Swami Army news

Our support in the resent ODI was magnificant and we are searching for new members for our army, so if you see anyone in the Swami Army feel free to leave your contact details with them.

 Nine Msn News

Sydney: India's convincing victory over formidable Australia, topped by a splendid innings of 117 by Sachin Tendulkar, on a perfect autumn Sunday gave fans, including the hundreds of Indians and Indian-Australians at the Sydney Cricket Ground, something to relish for years.

 

A sea of Indian national flags, banners interspersed by frequent cries of 'Bharat mata ki jai...' to the beat of drums would have made the hosts often wonder if they were playing in India or at home.

 

"It's brilliant. It's remarkable that despite all the pressure on and off the field, this young team has secured a historic victory for India. It shows there is a huge future for Indian cricket and world cricket," said Australia-India Business Council chairman Neville Roach.

 

Roach migrated from Mumbai to Australia 47 years ago, but even after all these years, when it comes to cricket, he says, "I support India."

 

The day-night encounter in this first match of autumn after a summer of discontent was all about splendid feats on the field. Twenty-two-year old district-level cricketer Sankalp Bhatnagar was overwhelmed witnessing Sachin's first ODI century here and India's win from the Members' stand at the Sydney Cricket Ground.

 

"India needed this win and they achieved it with such finesse. The Sydney crowd is crazy about Sachin and his innings today has given fans much to relish and remember", says Sankalp.

 

Australian-Indians and some Indian fans that had travelled all the way to Australia for the Commonwealth Bank Triangular One-day Series were ecstatic.

 

Tendulkar's majestic strokes provided a perfect crescendo to this aggressively contested series. As rain clouds cleared to reveal a perfect day, verbal rivalries gave way to a day of magnificent batting and high quality cricket.

 

Though the crowd was almost equally divided, when Tendulkar hit his 100 every one in the stands rose to their feet to salute the 'little master' from Mumbai, who toyed with Aussie bowlers and put India one up in this first of the three finals.

 

Surender Yadav, an architect and keen cricket fan, told IANS: "It makes us feel so proud to be of Indian origin. After all these years, it's a dream come true. I have been here for 12 years, but my loyalties will always be with India in the game of cricket.

 

 In the Newspaper !                                                                                            

      Excitement mounts ... enthusiastic India supporters and cricket fans on the hill at the SCG.

Jaques' parents were said to be coming from Wollongong to see their son's SCG Test debut. If they were held up by traffic they might have missed his nine-ball cameo.

It was then the Swami Army started to stir.

"We started off well but we have problems with our fielding. That let us down," he said.

"I still think we can win."

The departure of Matthew Hayden (13) and Ricky Ponting (55) and Mike Hussey (41) after lunch had them delighted.

The departure of Michael Clarke (1) and Adam Gilchrist (7) made them delirious.

Some of the Army were draped in their national flag of orange white and green.

Others sheltered under an umbrella with panels in the same colours until a tricky gust of wind stripped them from the frame, which police then ruled was dangerous and ordered to the rubbish bin.

"Jeetega Bhai Jeetega. India Jeetega" the Army called, oblivious to the acres of Australians

In a remarkable game of twists and turns in Sydney, India wrapped up a memorable trip down under with a nail biting nine run victory over Australia in what has been among the finest three days of Indian cricket this century Winning the CB Series 2008 Finals. After winning the first final and u-19 World Cups on Sunday, the onus was on winning the second final and the Indian team emerged out winners for a gargantuan battle of wits, patience and skill to etch out a series victory that will be written forever in the annals of Indian cricket.

 Harbhajan Singh is all smiles after the win, Australia v India, CB Series, 2nd final, Brisbane, March 4, 2008  

 India started the match on a positive note with both Tendulkar and Uthappa showing treating the Aussie attack with disdain. However Uthappa's dismissal on 30 put the brakes on Indian scoring and after looking to setup a target of around 300, the Indian batting line up had to settle for 258. Sachin Tendulkar was the star of the Indian batting lineup once again putting to rest the ghosts which have surrounded his performances in finals with a splendid 91 reminiscent of his exploits in Sharjah against Australians ten years ago. A few lusty blows from Mahendra Singh Dhoni kept the Indian batting going and a target of 258 was setup for the Australian side to overhaul under lights at the Gabba.

The Australian chase began rather inauspiciously as the top order unfolded much along the same lines as they did two days ago. Adam Gilcrhist had a rather forgettable finish to his international career when he was out to a vicious Praveen Kumar outswinger while the likes of Ricky Pointing and Michael Clarke were out to rather ordinary shots against the guile and direction of Praveen Kumar. AS on Sunday, it was left to the likes of Matthew Hayden and Andrew Symonds to do the mop up job and for once, the Indian team did look on the verge of an all too familiar capitulation. However, a quicksilver throw from Yuvraj Singh saw the end of Matthew Hayden and Harbhajan Singh had his last laugh against Andrew Symonds when he trapped the burly all-rounder with a massive off break that kept low. Michael Hussey and James Hopes did give the Australians hope of a comeback with a fine partnership for the sixth wicket but the introduction onf Sreesanth saw the end of a fine innings from Hussey caught behind by a fine low catch by Dhoni.

MASTER class . . . a Sachin Tendulkar ton has helped India to victory over the Aussies.

There was excitement galore towards the final stages of the match when James Hopes, playing the innings of his life nearly took the Australians past the mark setup by the Indians with some lusty blows last on. A sixer off Sreesanth meant the last over bowled by Irfan Pathan held utmost importance in the context of the series. In stark contrast to his earlier bowling form through the series, Pathan kept his composure towards the end and the dismissal of Nathan Bracken and James Hopes in consecutive deliveries saw an incredible end to one of the finest cricket series in recent times. India's victory in an ultimate cricket battle against the Australians would go down into cricket's annals and the millions of Indian fans following the game through television and live online India cricket streaming would be celebrating what is arguably the biggest Indian limited overs success since their victory in Australia twenty two years ago.