MATCH ABONDONED DUE TO RAIN

The second match of the tri nations series got abondoned due to rain again.This match played between India and Srilanka got abondoned at the Brisbane.India batted first again and this time around they started very well with a 68 before Sachin dragged it onto his stumps for 35 runs.Virender Sehwag played in an attacking fashion for 30 odd runs but India slumped quickly to 84 for four.Yuvraj Singh disappointed but Gautam Gambhir scored a brilliant 102 runs and Dhoni scored 88 runs to prop up the score to 267 for four in 50 overs.The match however stopped there as rain washed out the play.

DHONI MATURING AS A BATSMAN

India's crisis man VVS Laxman said on Friday MS Dhoni had matured over the last year and was now playing according to the situation the team was in.

"Dhoni realised that it was important to play a fighting knock. He's become very mature in the last year or so," Laxman told STAR Cricket after the end of the third day's play.

The two were involved in a crucial partnership after India had lost their middle order cheaply and managed to stage a recovery from where the visitors could set a stiff target for the hosts.

Laxman put on another exquisite performance shepherding the tailenders to take India's lead past the psychological 400-run mark. It wasn't a trademark fluent innings, but a workmanlike 79 that has put India in with a chance to win this Test and upset Australia's bid of a 17th straight Test win.

"It was a different innings because we lost early wickets. The pitch also had become a little slow compared to what it was on day two," he said.

The Hyderabadi said it was "encouraging" to see the way RP Singh applied himself and batted. The two put on 51 runs, 30 of those came off RP's bat.

"It was good to see the way RP hung on. He was not comfortable against Brett Lee so I took more strike. But he was comfortable against the other bowlers," he said.

On batting in Australia, Laxman said he enjoyed the wickets because they were "true and you get purchase for your shots".

DHONI PROFILE

Full Name: Mahendra Singh Dhoni
Born: July 7, 1981, Ranchi, Bihar
Major teams: India, Jharkhand
Batting style: Right-hand bat
Fielding Position: Wicketkeeper

Achievements:Highest score by a wicketkeeper in ODIs (183 not out); highest number of sixes (10) in an ODI innings by a wicketkeeper (most by an Indian); highest batting average for a wicketkeeper

Mahendra Singh Dhoni is the new poster boy of Indian cricket. With his long mane and swashbuckling batting style, Dhoni has the whole country drooling over him at this moment.

Dhoni got his big break in the Indian team courtesy his exploits against Pakistan A, in the triangular tournament in Kenya, where he destroyed bowling attacks with disdain. After making his one-day international debut against Bangladesh in Chittagong in December 2004 Dhoni remained subdued in the first four matches he played.

It was his fifth one-dayer, against Pakistan at Vishakapatnam, which heralded MS Dhoni's arrival at the big stage when the dashing wicket keeper cracked a dazzling 148 from just 123 balls. Dhoni followed it with another cracker of an innings against Sri Lanka on 31 October 2005, when he clobbered his way to a mammoth 183 off just 145 balls, thus breaking Adam Gilchrist's record for the highest score by a wicketkeeper in ODIs

During this blitzkrieg, Dhoni also broke Saeed Anwar's record of most runs scored off boundaries by scoring a total of 120 runs off 4s and 6s eclipsing the previous record of 118.

Riding on the good showing in the One-Dayers, Dhoni made his Test debut against Sri Lanka and in only his fifth Test, scored his maiden century to help India avoid follow-on against Pakistan. Ever since, Dhoni has been a crucial member of the Indian side.

DHONI FINDS SOLACE IN DEAD RUBBER WIN

Australia may have already won the series but India's heroics in the dead rubber win impressed captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni.

The two-wicket victory in the seventh ODI was not enough for India as Australia ran out 4-2 winners in the seven-match contest but MS Dhoni was glad India bowed out on a high.

"This victory was important for us as we wanted to finish the series on a positive note," said Dhoni.

The win was also important for Team India who take on arch-rivals Pakistan next month. There will be five ODIs and three Tests between the two arch-rivals.

Dhoni singled out man-of-the-match Murali Kartik, who first took a career best six-wicket haul and then scored crucial unbeaten 21 runs to see the side through.

"Kartik bowled extremely well today. He had a finger injury in his right hand but he was eager to play," Dhoni said.

"In fact he played a big role in India's both wins in the series," Dhoni added.

Ricky Ponting, the Australia captain also praised Kartik's efforts.

"Kartik bowled well today. He bowled well even in his first game. The wicket here was different because the top was a bit soft. Still you have to execute the skills and he did extremely well and deserved every wicket he got.

Ponting also said he was shocked by India's decision to 'rest' Rahul Dravid for the match.

"He's a class player and I was surprised he did not play."

India play Australia in the Twenty20 international on Saturday, 20 October. Who will World T20 champions India field for that game?