Perth story: India vs. Australia 1st ODI

India scored a massive 309 runs for Australia but failed to pocket down the victory and lost to Aussies by 5 Wickets. 

India Inning

India won the toss and chooses to bat first. Rohit Sharma and Shikhar Dhawan opened the innings for India. First over went good for India as they scored 11 runs. That certainly brought some confidence in the players. But soon the confidence was diluted after they lost their first wicket of Shikhar Dhawan when he mistimed a pull on the ball of Josh Hazlewood and is caught by Mitchell Marsh. After the sweet dismissal Kohli walks in and looked as if he is all ready to go a long way in the match. Rohit Sharma and Kholi played some great knocks before drinks and brought Indian score to 78/1 in 15 overs.

The duo completed their 50 runs partnership in 68 balls. The duo has slowed down a bit in the last few overs, but it remains a good start for India 86/1 in 18 overs. Just after the duo complete 50 runs partnership Rohit Sharma completed its 28th ODI half-century in 63 balls. The duo brought the scoreboard to100 in 21.1 overs. Soon after Kohli brings up his 35th half-century with a six off the 62nd ball he faced and brought the scoreboard to 161/1 in 31.3 overs for India.

Both the players have set the tune for India and they were now slowly moving towards the 200 mark and Rohit near his century. After few more overs Rohit completed his 9th century and became first Indian to do so in an ODI at PERTH.

Rohit brings up India’s 200 with his fourth SIX – straight back over bowler Paris’ head. After that Kohli also switched his gear with two fours in the first three balls delivered by Marsh and follows it up with a single to bring up his 200-run partnership with Rohit. It seemed like Kholi would get his ton too but that intuition had been rotten away by Faulkner and kholi goes off the field on 91. India was on 243 for 2 in 44.3 overs.

Dhoni comes in and gets into the act off just his second ball, hitting a four off Faulkner and then a single to end the over. Rohit added another glory to his career when he scored 150 runs in 155 balls first time in Perth. Faulkner helped Australia to get rid of Dhoni early after being caught by Boland.

Jadeja comes to the crease and starts with a boundary off Faulkner. India nears that 300 mark. Rohit gets another lucky boundary over the wicketkeeper’s head, which brings up India’s 300. They are 300 for 3 in 49.1 overs. Finally India put a massive score for Australia to chase 309 runs with Rohit’s contribution of 171 not out off 163 balls.

Australia Inning

David Warner and Aaron Finch opened for Australia. Barinder Sran India’s debutant bowler has been given the new ball to open Australia innings. Australia came out with a cranky start as they lost their first wicket of Finch to the debutant Barinder Sran in his second over that brought Australia 9/1. Sran striked again after Warner (5) gets caught at mid-off, a smart leaping catch by Kohli. Australia look rattled there at 21 for 2.

The confident India was not letting Australia off the hook. The hosts are 28 for 2 in 7 overs, scoring just four runs an over. Australia managed to strike only three boundaries in the first 10 overs of Powerplay. George Bailey stayed aggressive despite losing openers and brought Australia 50 for 2 in 10. 5 overs.

When you have Dhoni, there is no absence of surprises as he put Rohit into the attack ahead of Ashwin and Jadeja and Bailey welcomes him with a straight SIX. Soon 50 partnership between Bailey (30*) and Smith (24*), comes up and the Australian scorecard looking a lot better at 73 for 2 in 15 overs before the Drinks.

Ashwin was put into attack by Dhoni after the Drinks. Ashwin could not be able to show his magic with the ball too much neither did Jadeja. They both helped Australia to get their easy hundered. They both have given away 34 runs in the five overs they have bowled together. Ashwin 0/17 in 2 and Jadeja 0/17 in 3.

Captain Smith joined Bailey as he too completes his half-century, 15th of his ODI career. Meanwhile, Bailey is dealing in boundaries, including a reverse-swept four off Ashwin. Australia scored 136/2 in 24.4 overs. After couple of more overs, runs were showering from the bats of both the batsmen and a race started for 100 between Bailey and Smith. The scoreboard reads 163/2 for Australia in 27 overs that rang tension bells over India’s head.

Australia running away with it now, while at one stage, after Sran removed both the openers, it looked India have their noses well in front. But after splendid performance by Bailey and Smith, where both approaching centuries and scoreboard read 180/2 in 30 overs the game was in Aussies control.

Nothing was going India’s way there; Bailey completed his 100 on Just 106 balls including 6 fours and 2 sixes. Just a couple of overs after smith too has completed his century in just 97 balls. After both the players completed their century the scoreboard reads 233/2 in 38.2 overs for australia.

The task seems too easy now for Australia with two set batsmen on the crease. Though Ashwin ejected Bailey yet that did not affected Aussies as they needed just 47 in 48 balls with 7 wickets in hand. Maxwell (6) discharged early by Ashwin after being caught on the boundry ropes by Kholi.
Umesh Yadav bowled brilliantely in death overs by giving Just 5 runs off his over. Australia needed 12 off 18 balls. Sran takes his third after ejecting Steven Smith who departs at 149. Finally Australia beats India by 5 wickets in the first ODI at Perth.

INDIA: Shikhar Dhawan, Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, Ajinkya Rahane, Manish Pandey, MS Dhoni (c/wk), Ravichandran Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Umesh Yadav, Barinder Sran
AUSTRALIA: David Warner, Aaron Finch, Steve Smith (c), George Bailey, Glenn Maxwell, Mitchell Marsh, Mathew Wade, James Faulkner, Scott Boland, Joel Paris, Josh Hazlewood