Hello and welcome to Sportstar's coverage of the first ODI between India and Australia.
3.47 pm: And that is it! Shami who looked to go for a consolatory maximum off the last ball, miscues. The ball goes up high enough to allow enough time for Maxwell to rush in at deep midwicket and camp underneath. Australia beats India by 34 runs.
3.43 pm: This time Khawaja at deep backward square makes no mistake. Lets out a big smile as he pouches a safe catch to send Kuldeep Yadav home. Siddle gets his first wicket as India nears a sad end. The scoreboard reads 249/8.
3.39 pm: Luckily, Khawaja drops Bhuvneshwar when it shouldn't matter much. Khawaja, stationed at long-on was in the the perfect position to hand Stoinis his second wicket but things do not go the Aussies' way.
3.30 pm: Rohit departs, and with him, perhaps India's hopes of clinching an unlikely win. He seemed to be getting tired, and with no option but to go for the big hits, he perishes to one too many. After managing to narrowly evade the mid-off fielder, off a full toss, for a boundary, he attempts a pull and is caught by Glenn Maxwell coming in from the deep. His has been a one-man show for India. He goes for 133. India needs 66 from 24 deliveries, with three wickets in hand.
3.25 pm: Bhuvneshwar Kumar, the new batsman, isn't being able to put bat on ball. Only five overs remain now, India needs 75 more.
3.21 pm: But once again, his partner at the other end tries to join the party, and pays the price. Ravindra Jadeja is caught at the point boundary after he upper-cuts Richardson. India six down now, needs 76 more.
3.19 pm: Rohit finds one in the slot, and lofts Marcus Stoinis to cow corner for a six. He, then, pulls him fiercely through deep midwicket for a four. India needs 76 more, from six overs.
3.12 pm: A six straight down the ground apart, Nathan Lyon bowls a tidy final over. He finishes with 0/50 in his 10 overs. India needs 88 from 42. Rohit came up with the only belligerent stroke in the over; repeating the stroke off the next delivery, he mistimes it to long leg for a single.
3.02 pm: Calmly, Rohit takes two and reaches his century, off 110 deliveries. India 180 for 5 after 40 overs, needs another 109 to win.
3.00 pm: His partner at the other end, Dinesh Karthik, also attempts to break free. But he pays the price. Richardson induces an inside edge as Karthik tries to pull a short delivery, and the ball sneaks through to hit the stumps. India still needs 113, but it's five down now.
2:56 pm: Two front-foot pulls and a cheeky ramp stroke signals a change of intent from Rohit Sharma. Peter Siddle was the bowler; his slower balls were easily put away by the set batsman. Rohit is two away from his century.
2:52 pm: The required run-rate is just about touching 10 per over, but the batsmen haven't pressed the accelerator yet. Rohit, who is in his 80s now, holds the key. After Behrendorff's and Richardson's frugal overs, India is 163 for 4 after 38 overs. 126 needed from 72.
Well, of course.
Dhoni launches Lyon over long-on for six. Can he lead India's riposte? Well, the fans certainly feel so.
M.S. Dhoni reaches another milestone!
2:26 pm: GONE. Behrendorff traps M.S. Dhoni in front as India loses its fourth wicket, and a big one at that. India 141/4, needs another 148 to win.
2.22 pm: M.S. Dhoni notches up his fifty as a 134-run stand between him and Rohit Sharma continues to keep Australia on the tenterhooks. Rohit, meanwhile, shifting gears with effortless ease. India needs 151 more to win.
1.30 pm: India still feeling the effects of the initial meltdown but Dhoni and Rohit Sharma have restored a semblance of parity with a 64-run stand. India 68/3 after 20 overs, needs 221 to win.
1.15 pm: Dhoni was crawling until he danced down the track and clobbered Nathan Lyon back over long on for six. Rohit Sharma, at the other end, is enjoying his time out there, two maximums taking him to 25 off 42 deliveries. India is 44/3 after 15 overs.
12:50 pm: The onus will be on the experienced M.S. Dhoni and Rohit Sharma to ride out the initial storm. Dhoni, who became the fifth Indian batsman to reach 10,000 ODI runs, will be hoping to keep the ones and twos coming while Sharma will look to play the big shots. Meanwhile, Peter Siddle is bowling in his first ODI since 2010. India 21/3 after 10 overs.
12:26 pm: 2-1-0-2: Jhye Richardson is on fire at the moment! He first gets rid of Indian captain Virat Kohli, who flicks the ball straight to Stoinis, before trapping Ambati Rayudu in front to leave India reeling at 4/3 in 4 overs.
12:10 pm: After having an appeal for an lbw turned down on the previous delivery, Behrendorff strikes back with an inswinger to trap Dhawan in front, and Australia has drawn first blood. India 1/1 after 1 over.
Welcome back to India's chase. Rohit Sharma and Shikhar Dhawan in readiness, Behrendorff with the new ball.
