After the brilliant bowling of Mohammed Shami (five wickets for 51 runs), on the basis of half-century innings of four batsmen, India defeated Australia by five wickets with eight balls remaining in the first ODI of the three-match series on Friday. After bowling out Australia’s innings for 276 runs, India strengthened its preparations for the World Cup by scoring 281 runs at the loss of five wickets in 48.4 overs.
For India, Shubman Gill (74) and Ruturaj Gaikwad (71) laid the foundation of victory by making a partnership of 142 runs for the first wicket. Whereas captain Lokesh Rahul (58 not out) and Suryakumar Yadav (50) made a partnership of 80 runs in 85 balls for the fifth wicket and took the team to the brink of victory.
Gill hit six fours and two sixes in his 63-ball innings, while Ruturaj hit 10 fours in his 77-ball innings. Mr. 360 degree Suryakumar hit five fours and one six in 49 balls, while Rahul, who hit the winning six, hit one six and four fours in his 63-ball innings. Adam Zampa took two wickets for Australia.
In the World Cup, the Indian team’s middle-order batting is still a weak link and Shreyas Iyer’s failure increased the team’s worries, while Suryakumar Yadav’s brilliant innings reduced the problems of the selectors and the team management. Shami is unlikely to get a place in the starting eleven in the Indian team’s World Cup plans, but the player strengthened his claim by taking five wickets for the second time in his ODI career.
The pressure will increase on Shardul Thakur, a strong contender for a place in the playing eleven of the team due to his batting skills. Shardul gave away 78 runs in 10 overs against Australia without any success. However, luck did not favor Shardul. Shreyas Iyer took an easy catch of David Warner off his ball at the beginning of the Indian innings.
For Australia, David Warner (52), Jose Inglis (45), Steve Smith (41) and Marnus Labuschagne (39) could not convert a good start into a big innings. Chasing the target, Gaikwad and Gill gave a great start to India. Both of them hit fours in the first and third overs of Australian captain Pat Cummins. Gill hit a six against Stoinis.
Gaikwad also got a lease of life in the eighth over off the bowling of Sheen Abbott when wicketkeeper Inglis took a difficult catch. This batsman hit fours against Abbott on the last two balls of the 10th over, due to which India’s score in the powerplay became 66 runs without any loss.
Gill, who was in great rhythm, completed his half-century in 37 balls by hitting fours and sixes on consecutive balls of Matthew Shot in the 14th over and then completed the team’s hundred runs with one run in the 16th over. Gaikwad completed his first half-century of his ODI career by taking two runs off Abbott in the 18th over. He hit brilliant fours on the last two balls of this over. The wonderful partnership between the two was broken by Jampa by bowling Gaikwad.
Shreyas Iyer (three runs), returning from injury, was run out due to a mistake with Gill. Zampa gave a big success to Australia by bowling Gill. India lost three wickets within nine runs. Ishan Kishan, who came to the crease to accompany captain Lokesh Rahul, opened his account with a four.
Jampa took difficult catches of Kishan and then Rahul on consecutive balls in the 28th over of the Indian innings. Both of them took advantage of this by hitting a four on Zampa. Even before this partnership could become dangerous, Cummins ended Kishan’s innings at the hands of wicketkeeper Inglis. He scored 18 runs in 26 balls.
