Bangalore: Defending champions Australia beat Canada by seven wickets in their penultimate Group A match of cricket World Cup at M Chinnaswamy stadium.
Australia got their act together in the nick of time to bowl out Canada for 211 after Hiral Patel tore their attack apart with a swashbuckling half-century, in a group A match of the World Cup.
Patel was caviller in his approach as he took the Aussie attack by the scruff of its neck to score a 45-ball 54, before the Australia bowlers, led by Brett Lee (4/46) fought back to bundle out Canada in 45.4 overs.
After Ashish Bagai elected to bat first, Canada looked on course for a total much better than what they actually ended up with, but inexperience cost the associate nation dear.
Canada started on a rousing note with Patel going after the fearsome Australian fast bowling duo of Lee and Shaun Tait at the Chinnaswamy Stadium.
After Mike Hussey dropped John Davison at square leg in the first over, there was no looking back for Canada. Australia`s fielding was not up to the mark as Shane Watson dropped an easy one off Mitchell Johnson later.Patel began the proceeding, which in a matter of few minutes turned out to be a brutal assault, with a slice through cover point off Lee, before doing a repeat two balls later. Soon a majestic drive followed through mid-off and Canada were up and running.
One of the fastest bowlers in the world, Tait was in for a shock as Patel walloped him over extra cover for a six, much to the delight of the handful of Canadian supporters.
Davison then got into the act, driving Lee through cover and then picking him over mid-wicket for boundaries.
A slow bouncer from Lee, however, cut short the 40-year-old`s final hurray in international cricket. Davison was left in an awkward position as he gave a catch to wicket-keeper Brad Haddin.The wicket of Davison failed to deter Patel`s spirit as he continued to dominate the Australian attack.
Smarting from the treatment meted out to him at the start of the innings, Lee could just watch in amazement as Patel pulled him over deep square leg.
Mitchell Johnson`s introduction in place of Tait hardly made any difference to Patel as he carted him over backward point for a boundary and then slashed the bowler over third man for the maximum. Johnson was bent on pitching it full and wide and Patel made use of the profligacy.
The Australians at this stage were scurrying for cover as Canada brought their fifty in just 4.4 overs, the fastest in this World Cup. They bettered Bangladesh`s effort, who got took a delivery more to get to the mark against India in the tournament opener.
PTI
First Published: Thursday, March 17, 2011, 08:33