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28 March 2024

Australia beat world champions India by 4 wickets

Published
By Cricket Correspondent

Australia beat world champions India by four wickets in a thrilling One Day 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 International century to contribute more than half of his team's total but Mitchell Starc's career-best 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 hat-trick but walked away with back-to-back man-of-the-match award.

India meet England in the third match of the series on Tuesday.

Australia innings

Australia cruised to a comfortable four-wicket victory against India in their second match of the Tri-series at the MCG on Sunday.

Chasing a target of 268, opener Aaron Finch (96) led the way sharing partnerships of 64 for the second with Watson (41) and 101 for the third with Smith (47) to put them on course.

Despite a middle order wobble, Australia won with six balls to spare as Faulkner and Haddin steered them home.

Faulkner sweeps Kumar to the fine leg fence for the winning as Australia win by four wickets with two overs to spare. Aus 269-6 in 48 overs.

Haddin virtually ensures victory for Australia with a delightful cover drive off Kumar.

Faulkner drops on his knees and smashes Kumar to the square leg fence to close the gap.

Patel bowls an excellent over with Faulkner surviving as Australia need 15 from 12. Aus 253-6 in 48 overs.

The match seems like going to the wire as Australia need 20 from the last three overs. Aus 248-6 in 47 overs.

Kumar strikes as Maxwell checks his shot only to chip a return catch. Aus 248-6 in 46.3 overs.

Glenn Maxwell c & b Kumar 20 (23b 1x4 1x6)

Shami has pulled up holding his left thigh and leaves the field after bowling just one ball in the 47th over.

Australia need 20 from the last four overs. Aus 247-5 in 46 overs.

Yadav bowls an excellent over conceding just a single and cramping up Maxwell. Aus 242-5 in 45 overs.

Maxwell jumps out and smashes Ashwin for a six followed by a boundary. Aus 241-5 in 44 overs.

Dhoni pulls off a brilliant stumping on the leg side to remove his opposite number. Aus 230-5 in 43.2 overs.

George Bailey st Dhoni b Ashwin 5 (11b 0x4 0x6)


It looks like there is a twist in the tale as India peg back Australia with two quick wickets. Aus 223-4 in 41 overs.

Yadav returns to the attack and strikes removing Finch who is caught behind beaten for pace as he attempts to cut close to his body. Aus 219-4 in 40.1 overs.

Aaron Finch c Dhoni b Yadav 96 (127b 5x4 2x6)

Australia need 50 from the last 10 overs. Aus 218-3 in 40 overs.

Maxwell has come in ahead of skipper Bailey.

India get a breakthrough as smith slaps a short ball from Shami straight to midon after adding 101 with Finch. Aus 216-3 in 39.4 overs.

Steven Smith c Ashwin b Mohammed Shami 47 (52b 6x4 0x6)

The Batting Powerplay is on and Australia are 200-2 after 36 overs requiring 68 from 84 balls.

Australia are cruising towards the target of 268. Aus 196-2 in 35 overs.

Finch is on fire thumping a straight six off Raina while Smith cracks a boundary. Aus 191-2 in 34 overs.

Finch goes on the offension smashing Raina over long-on for a six. Aus 170-2 in 32 overs.

Patel strikes castling Watson who swings and misses. Aus 115-2 in 22.4 overs.

Shane Watson b Patel 41 (39b 5x4 1x6)

Watson is turning it on lofting Ashwin back over his for a six. Aus 98-1 in 18 overs.

Australia are going steadily having made 85-1 after 16 overs.

New batsman Watson gets going cracking a couple of boundaries off Yadav. Aus 72-1 in 14 overs.

Australia have got off to a flying start despite the loss the Warner. Aus 56-1 in 10 overs.

Yadav strikes getting the big wicket of Warner with Raina pouching a skier. Aus 51-1 in 9.1 overs.

David Warner c Raina b Yadav 24 (22b 3x4 0x6)

Finch pummels Shami through the covers for a boundary while Kohli cannot prevent a Warner pull shot from going over the line. Aus 49-0 in 8 overs.

Warner survives being bowled off an inside edge by Kumar and a run out attempt by Rohit. Aus 38-0 in 7 overs.

Warner flicks a loosener from Shami to the fine leg fence before scooping another to square leg boundary.

Finch gets going with a couple of boundaries off Yadav. Aus 18-0 in 2 overs.

Australia get five off the first over chasing a target of 268.

India innings

A brilliant century by Rohit Sharma (138), the highest at the MCG surpassing Ricky Ponting's 115, helped India recover from a poor start to make 267-8 in 50 overs after Dhoni opted to bat first.

Sharma's sixth ODI hundred which came off 139  balls contained four sixes and nine boundaries.

Starc struck at regular intervals to claim six for 43.

Starc completes his spell with superb figures of 10-2-43-6.

