Ind vs SL: Sehwag's brilliance performance in the 8th ODI in Brisbane

Stand-in Indian captain Virender Sehwag took a superb diving catch at mid-wicket to dismiss Sri Lankan captain Mahela Jayawardene off Irfan Pathan in the 8th ODI of the tri-series at the Gabba in Brisbane on Tuesday.

Openers Tillakaratne Dilshan and Jayawardene brought up the Sri Lankan fifty in the eighth over.

The start came after Jayawardene won the toss and chose to bat.

For India, Virender Sehwag, Parthiv Patel and R Ashwin come in place of Rohit Sharma, MS Dhoni and Zaheer Khan. Sri Lanka are unchanged from the last match.

The pitch looks a good batting track but it would be difficult to chase under lights as the bowlers will get some movement under lights.

Sehwag, who sat out the last two games due to back spasms, suddenly finds himself back in the hot seat as MS Dhoni has been handed a one-match suspension.

Despite having won their first game against the Lankans and drawing level in their next match, India's confidence would have taken a heavy beating following their 110-run defeat to Australia.

Also, the fact that Sri Lanka took the 'tied match' in their stride and went on to shock Australia in their next game makes them dangerous opponents. The emphatic manner of the win over Australia would not have gone unnoticed in the Indian camp.

A win for Sri Lanka on Tuesday will put them on par with India on 10 points, that too with one less game. Besides, they also boast of a much better run-rate. As of now Australia are sitting pretty with 14 points from 5 matches, India have 10 from 5 while Sri Lanka have 7 points from 4 matches.

Notwithstanding the conditions at the Gabba, India will need to be at their best to stay alive in the competition.

Sri Lanka go into the match following a three-day break, and they are fresh and raring to go. Bowlers Thisara Perera, Farvez Maharoof and Angelo Matthews, who made light work of the Australian batting, will be looking to do an encore in better bowling conditions.

To add to India's problems, the weatherman has predicted some rain on Tuesday. How much of an effect it will have on the game remains to be seen.

Ind vs Aus: India 92/2 at tea on Day 4, trail by 407 runs

Chasing a massive 500-run target, India lost Virender Sehwag (62) and Gautam Gambhir (3) in the post-lunch session on Day 4 of the fourth and final Test in Adelaide on today.

Rahul Dravid (19) and Sachin Tendulkar (7) took India to 92/2 at tea as India need 408 runs more to win the match in next four sessions.

Spinner Nathan Lyon took the prize-wicket of dangerous Sehwag to give the hosts a crucial breakthough.

Sehwag led the run chase for India with his typical 62 runs off just 53 balls as he raced to fifty in 36 deliveries. He hit twelve boundaries in his rapid knock before throwing his wicket to a mistimed shot resulting to an easy catch for Ricky Ponting at cover.

Sehwag added 66 runs for the second wicket with veteran Rahul Dravid as they tried to resurrect the Indian run chase after losing Gautam Gambhir (3) early.

India started poorly as they lost opener Gambhir inside five overs. Pacer Ryan Harris struck early in 4.3 overs to dismiss Gambhir cheaply and reduce India to 14/1.

Earlier, Australia declared their second innings soon after the play resume in the post-lunch session and set 500 runs target for India with less than five sessions left in the match.

Ricky Ponting (60) and Brad Haddin (11) took Australia's overall lead to 499 runs when skipper Michael Clarke declare their innings close. Australia scored 167/5 in 46 overs in their second innings of the match after they declared their first essay at 604/7 on Day 2.

Australia lost Clarke (37) and Michael Hussey (15) in quick succession in the morning session of the fourth day of the fourth Test on Friday.

The hosts were 154/5 at lunch in their second innings with an overall lead of 486 runs with Ponting and Haddin at the crease.

Ishant Sharma trapped Hussey to give India second breakthrough. Umpire Dharmasena took his time before giving Hussey, who wasn't happy with the decision, marching orders. Australia lost their fifth wicket at the score of 147.

Ricky Ponting, who added 71 runs for the fourth wicket with Michael Clarke, hit another fine half-century to take Australia's overall lead past 475-run mark. Ponting's 50 came off in 73 balls and included four boundaries.

Seamer Umesh Yadav got rid of Clarke, who scored 43-ball 37 with the help of four boundaries. Australia lost their fourth wicket at the score of 111.

Yadav's full-length delivery got a faint outside edge from Clarke's bat en-route to wicketkeeper Wriddhiman Saha's hands.

Ponting hit two successive boundaries off Ishant Sharma to bring up 500 runs for the series and also take Australia's overall lead past 400-run mark against India. .

Clarke and Ponting resumed Australia's second innings on Day 4 after India conceded a huge first innings lead of 332 runs after the end of third day's play at the Adelaide Oval.

