India were racing along alright, but the regular loss of wickets seemed to bother them everytime a partnership was looking to develop. Virender Sehwag had provided India with an early advantage, while Gautam Gambhir and Yuvraj Singh carried the good work forward as India moved to close to the century mark. Yuvraj slammed a six off the second-last ball of the fifteenth over.

But just as he was looking good, Ben Hilfenhaus removed him catching him off his own bowling. Yuvraj made 23 and his departure made India's score at 97 for 3 in 15.1 overs. Earlier, Sehwag provided the early impetus to the hosts by scoring a 30-ball 40. Just as he was looking good for a big score, he fell to Mitchell Johnson. Just after the ten-over mark, he gave a simple catch to Ben Hilfenhaus at mid-off off a slower one. For most part of his innings, he had remained unrattled by the loss of Sachin Tendulkar, who was caught at slip off the bowling of Peter Siddle.