The signs were there for all to see, but was only too clear when everyone looked at the result. India’s young guns had shown that they could fire, and had the old hands contributed, the now-valiant 18-run loss to Australia’s 317 could have ended differently. Though the No 3 bats in both the sides chalked up hundreds — Ricky Ponting made a magnificent 124 from 133 balls, while Gautam Gambhir’s 113 was more gutsy and responsible in comparison — the difference between both sides lay in the first 60 balls.

The Indian bowlers had an unusual off day with the new ball, getting tonked for 92 runs with 60 runs coming in the form of 12 boundaries and 2 sixes. The experienced Indian openers, Virender Sehwag and Sachin Tendulkar, however, failed to respond with the same swiftness.

After slumping to 47/3, and further to 51/4, India made a spirited effort to finish with 299 on the scoreboard.The team will have to maintain this approach, and get better with the result, as they travel to Hobart in a last-ditch attempt to directly qualify for the final.

India’s opening woes have remained, and the collective failure of their three most experienced batsmen —Yuvraj Singh included — has left a bitter taste in what was otherwise a match that saw fine performance from Gambhir and Robin Uthappa.

• Coming of age

Gambhir’s 113, his career-best score, was also his best innings so far. The innings reflected his maturity and ability not to wilt under pressure. Gambhir’s early bid to up the ante was blunted with regular fall of wickets at the other end. He scored his runs all around the wicket — 56 on the off-side and 57 towards his legs — and even played the Australian spinners, Brad Hogg and Michael Clarke, well.

... contd.