Australia resumed Day 4 at 50/3 in the second innings enjoying an overall lead of 382 runs.

There was some artificial excitement towards the end of third day's play when the home team lost their top-three for just 50 runs, but with an overall lead of 382 and seven wickets standing, Australia were merely stirred, not shaken.

Barring a miracle, it is hard to see this Indian line-up denying Australia a clean sweep of the four-Test series that was lost 10 days ago in Perth.

Virat Kohli provided the only bright moment by cracking his maiden century but India were still faced with a herculean task of preventing a 'whitewash' against Australia in the fourth and final Test.

Kohli stood bravely amidst the ruins with a gritty 116 but most of the other top batsmen surrendered meekly as India folded up for 272 in the first innings, and even though they were 332 runs in arrears of Australia's first innings tally - and therefore liable to follow-on - skipper Michael Clarke decided not to enforce the same.

Credit should also be given to young Wriddhiman Saha (35) who helped Kohli add 114 runs for the sixth wicket which helped the Delhi lad push for his three-figure mark. Kohli's delightful knock contained 11 boundaries and a six over deep mid-wicket off Michael Clarke's bowling.

The second new-ball again did the trick for Australia as India who were 225/5 at one stage lost five wickets for 47 runs in little over 10 overs.

Aussie paceman Peter Siddle charged in on the unresponsive flat Adelaide pitch to take five for 49, denting a few more Indian batting reputations and prolonging Sachin Tendulkar's wait for a 100th international century.

Ind vs Aus: Australia resume first innings after tea on Day 2 in Adelaide

Brad Haddin and Ryan Harris resumed the Australian first innings after tea on the second day of the fourth and final Test against India at the Adelaide Oval in Adelaide on Wednesday.

Australia lost their seventh wicket when R Ashwin had Peter Siddle caught behind by Wriddhiman Saha.

Zaheer Khan had Ricky Ponting (221) caught by Sachin Tendulkar at deep mid-wicket.

It was ironical that Ponting fell to the pull shot that he played so well during this knock and throughout his career. Ponting pulled a short delivery, got the power right but the elevation lacked, as it went straight to Tendulkar at deep mid-wicket at a scorching pace. It was a good catch as the ball went like a bullet.

Ponting hit 21 fours in his great knock.

Gautam Gambhir ran out Michael Hussey with a direct hit after Australia crossed the 500-run mark.

Hussey played a R Ashwin delivery through the off side and set off for a single, but Gambhir at silly point got the ball with his outstretched right hand and hit the stumps before Hussey could turn and get into the crease.

Ricky Ponting reached his sixth double century soon after Umesh Yadav dismissed Michael Clarke after lunch.

This is Ponting's sixth double century and third against India.

India finally tasted success as Clarke was cleaned up by Yadav. Clarke got struck on the crease as he looked to whip it away on the leg side. The ball nipped back in hint and crashed onto Clarke's stumps.

Clarke hit a six and 26 fours in his magnificent knock.

Australia were 469/3 at lunch. Clarke's quickfire double ton came in 255 balls that included 25 fours and one six.

The fourth-wicket stand between Ponting and Clarke is now the best for Tests between these two nations as the duo went past the partnership of 376 runs produced by Rahul Dravid and VVS Laxman in the 2001 Eden Gardens Test.

The duo of Clarke and Ponting, who have now scored more than 600 runs in this series, stitched a 386-run partnership for the fourth wicket. The marathon 350-run stand between the duo came in 515 balls.

Clarke and Ponting got off the blocks very quickly as both of them crossed 150-run mark after hitting some fine boundaries early on Day 2.

Clarke's 150 came off in 193 balls with the help of 21 fours and one six while Ponting reached 150 in 274 deliveries that included 16 boundaries.

Earlier on Day 1, the old firm of Ponting and Clarke put India's hapless bowlers to the sword with contrasting centuries as Australia took command of the fourth Test.

Ponting (137) and Clarke (140), both of whom tormented India in the second Test in Sydney with centuries, joined hands once again for an unbroken 251-run fourth wicket stand which took the hosts to a comfortable 335/3 after a shaky start on Tuesday.

Australia have already clinched the series with a 3-0 lead and India are desperately hoping to avoid a whitewash. The effort was not all that bad to start with as India struck two blows inside the first 10 overs after the hosts opted to bat first.

Zaheer Khan removed David Warner (8) with a delivery which came in and Ravichandran Ashwin, surprisingly introduced as early as in the fourth over, bowled a delivery which came in with the arm and clipped the off-stump of an out of form Shaun Marsh's (3) hesitant forward prod.