Dhoni to Jadeja: "Issey tezz daalne ka zarurat nahi hai (No need to bowl fast to him)"
Kuldeep already has one but the fans feel he has plenty more coming his way!
Finch and Carey got out early before Khawaja and Marsh stitched together a vital partnership to bail Australia out of choppy waters.
Khawaja reached his fifty but failed to make the most of a solid start, falling to Jadeja. Marsh, in Handscomb's company, then continued to consolidate Australia's position. Marsh's dismissal was followed by Handscomb and Stoinis joining hands and taking the Indian attack to the sword as the host side finished with a competitive 288/5.
11.18 am: GONE! Handscomb got away with the short ball at first but Bhuvneshwar Kumar has the last laugh as the right-hander hits the next delivery straight to Dhawan at sweeper-cover. Australia 254/5 after 47.2 overs. Handscomb departs for 73.
11.00 am: Kuldeep was taken to the cleaners by Stoinis and Handscomb with both batsmen hitting one six each in his final over; the latter bringing up his fifty in the process. The host stepping foot on the pedal with just 30 balls left to play. Australia 229/4 after 45 overs.
10.31am: Kuldeep strikes with the third ball of his new spell. Marsh, who played well for his 54, tried to take on the wrist spinner but ended up hitting the ball straight to long-on where Shami took a nice catch diving forward. Australia 186/4 after 37.3 overs.
10.15 am: Peter Handscomb is flexing muscle against Bhuvneshwar Kumar, hammering the right-arm seamer for two back-to-back boundaries. Shaun Marsh, at the other end, has rarely looked troubled as he pushed past his 13th ODI half-century with a handsome looking pull shot off Khaleel. Australia 181/3 after 36 overs.
9.49 am: Ravindra Jadeja traps Khawaja in front who tried to play the sweep but ended up making no contact. He reviewed the on-field decision but replays showed the ball just clipping the leg-stump. Good enough to stick with the umpire's call! Australia 136/3 after 29 overs.
9.32 am: Khawaja brings up his first fifty since 2016 with a single off Khaleel Ahmed. He has added 78 for the third wicket with Marsh. The host side slowly, steadily finding its feet in the first innings. Australia 119/2 after 26 overs.
9.14 am: Ravindra Jadeja and Kuldeep Yadav operating from either end, with a slip in place. Meanwhile, there's a nice partnership building between Khawaja and Marsh; the duo have added 50 for the third wicket. Australia 91/2 after 20 overs.
9.00 am: Khawaja and Marsh using their feet well against Kuldeep. Marsh, unlike the Test series, has looked to keep the scoreboard ticking with a couple of attractive looking shots. Australia 66/2 after 15 overs.
8.37 am: Kuldeep Yadav strikes with the fifth ball off his first over! A flat delivery outside off stump, and Carey tries to play the cut shot with no room on offer. The result? A sharp catch to Rohit Sharma at slips. Australia 41/2 after 10 overs.
8.21 am: Khaleel Ahmed has bowled well, save the two no-balls, has got the odd ball to rise off the surface. Kumar, at the other end, has not given Usman Khawaja or Carey much room to work with. However, Carey has looked to remain positive, and has been solid in his footwork and timing. Australia 35/1 after 8 overs.
8.09 am: Alex Carey keeping the Indian fielders busy. A confident strike over mid-on is followed by a streaky edge past slips for a second boundary. Australia 20/1 after 4.1 overs.
8.03 am : GONE! Change of colours doesn't usher in a change of fortune for Aaron Finch who misses a good length delivery around off, and loses his woodwork. Wicket No. 100 for Bhuvneshwar Kumar. Australia 10/1 after 3 overs.
Bhuvneshwar Kumar to start proceedings with the new ball. Alex Carrey and Aaron Finch open the innings for Australia.
India (Playing XI): Shikhar Dhawan, Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli(c), Ambati Rayudu, Dinesh Karthik, MS Dhoni(w), Ravindra Jadeja, Kuldeep Yadav, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Mohammed Shami, K Khaleel Ahmed
Australia (Playing XI): Aaron Finch(c), Alex Carey(w), Usman Khawaja, Shaun Marsh, Peter Handscomb, Marcus Stoinis, Glenn Maxwell, Nathan Lyon, Peter Siddle, Jhye Richardson, Jason Behrendorff
Mark Waugh reckons the wicket is a belter. In the last five games, the average score is 327. There's a nice covering of grass, and the pitch is expected to help the spinners as well. A good batting track, all in all. There you have it, a good toss to win for the host side.
TOSS UPDATE: Australia has won the toss and decided to bat first.
Hit hard by an unexpected controversy after the high of the Test triumph, India will look to fine tune its World Cup preparations in the three-match ODI series against an under-fire Australia.
Meanwhile, Hardik Pandya and K. L. Rahul will miss the three ODIs against Australia and the full limited-overs tour of New Zealand.
Comments
SHARE