Australia continued their campaign to take the T20 world cup trophy home today with a right royal routing of India. The first of group F's super eight matches should really have been a close one, with both sides amongst the favourites to make the final.
But it wasn't.
India won the toss and put Australia in to bat first. Then it was quiet for one over. Indian fans were settling into the match, green and orange was bright in the stands.
But it was merely the calm before the storm, because soon Warner and Watson exploded and put on an opening partnership of 104 runs. Once Watson was bowled by Pathan on 54, Indian fans could have been forgiven for thinking their bowlers would get some relief, but it was not to be. Michael Clarke had finally paid attention to his many nay-sayers and pushed himself down the order. He sent in Dave Hussey instead and you should know by now what he can do.
By the time Warner joined Watto in the dugout, fourteen overs were gone and Australia was looking pretty settled with 142 runs to their names. There was a bounce in the track that the Aussie top order took full advantage of. The runs slowed down a little toward the end, even Mike Hussey was quiet this time, but Australia pulled together a total of 184 runs in their twenty overs – a score that would prove too much for India.
Mitchell Johnson was back in the side, but once again, it was Dirk Nannes who showed the opposition's batsmen what was what. The bounce that Watson and Warner had enjoyed seemed to unsettle the Indians and Nannes wasted no time in sending the ball down at top speed. Tait was right behind him and the two of them took 3 apiece as India tumbled at their feet.
Rohit Sharma was the man who stood up to the Aussie pace men, but with no support his 79 off 46 balls was simply delaying the inevitable. Australia bowled them out for 135, taking victory with a healthy 49 runs to spare.
So, it seems my concerns about the Australian bowling were nothing more than wasted wind. The Aussie batsmen have had their rough moments, although not enough to cause concern, but the bowlers have stood up and made themselves heard each and every time and their skill in the field is well known by now. So long as Clarke stays down the order where he belongs and doesn't bowl too often, I don't see why we can't progress to the final and take this damned ash tray home.
(As the youngest of five children, and with three older brothers, Kirby grew up in a house full of people who love Australian cricket, Geelong football club and rich tea biscuits. She was doomed from birth to wear the green and gold. As an adult she moved to the UK in an attempt to save England cricket fans from themselves, but in return they stole the Ashes. Twice. She firmly believes that Steve Waugh should be knighted, Graeme Swann should be castrated and Nathan Hauritz should be her pet. She blogs over at thoughtsfromthedustbin.blogspot.com)