Ashwin snared another victim before the lunch-break, opener Ed Cowan (30) driving little uppishly into short covers and VVS Laxman snapped a brilliant low catch.

Ponting smashed the 41st century of his 162-Test career, his eighth against India which put him at par with Sir Garfield Sobers and Sir Vivian Richards as the batsmen who has scored maximum tons against the sub-continental team.

It is also his 23rd century at home which is one more than what Sachin Tendulkar and Jacques Kallis have scored in their glittering careers. During his knock, he also crossed the 13,000 run landmark.

For Clarke, this was his 19th century in his 80th Test, his second of the series after a mammoth 329 at the SCG early this month.

Ind vs Aus: India slumped to 144/6 at tea after losing Virat Kohli

India slumped to 144/6 at tea after losing Virat Kohli and VVS Laxman in quick succession on the first day of the third Test against Australia at the WACA ground in Perth.

Peter Siddle double strike dented India's hopes of reviving from early collapse as he scalped Kohli and Laxman in his successive overs to reduce India to 138/6 in 52.5 overs. However, the pair added valuable 68 runs stand for the fifth wicket.

At the break, Mahendra Singh Doni was on 4 with Vinay Kumar on 5.

India's batting woes continued as Australia's pace attack made early inroads on a lively green WACA wicket to leave India struggling on 73 for four at lunch.

India's predicament worsened moments when opener Gautam Gambhir was caught behind off swing bowler Ben Hilfenhaus for 31.

Playing his first match of the series, Ryan Harris demolished Sachin Tendulkar's dream to score his elusive 100th international ton as the bowler caught the champion batsman plumb in front of the wicket.

India suffered another blow when Australian paceman Peter Siddle struck in his first over to remove Rahul Dravid on the first day of the third Test at the WACA ground in Perth.

Dravid attempted to flick full length delivery off his pads, probably beaten up by the pace and the ball ricochets off his pads to the stumps. Dravid made nine off 35 balls with the help of a boundary.

Dravid added 28 runs for the second wicket with Gautam Gambhir after losing Virender Sehwag early.

India's opening woes continued as the visitors lost Sehwag for a duck in the fourth over of the opening day.

Ben Hilfenhaus struck early when dangerous Sehwag looked to play to the offside that took an outside edge to Ricky Ponting at slip as India dealt an early blow.

Earlier, Australian skipper Michael Clarke won the toss and elected to bowl in the third Test of the four-match series.

Both Australia and India go with four quicks in the match. Pacer Vinay Kumar came in place of off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin for India whereas for the hosts Mitchell Starc replace spinner Nathan Lyon.

Australia hold a 2-0 lead in the four-Test series after convincing wins in Melbourne and Sydney.

India must win both remaining Tests to retain the Border-Gavaskar Trophy.

Friday's match got under way under clear skies and in warm conditions, but there was some rain forecast for the coming days as a cyclone edges down the WA coast.

Ind vs Aus: Australia 481/4 at stumps on Day 2 at SCG

 Captain Michael Clarke's unbeaten 251 and Michael Hussey's unbeaten 55 enabled Australia to take a 291-run lead at stumps on the second day of the second Test against India at the Sydney Cricket Ground on today.

Hussey hit a half-century to take Australia over the 450-run mark.

Clarke hit his maiden double century to take the Australian lead over the 200-run mark.

Clarke is the 34th Australian to hit a double century in Test cricket.

Clarke was at 170 with Hussey for company as Australia took a 158-run lead at the end of the second session.

Ishant Sharma struck with the second new ball when he had Ricky Ponting caught by Sachin Tendulkar at point. Ponting added 288 runs with Clarke for the fourth wicket.

Ponting hit 14 fours in his 134-run knock before falling to Ishant.

The much-needed breakthrough came after captain Michael Clarke reached 150 as he and Ponting took Australia over the 300-run mark.

Ponting scored a century almost after two years as his last ton (209) came against Pakistan in Hobart in January 2010. Ponting cracked his 40th ton in 150 balls with the help of 11 boundaries.

The two experienced Australian batsmen stitched an unbeaten 200 runs stand for the fourth wicket and put on the backfoot in the game.

Michael Clarke slammed his 18th Test century to take Australia into commanding position at lunch on the second day.

At lunch on a steamy day at the Sydney Cricket Ground, Australia were 236 for three with a vital 45 runs lead.

Clarke's fourth Test century against India came off a glorious cover drive off Ishant Sharma in the last over before lunch. It was Clarke's second Test century of the Australian summer season after scoring 139 against New Zealand in Brisbane last month.

India bowlers toiled hard in the first session as they conceded 120 runs in 27 overs without taking a single wicket.

