In a game of high attrition, Lokesh Rahul’s half-century helped India beat Australia by five wickets Friday and take a 1-0 lead in the three-match ODI series.
Rahul scored 75 not out and put on 108 runs for a vital, unbeaten sixth wicket with Ravindra Jadeja as India braved the Australian pacers’ storm to cross the finish line with 10.1 overs to spare.
India finished with 191-5 after Mohammed Shami’s burst of 3-17 in six overs helped bowl out Australia for 188 runs. Mohammed Siraj also took 3-29 in 5.4 overs as the visitors lost eight wickets for 59 runs. Siraj got the early breakthrough as Travis Head (5) chopped on but Mitchell Marsh played a crucial hand with 81 off 65 balls to propel the Australian innings. He struck 10 fours and five sixes, and put on 72 runs with Steve Smith (22) for the third wicket.
While Marsh was at the crease, Australia seemed in control despite losing Smith in the 13th over when he was caught behind off Hardik Pandya (1-29). Marsh added another 52 runs with Marnus La-buschagne (15) by attacking Kuldeep Yadav’s wrist spin.
The floodgates opened when Marsh mishit a wide delivery off Jadeja and was out caught at short third man. Australia then collapsed from 129-3 to 188 all out in the space of 16 overs.
Labuschagne fell off Yadav, while Shami re-turned for a second spell to wreak complete havoc. In three successive overs, he bowled Josh Inglis (26) and Cameron Green (12), while Marcus Stoinis (5) was caught behind. The Australian innings lay in tatters at 184-7 in 31.3 overs.
Jadeja finished with 2-46 as Glenn Maxwell was out for 8, caught trying to add a few extra runs. Siraj finished things off with a double blow in the end as Australia lost its last four wickets for four runs in the space of 25 balls.
Chasing a paltry total, India also faltered initially as the Australian pacers made good use of the swing conditions on offer. Stoinis (2-27) trapped Ishan Kishan lbw for 3, while Starc (3-49) bowled a fiery opening spell. He trapped Virat Kohli lbw for 4, and then dismissed Suryakumar Yadav similarly for a first ball duck in the fifth over.
India was down to 16-3 but Shubman Gill sur-vived a close lbw shout off Sean Abbott. But Starc had him caught at slip later on as the hosts slumped to 39-4 in 10.2 overs.
Rahul then stabilized the innings with Hardik Pandya (25) as the duo added 44 runs for the fifth wicket. Stoinish returned to pick his second wicket as Pandya was out caught with the match hanging in balance.
Rahul batted sedately, though, and overcame his poor form to reach 50 off 73 balls. Overall, he faced 91 deliveries, hitting seven fours and a six. —APP
