singh, Zaheer Khan, Munaf Patel

Australia: Ricky Ponting (c), Brad Haddin, Shane Watson, Michael Clarke, Cameron White, Mike Hussey, David Hussey, Mitchell Johnson, Brett Lee, Jason Krejza, Shaun Tait.

Umpires: Marais Erasmus (RSA) and Ian Gould (ENG)
TV umpire: Richard Kettleborough (ENG)
Match referee: Ranjan Madugalle (SRI)

Pitch conditions: Usually proves an excellent batting surface so bowlers on both sides are set to have to be at their best to enjoy success.