Australia Register Biggest Ever Win Over India In ODIs
NEW DELHI : Captain Aaron Finch and David Warner hit centuries as Australia hammered India by 10 wickets in the first one-day international on Tuesday. After a batting collapse for India saw them post 255 all out on the board. In India and will be looking to register their second straight series win in the country.Australia have now won their fourth consecutive ODI against India
Aaron Finch won the toss and put India in to bat. India captain Virat Kohli, in a bid to adjust Rohit Sharma, Shikhar Dhawan and KL Rahul in the side, moved himself down to No.4 in the batting order.
Australia’s openers hit Indian bowlers around the park to complete their biggest ever win over India in the 50-over format. Warner was 128 not out and Finch 110 not out as Australia scored 258 without loss in 37.4 overs in reply to India’s 255 all out.
4 Australia now have four consecutive win against India in India with three other coming in the last series in March 2019. Australia have previously achieved this feat in 2003 and 2006 and are the only team to have registered this feat.
2 Australia are the second team to win by 10 wickets in India against India. The last team to achieve this feat was South Africa in 2005 in Kolkata. Overall, they are the fifth team to defeat India in ODIs by this margin.
256 is the second-highest target chased by a country without losing a wicket in ODIs. It only stands behind 279 changed bu South Africa against Bangladesh in Kimberly in 2017 by Quinton de Kock and Hashim Amla. 3 This is India’s third straight loss at the Wankhede with the other two being against New Zealand (by six wickets in 2017) and against South Africa (by 214 runs in 2015).
258 is the highest partnership for any wicket against India surpassing the previous record of 235 by Steve Smith and Goerge Bailey in 2016 in Perth. It is also the third-highest partnership for Australia for any wicket after 284 by Travis Head and Warner in 2017 and 260 by Smith and Warner in Perth.
Fast bowler Mitchell Starc took 3-56 in only his second ODI on Indian soil as the host’s middle-order collapsed after a 121-run second-wicket partnership between Lokesh Rahul (47) and Shikhar Dhawan (74).
“I thought the way we fought back during the middle overs was impressive. Shikhar and KL were batting really well, looking to accelerate. So, I’m proud of the way the boys fought back. We could still brush up in the field a bit but that happens sometimes when the outfield is slightly damp. Overall, a good performance. Always tough to beat India in India,” said Finch in the post-match presentation.
Australia had the early breakthrough when Rohit Sharma mistimed a shot to David Warner off Mitchell Starc after scoring just 10 runs. But Shikhar Dhawan and KL Rahul then frustrated Australia, putting up a 121-run stand. But the partnership ended when KL Rahul chipped a straightforward catch to Steve Smith at cover off Ashton Agar in the 28th over. He headed to the pavilion just three runs short of a half-century. Pat Cummins struck in the next over to dismiss Shikhar Dhawan.
Aaron Finch may have been in a spot of bother when Virat Kohli hit Adam Zampa for a six off the first ball of the 32nd over, but any concerns of the Indian skipper playing a game-changing knock disappeared on the very next delivery as the leg-spinner caught him off his own bowling.
Shreyas Iyer fell soon as well before Rishabh Pant and Ravindra Jadeja put up some resistance. But that ended when Jadeja was caught behind. Pant was soon to go as well, trying to pull a Pat Cummins short delivery, but only managing to top-edge the ball onto his own helmet before it looped to Ashton Turner at point.
Pant suffered a concussion due to the ball hitting his helmet and was under observation during Australia’s inning, with KL Rahul taking up the gloves in his absence. A late flourish by Kuldeep Yadav helped India go past the 250-mark.
The chase was a comfortable one for Australia. Aaron Finch got off to a flyer, with Warner taking some time to settle in. But soon, the swashbuckling left-hander also got going as they dished out what was only India’s fifth ever loss by 10 wickets in ODIs — and just the second at home. David Warner hit 128 off 112 deliveries while Aaron Finch scored 110 off 114 balls.
(With Agency Inputs ).
