Cricket Highlights, 18 Mar: India vs Australia (1st ODI)

India vs Australia (1st ODI)

After winning the Test series against Australia, hosts India also started to show some dominance in the ODI series. India won by 5 wickets with 61 balls to spare in the first ODI of the three-match series at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai. With that, the hosts took a 1-0 lead in the ODI series.  

Experienced all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja showed outstanding performance in this victory of the team. First, with the ball, he took 2 wickets for 46 runs, and later with the bat he played an unbeaten inning of 45 runs and was selected as the player of the match.  

Indian captain Hardik Pandya won the toss, he decided to field first sending Australia to bat. The visitors ended their innings after scoring 188 runs in 35.4 overs due to the aggressive bowling attack of the Indian bowlers. In reply, host India lost 5 wickets for 83 runs and the match got a bit difficult for them. 

However, after that they did not lose any more wickets, Hardik Pandya’s army left the field with the victory with the brilliant batting performances of KL Rahul and Jadeja. India reached the port of victory in 39.5 overs thanks to the pair of 108 runs of these two batsmen in the 6th wicket.  

India got their victory on the day with KL Rahul’s stormy performance, who was being heavily criticized due to his bad form. Rahul was dropped from the Test team due to a run drought. He answered the critics well by playing the match-winning innings of 75 runs yesterday.

Chasing down a target of 188 in bowling-friendly conditions at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai was not easy for the Men in Blues. Australia got off to a great start with the hands of Mitchell Starc in a condition conducive to pace bowlers. Marcus Stoinis sent back Ishan Kishan initially, who got a chance in place of regular captain Rohit Sharma.  

Virat Kohli, who scored a century in the last Test, could not stay on the wicket this day. Kohli got LBW on an inswinging delivery by Starc. Suryakumar Yadav had a big opportunity that day. But he also failed. He got out on the first ball of this game. Like Kohli, Surya also returned getting undone with lbw. 

Losing 3 wickets for the team’s 16 runs, India lost the fourth wicket for 39 runs. Shubman Gill could not score more than 20 runs. Marnus Labuschagne took a brilliant catch at the backward point off Starc. Starc made Australia dream of victory by taking 3 wickets for 24 runs in 6 overs in the first spell.  

On the other hand, captain Pandya and Rahul took responsibility for bringing the team back into the match. These two made a partnership of 44 runs for the 5th wicket. However, Pandya’s catch was taken at backward square leg while playing a hook-on Stoinis’ bouncer for 25 runs. Then Jadeja came to the crease who was in great form. 

Smith again handed the ball to Starc in the middle overs to break the pair which had become dangerous for Australia. Although this time, Starc could not give Smith a wicket. Australia finally lost the game due to this pair.  

Earlier, Mohammed Shami brought down Australia’s batting collapse, which was on the way to a big collection. Smith’s team lost their way in just one spell of 15 balls by Shami. He picked up 3 wickets without giving any runs in these

15 balls. Josh Inglis, Cameron Green, and Stoinis were sent back to the dressing room by this pacer.  All-rounder Jadeja and pacer Mohammed Siraj did the rest of the work. After Jadeja dismissed Glenn Maxwell, Siraj sent Adam Zampa and Sean Abbott back to the pavilion.  

All the credit for Australia’s great start goes to Mitchell Marsh. After returning from injury, this cricketer played the innings of 81 runs from 65 balls. David Warner could not play in this match as he was not 100% fit. Another opener, Travis Head, was dismissed early on, but Australia’s brilliant start was not hampered.  

Marsh made a pair of 72 runs with captain Smith. Smith returned in a delivery of Pandya after scoring 22 runs off 30 balls. Labuschagne did not get off to a good start in the ODI series either. He left the crease scoring 15 runs. He was dismissed by Kuldeep Yadav.

Shami and Siraj took 3 wickets each, whereas Jadeja picked up two wickets. These two teams will meet in Visakhapatnam tomorrow in the 2nd match of the series.

India vs Australia Scoreboard

Australia – 188/10 (35.4)

India – 191/5 (39.5)

Result – India won by 5 wickets

Player of the match – Ravindra Jadeja

India vs Australia Playing Xis