Australia beat India by 5 wickets in the 1st ODI held in Perth earlier today. The hosts were in full control today restricting India to a mere 309/3 in 50 overs despite heroic knocks from Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli. Rohit Sharma’s valiant innings of 171 Not Out goes in vain because India couldn’t win the match in the end.

Steve Smith, Australia

Winning the toss, India opted to bat first at the typical WACA ground in Perth with openers Rohit Sharma and Shikhar Dhawan started off the Indian innings in a classic style of right hand-left hand combination. Unfortunately, the left handed Dhawan was dismissed at the 6.4^th over managing just 9 runs from 22 balls before getting caught by Mitchell Marsh off Hazlewood. India eventually has lost their 1^st wicket at 36 for 1.

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But what followed was a complete run-storm as both Kohli and Rohit formed a mammoth partnership completely destroying the Aussie bowling attack. Virat Kohli was little cautious yet contributed well with the bat scoring a determined 91 (97b, 4s X 9, 6s x 1) before getting dismissed by Faulkner. Kohli added 207-run partnership with Rohit Sharma taking India’s score from 36/1 to 243/2.

On the other hand, Rohit Sharma was completely oblivious of what’s happening on the other side as he kept hitting boundaries and sixes at ease. No Aussie bowler was spared from Rohit Sharma’s magnificence as the talented batsman went on to play a spectacular knock of 171* (163b, 4s x 13, 6s X 7) and hit all across the ground.

Aussie bowling attack seemed helpless in front of Rohit Sharma’s elegance and Kohli’s determination. However, Faulkner provided the much needed breakthrough to the team at the 44.3^rd over when he dismissed Kohli. India put up a challenging total of 309 runs on board at 50 overs. Only Josh Hazlewood (10-0-41-1) bowled well to some extent with economy rate of just 4.1. All other Aussie bowlers went for more than 5.5 RPO.

Chasing a target of 310, Australia lose their 1^st wicket cheaply in the form of Aaron Finch 8 (11b, 4s x 1) in the 2.3^rd over of the innings when new comer Barinder Sran dismissed him caught and bowled. Two overs later, explosive David Warner 5 (10b, 4s X 1) also caught by Kohli off Barinder Sran. But Steve Smith 149 (135b, 4s X 11, 6s X 2) and George Bailey 112 (120b, 4s X 7, 6s X 2) completely dominated the game in the following overs.

The duo took the score board to 263 for 3 with just 46 runs remaining to win from 49 balls. Even after Bailey’s dismissal, Steve Smith was fluent with stroke and got dismissed only at the last over when just a couple of runs was needed from 5 balls which Aussie got without much struggle. Needless to say, Indian bowling attack was definitely not up to mark today.

Tags: 1st ODI, Australia, Barinder Sran, George Bailey, India, Rohit Sharma, Steve Smith, Virat Kohli