Gabba Clash Washed Out

The opening match of the Commonwealth Bank Series between Australia and India at the Gabba has been abandoned due to persistent showers, much to the disappointment of 35, 311 fans.

The players were forced from the field for three lengthy periods during the game and the latest deluge to batter the ground was at a torrential level, so officials had no choice but to call the game off.

The match was in the balance, with Australia locked at 3-51 off 7.2 overs, 90 runs off their Duckworth-Lewis target of 141, with 18.4 overs remaining.

The Australians started in dazzling fashion, reaching 1-33 after a mere four overs thanks to Adam Gilchrist and James Hopes, who opened in the absence of Matthew Hayden.

Gilchrist elected to walk after he appeared to edge a short delivery on the leg-side from Sreesanth and minutes later he was joined by the Indian team when inclement weather meant the umpires called for the heavy covers yet again.

After another lengthy delay, Australia resumed and was set a target of 141 off 26 overs and considering the home side was already 1-33 after four, it would have most likely fancied its chances.

India struck back though, with Ishant Sharma clean bowling James Hopes in the first over after the break before Sreesanth had Ricky Ponting edging to Virender Sehwag the very next over.

Australia was no longer in a comfortable position, now 3-39 with Sharma and Sreesanth extracting plenty of bounce and seam movement.

Earlier, India clawed its way to a total of 194 of 45 overs after almost an hour and a half of playing time was lost due to inclement weather.

Brett Lee was the destroyer for the Australians, claiming 5-27 off nine overs, including the key wicket of veteran Sachin Tendulkar (10) to restrict the Indians to a modest total.

Captain Mahendra Dhoni, who won the toss and elected to bat, subdued his natural aggression in a resolute knock of 37 of 61 deliveries and combined with an aggressive Harbhajan Singh in a significant 42-run stand.

It was a somewhat bleak story for the visitors, apart from Dhoni and Singh, Gautam Gambhir (39) and Rohit Sharma (29) were the only batsmen to really trouble the Australians in their determined 65-run third wicket partnership.

The Australian selectors decided to go with an all-out pace attack for the game, naming Brad Hogg 12th man and handing Ashley Noffke a dream one-day international debut at his home ground.

Source: CricketAustralia