India - Australia: It'll be close (28 October 1998)
A nail-biting thriller is expected when two former world champions Australia and India engage in a do-or-die battle Wednesday for a semi-final berth of the Wills International Cup
28-Oct-1998
28 October 1998
India - Australia: It'll be close
by Zahid Newaz in Dhaka
A nail-biting thriller is expected when two former world champions
Australia and India engage in a do-or-die battle Wednesday for a
semi-final berth of the Wills International Cup.
This will be the first appearance for the Australian national team in
Dhaka since the independence of Bangladesh. The only previous visit by
an Australian team to the city was when Richie Benaud's side played a
Test here in 1959.
Cricket fans are awaiting with baited breath for a keenly-contested
match and to watch some of the world's best cricketers like Sachin
Tendulkar, Mohammad Azaharuddin, Mark Waugh and Steve Waugh in action.
Both teams had net practice at the Bangabandhu National Stadium under
floodlights on Tuesday.
So far, India and Australia played 53 one-day matches with Australia
winning 29 and India 21 while three matches ended in no-result.
India goes into the match at their lucky ground, where they clinched
the 1988 Asia Cup and this year's Independence Cup. Indian captain
Azharuddin is all set to make cricketing history as the first man to
play 300 ODI matches when he will take to the field.
"Azzu", as the Indian captain is fondly called, is also 94 runs short
of Desmond Haynes' world record of 8,648 runs.
Both the Indian and Australian captains are determined to snatch a win
and both are depending on their strong batting line up.
While Azharuddin said they want to win the cup, hattrick trophy for
his side in Bangladesh, with first win in the Wills Cup against
Australia, Steve Waugh is confident to show the team's highest in
their first appearence in Dhaka.
Australia is taking part in the tournament with morale high after a
1-0 test series win against Pakistan, and India with perhaps a little
frustration after the one-off test defeat to underdog Zimbabwe.
Source :: CricInfo365