Kumar is castled for a duck as Starc claims his sixth but is denied a hat-trick by Shami. Ind 262-8 in 49 overs.

Bhuvneshwar Kumar b Starc 0 (1b 0x4 0x6)

Starc claims a fiver as Rohit falls hitting a full toss to Maxwell at mid-on. Ind 262-7 in 48.4 overs.

Rohit Sharma c Maxwell b Starc 138 (139b 9x4 4x6)

Rohit smashes Faulkner for his fourth six. India 252-6 in 47 overs.

Starc has bowled a double wicket maiden and has figures of 9-2-39-4. Ind 237-6 in 45 overs.

Double strike by Starc in his ninth over as Patel is trapped leg before for a duck. Ind 237-6 in 44.4 overs.

Akshar Patel lbw b Starc 0 (2b 0x4 0x6)

Starc claims his third wicket bowling Dhoni who drags the ball onto his stumps. Ind 237-5 in 44.2 overs.

MS Dhoni b Starc 19 (31b 2x4 0x6)

India managed only 19 in the Batting Powerplay after the loss of Raina.

Rohit Sharma completes his sixth ODI century off 109 balls with a single.

Dhoni is on his way pouncing on a loose delivery from Cummins thumping it to the cover boundary.

Starc breaks the century partnership as Raina going for the big one miscues to Maxwell at mid-on. Ind 185-4 in 35 overs.

Suresh Raina c Maxwell b Starc 51 (63b 6x4 0x6)

Raina completes his half century off 61 balls making a welcome return to form after getting a pair in the Test match.

India have taken the Batting Powerplay one over early.

Rohit smashes consecutive boundaries off Faulkner to move into the 90s. Ind 177-3 in 33 overs.

Raina is on song pulling Sandhu for a boundary to move into the 40s.

India have got 20 in the last two overs as Raina and Rohit go on the offensive. Ind 148-3 in 29 overs.

Sandhu bangs one in short and Raina obliges by whacking him to the fine leg boundary. Ind 139-3 in 28 overs.

Rohit survives a confident appeal for leg before off Sandhu and also a run out attempt. Ind 123-3 in 26 overs.

India are 121-3 at the half way stage with Rohit in full cry and Raina also going well.

Rohit reaches his 24th ODI half century in style smashing Faulkner for a massive six over midwicket.

Raina brings up the 100 of the innings 21.1 overs whipping Watson through midwicket for a boundary.

Rohit rocks backs and pulls Cummins to fine leg for a boundary. Ind 96-3 in 21 overs.

Raina is stepping up a gear cracking Watson back over his head for another boundary.

Raina gets going pulling Cummins through midwicket for his first boundary. Ind 84-3 in 19 overs.

Rohit smashes a short ball from Starc over square leg for his second six. Ind 72-3 in 17 overs.

Starc returns to the attack after a successful three-over opening spell and bowls a maiden to Raina. Ind 62-3 in 15 overs.

India in trouble as Australia strike early. Ind 62-3 in 14 overs.


Australia get the big wicket of Kohli who miscues a pull shot off Faulkner with Bailey pouching it at mid-on. Ind 59-3 in 12.5 overs.

Virat Kohli c Bailey b Faulkner 9 (16b 0x4 0x6)

Rohit is in sublime touch steering Cummins through the covers for a delightful boundary. Ind 41-2, 8 overs.


Sandhu strikes with Rahane becoming his maiden ODI victim beaten by extra to be caught behind. Ind 33-2 in 7.2 overs.

Ajinkya Rahane c Haddin b Sandhu 12 (22b 2x4 0x6)

 

 


Debutant Sandhu into the attack now. Ind 30-1, 6 overs.

Rohit hits the first maximum in the fourth over of the innings lofting Cummins effortlessly over mid-off before caressing to the onside for an all-run four. Ind 26-1 in 4 overs.

 


Rahane hits the first boundary via an inside edge off Starc which almost clattered into the stumps before crashing another through point. Ind 16-1 in 3 overs.

Starc strikes in the first over as he scalps Dhawan edging to Finch at second slip. Ind 3-1.

Shikhar Dhawan c Finch b Starc 2 (4b 0x4 0x6)

India have won the toss and will bat first in their opening Tri-series match against Australia at the MCG on Sunday.

Gurinder Sandhu makes his debut for Australia while India have picked Akshar Patel.

Teams


Australia:
DA Warner, AJ Finch, SR Watson, SPD Smith, GJ Bailey, GJ Maxwell, BJ Haddin, JP Faulkner, MA Starc, PJ Cummins, GS Sandhu

India: RG Sharma, S Dhawan, V Kohli, AM Rahane, SK Raina, MS Dhoni, AR Patel, R Ashwin, B Kumar, Mohammed Shami, UT Yadav