Australia easy win Canada by 7 wickets

Tags: World Cup 2011, Australia v Canada 35th Match at Bangalore -Mar 16,2011, Australia, Canada, ICC Cricket World Cup 2011, Brett Lee

Published on: Mar 16, 2011

Scorecard | Commentary | Graphs

Brett Lee's four-wicket haul and an 183-run opening partnership between Brad Haddin and Shane Watson scripted an easy seven-wicket victory for Australia in their Group A match against Canada here on Wednesday.

Brett Lee's four-wicket haul and an 183-run opening partnership between Brad Haddin and Shane Watson scripted an easy seven-wicket victory for Australia in their Group A match against Canada here on Wednesday.

Brad Haddin and Shane Watson put the Aussies on path for a big victory over Canada but were unlucky to miss out on personal centuries as both were dismissed looking for a quick finish to their run-chase of 211 runs.

Canada rued a missed opportunity as Rizwan Cheema dropped Australian opener Shane Watson when he was on two, following which Watson and Haddin buckled down to give Australia a steady but solid start chasing a modest 211.

The openers, though uncharacteristically slow to gather pace, then brought up a fifty partnership to diminish Canadian hopes of fighting back into the match.

Shane Watson and Brad Haddin made the most of a harmless Canadian bowling, bringing up their fifties and a 100-plus opening partnership in the batting powerplay which they took after the 25th over.

The partnership grew as big as 183 as Aussie duo looked to have an early dinner, courtesy some lusty hitting. However, Haddin, on 88, edged one while playing a glance off John Davison that was nicely pouched by wicketkeeper Ashish Bagai.

Watson (94) followed soon and became the second Aussie to miss a hundred that was there for the taking.

Australia suffered another stutter before reaching the target when Ricky Ponting holed out to short square leg.

Earlier, Australia's high-profile bowling attack endured an early batting onslaught from fearless teenager Hiral Patel before recovering to dismiss Canada for 211 in 45.4 overs in Wednesday's World Cup Group A match.

Patel bludgeoned a dazzling 37-ball 50, including five fours and three sixes, as Canada scored at more than 10 runs per over in the first four overs and raced to 77-1 after 10.

Patel eventually fell to Shane Watson for 54, and though the scoring rate fell significantly after his departure, Ashish Bagai and Zubin Surkari dug in for a 68-run partnership to lead Canada to 150-2.

Australia finally made its superiority count as Canada lost its last eight wickets for 61 runs to leave Ricky Ponting's team chasing 212 for a 34th straight World Cup win.

Brett Lee ended with figures of 4-46, one of five Australian bowlers to share the wickets.

Related News