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ShareNew Delhi: Yuvraj Singh stretched out to reach the pitch of the ball in a bid to smash boundaries. Mahendra Singh Dhoni mostly stretched out to nudge the red cherry around. The approach of the two might have differed during their time together, but they formed a potent combination.
The left-right pair sounded the death knell for Australia with a record-breaking 148-run partnership that helped achieve a target of 230 with fair comfort on a pitch which Dhoni considered 220 to be a par score. During what was the best partnership for the fourth wicket for India against Australia, the two consolidated the position in the middle overs, before Yuvraj took charge to put the team on track for a 2-1 lead after three ties of the seven-match series.
India reached the 100-run mark only in the 25th over but once Yuvraj smashed all-rounder Moises Henriques for a six over long-on and then a four through the covers, the tide had turned. India faced a difficult task of 94 from 17 overs before that over, but things became easier from then on both against spin and pace.
Yuvraj smashed an entertaining 78 off 96 deliveries with eight fours and two sixes before falling leg-before to Henriques. But Dhoni stepped on the pedal later to see the team through with the batting power play in use on what was a pug-marked pitch by then. The Indian skipper, who had scored a match-winning 124 in the previous match at Nagpur, remained not out on 70 off 95 balls.
Earlier, Sachin Tendulkar started impressively but India would have been comfortable with a bigger stand than that of the 39 he shared with Virender Sehwag. Tendulkar kept the scoreboard ticking even as Sehwag managed only 11 off 25 before being clean bowled by Mitchell Johnson.
Tendulkar looked unsettled after Sehwag's dismissal and was run out to a direct throw from Johnson for 32. Gautam Gambhir, trying a jab against the spin, fell in Nathan Hauritz's first over and India were suddenly on the edge of being pushed out of the contest at 53-3.
But Yuvraj and Dhoni produced a resolute partnership that re-invoked interest in the match. It was a good toss to win for Australia. With the Indians reluctant to pitch the ball up and induce drives despite the ball coming slow off the pitch, makeshift opener Ricky Ponting and Shane Watson looked comfortable during a 72-run association for the first wicket.