Ponting continued his good run as he scored yet another fifty which brought up in style with a classy square cut played slightly on the front foot to the boundary. Ponting also became the third player in Test history to get 100th score in excess of 50.

Former skipper 61st Test fifty and 12th against India came in 74 balls that included six boundaries. This was his 6th half-century in a row against India.

Clarke raced to his fifty on the second delivery of the day when he flicked it through mid-wicket to complete his 22nd Test half century and 6th against India. Clarke completed his quick-fire fifty in just 60 balls with the help of seven boundaries.

Australia ended the first day well on top at 116/3 after restricting India for paltry 191, resumed their first innings on Day 2 of the second Test at the Sydney Cricket Ground.

Zaheer Khan started with a bang as he gave two quick blows before the Australian total reached double-digits, followed by one more in the 30s, raised Indian hopes, but the home team recovered well through a fine unbeaten partnership of 79 runs between Ricky Ponting and Clarke to end the first day at 116/3.

MS Dhoni's decision to bat first after winning the toss backfired badly as India's famed batting line-up came a cropper yet again against a disciplined Australian pace attack.

Young James Pattinson ripped the heart out of India's line-up, claiming four of the top-five batsmen while Peter Siddle and Ben Hilfenhaus claimed three wickets each.

Dhoni (57*) was the highest scorer of the Indian innings which also was his first half century in Australia. Sachin Tendulkar faltered again in his quest for a 100th international century as he chopped a widish Pattinson delivery onto his stumps for 41.

Ind vs Aus: Australia crush India by 122 runs at MCG

Fine bowling performances by James Pattinson (4/53) and Peter Siddle (3/42) guided Australia to register a crushing 122-run victory over India on the fourth day of the Boxing Day Test at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on Today.

Spinner Nathan Lyon finally got the wicket as he scalped Umesh Yadav to bowl out India for 169 in 47.5 overs in their second innings.

Aussie seamers were on a roll right from the start as they claimed half of the Indian side inside 70 runs to put Australia on top against the visitors.

Paceman James Pattinson, who was certainly the hero of the day, dismissed Zaheer Khan (13) and skipper MS Dhoni (23) in quick succession as he claimed four wickets giving away just 53 runs in 15 overs.

Pattinson was truly rewarded with the man of the match award for his match-winning performance.

Seamer Peter Siddle claimed R Ashwin, who played a breezy knock of 35-ball 30 that included five fours, soon after the tea interval as India lost their seventh wicket at the score of 117. India were 117 for six at tea.

Chasing 292 for victory, India lost the momentum in the post-lunch session after losing five of their crucial wickets in the second session against Australia on Day 4 of the first Test at MCG.

Peter Siddle joined the party who got the prized wicket of master blaster Sachin Tendulkar as India lost their sixth wicket at the score of 81 on Day 4 of the first Test.

Tendulkar, who was in good touch, went for the drive on a widish delivery but it was well caught by Michael Hussey at gully to give India another jolt. Tendulkar scored a quickfire 32 of 46 balls with the help of four boundaries.

Earlier, paceman James Pattinson double-strike gave India denting blow as he dismissed Rahul Dravid and VVS Laxman in quick succession followed by Ben Hilfenhaus who claimed his second by trapping Virat Kohli for duck.

India lost Dravid, Laxman and Kohli in a span of 11 runs. Laxman's trademark flick off Pattinson went straight to Ed Cowan at square leg, who made no mistake in grabbing it, as India were tottering at 69/5 from 58/3 at one stage.

Pattinson cleaned up Dravid who managed to score only 10 runs in the second innings. Dravid got out in a similar fashion the way he lost his wicket in the first innings.

The angular full-length delivery from Pattinson went through between bat and pad of Dravid to hit the timber.

Peter Siddle had Gautam Gambhir, soon after lunch, caught by Ricky Ponting at second slip to put India under pressure on the fourth day of the first Test.

India were 24 for one at lunch in their Indian second innings in pursuit of a 292-run victory target.

The Indian run chase got off to a bad start as Michael Hussey took a sharp catch at gully to dismiss Virender Sehwag off Ben Hilfenhaus.

Sehwag (7) went for a wild swing at a wide delivery, middled it but Hussey grasped it out of thin air over his head to dismiss the dangerman for Australia.

Earlier in the day, India bowled out Australia for 240 runs in their second innings which left them with a 292-run victory target after Hussey and James Pattinson resumed the Australian second innings on Day 4.

Ishant Sharma took the last Australian wicket when he had Ben Hilfenhaus caught by VVS Laxman at second slip. Zaheer Khan squared up Michael Hussey with an absolute beauty and had him caught behind by MS Dhoni.

Hussey hit 9 fours in his 89-run knock before edging a good length delivery outside the off-stump that kicked up a hint and seamed away from him.