Australia beat world
champions India by four
wickets in a thrilling Oneday
International at the
Melbourne Cricket
Ground on Sunday, overcoming
a late mini-collapse
to win with just six
balls remaining.
India’s world record holder
Rohit Sharma (138)
smashed his sixth ODI century
to contribute more
than half of his team’s total
but Mitchell Starc’s careerbest
6-43 restricted the visitors
to 267-8. When the
hosts replied, swashbuckling
opener Aaron Finch
proved he is not just a reckless
slogger, compiling a
composed 96 as Australia
overwhelmed the target
with one over to spare.
Finch hit five fours and two
sixes in his 127-ball knock
but missed out on his seventh
ODI century as Australia
chalked up their second
win in the tri-series,
which also involves England.
Australia’s chase got off to
a strong start with the openers
putting on 51 runs
before the dangerous David
Warner (24) spooned a simple
catch to Suresh Raina at
extra cover. Shane Watson
(41) also began aggressively
but looked desperate when
boundaries stopped flowing
and lost his off-stump to
left-arm spinner Akshar
Patel going for a slog-sweep.
Steve Smith (47), who punished
India in the preceding
four-Test series, continued
to trouble them, once again
exposing the visitors’ bowling
limitations with his century
stand with Finch.
From 216-2, Australia
lost four quick wickets to
inject fresh excitement in
the contest but eventually
prevailed when James
Faulkner hit the winning
boundary off Bhuvneshwar
Kumar.
Earlier, Sharma did not
threaten the record 264 he
blasted against Sri Lanka
last year but the Indian
opener gave Australian
bowlers an insight into his
intentions ahead of next
month’s World Cup with
an almost a run-a-ball
knock. Opting to bat first,
India slumped to 59/3
inside the first 13 overs
before Sharma and Raina
(51) set about rebuilding
the innings adding 126 for
the fourth wicket. Sharma’s
138 came off 139
deliveries and was highlighted
by nine boundaries
and four sixes at the
MCG, which will host the
World Cup final.
The elegant right-hander
departed in the penultimate
over when he mistimed
a full toss from Starc
and holed out to Glenn
Maxwell at midwicket.
Starc, who claimed four
wickets in Friday’s tournament
opener against
England, missed out on a
hattrick but walked away
with back-to-back man-ofthe-match
award. India
meet England in the third
match of the series on
Tuesday
champions India by four
wickets in a thrilling Oneday
International at the
Melbourne Cricket
Ground on Sunday, overcoming
a late mini-collapse
to win with just six
balls remaining.
India’s world record holder
Rohit Sharma (138)
smashed his sixth ODI century
to contribute more
than half of his team’s total
but Mitchell Starc’s careerbest
6-43 restricted the visitors
to 267-8. When the
hosts replied, swashbuckling
opener Aaron Finch
proved he is not just a reckless
slogger, compiling a
composed 96 as Australia
overwhelmed the target
with one over to spare.
Finch hit five fours and two
sixes in his 127-ball knock
but missed out on his seventh
ODI century as Australia
chalked up their second
win in the tri-series,
which also involves England.
Australia’s chase got off to
a strong start with the openers
putting on 51 runs
before the dangerous David
Warner (24) spooned a simple
catch to Suresh Raina at
extra cover. Shane Watson
(41) also began aggressively
but looked desperate when
boundaries stopped flowing
and lost his off-stump to
left-arm spinner Akshar
Patel going for a slog-sweep.
Steve Smith (47), who punished
India in the preceding
four-Test series, continued
to trouble them, once again
exposing the visitors’ bowling
limitations with his century
stand with Finch.
From 216-2, Australia
lost four quick wickets to
inject fresh excitement in
the contest but eventually
prevailed when James
Faulkner hit the winning
boundary off Bhuvneshwar
Kumar.
Earlier, Sharma did not
threaten the record 264 he
blasted against Sri Lanka
last year but the Indian
opener gave Australian
bowlers an insight into his
intentions ahead of next
month’s World Cup with
an almost a run-a-ball
knock. Opting to bat first,
India slumped to 59/3
inside the first 13 overs
before Sharma and Raina
(51) set about rebuilding
the innings adding 126 for
the fourth wicket. Sharma’s
138 came off 139
deliveries and was highlighted
by nine boundaries
and four sixes at the
MCG, which will host the
World Cup final.
The elegant right-hander
departed in the penultimate
over when he mistimed
a full toss from Starc
and holed out to Glenn
Maxwell at midwicket.
Starc, who claimed four
wickets in Friday’s tournament
opener against
England, missed out on a
hattrick but walked away
with back-to-back man-ofthe-match
award. India
meet England in the third
match of the series on
Tuesday
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