Host India opens World Cup campaign with win over Australia

Monday, 9 October 2023 00:00 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

CHENNAI: Host India opened their 2023 World Cup campaign with a six-wicket win over Australia at Chennai on Sunday.

In a low-scoring game, India bowled Australia out for 199 and chased down the total losing four wickets to win with 52 balls to spare.

The contest was the 150th ODI played between the two countries.

Virat Kohli and Lokesh Rahul struck fifties apiece and shared a record third-wicket stand of 165 off 213 balls to see India home after Australia had reduced them to two runs for three wickets in the first two overs. The partnership was India’s highest against Australia in ODI World Cups.

Dropping Kohli at 12 by Mitchell Marsh off Josh Hazlewood cost Australia big time as the former captain played an innings of substance to guide the team to victory in the company of Rahul withstanding the pressure exerted by the Australian bowlers.

Kohli fell for a masterclass 85 scored off 116 balls (6 fours) with India 33 runs from victory.

Rahul saw India home in the company of Hardik Pandya (11*) remaining unbeaten on a superb 97 scored off 115 balls (8 fours, 2 sixes).

India without their prolific opener Shubman Gill tested positive for dengue, opened with Ishan Kishan, but Mitchell Starc struck early to send back Kishan for a golden duck to pick up his 50th World Cup wicket.

Hazlewood then struck twice in his first over to send back Rohit Sharma and Shreyas Iyer both without scoring. It was left to Kohli and Rahul to carry India to victory on a pitch that seemed to play better under lights.

Australia choosing to bat first was undone by spin. It was a really hard struggle for the Aussies on a slow-turning surface where run-making was not the easiest.

Following a 74-run stand for the second wicket between David Warner (41) and Steve Smith (46), Australia’s innings failed to find any momentum as the Indian spinners took full control notably left-armer Ravindra Jaddeja who broke the back of their batting with the wickets of Smith, Marnus Labuschagne and Alex Carey within the space of 15 balls to finish with figures of 3/28.

The other two spinners Kuldeep Yadav (2/42) and Ravichandran Aswhin (1/34) kept on the pressure so that at one stage boundaries were so sparse that it took 73 balls before Australia finally broke free of the shackles imposed on them.

Overall, India’s bowling was top class and the fielding faultless. Jasprit Bumrah made an impact with Mitchell Marsh’s wicket in the third over before Warner and Smith stitched together a partnership. Once that was broken by Yadav, the rest of Australia’s batsmen struggled on a surface where some balls turned while others did not. – (ST)

Scores:

Australia: 199 (49.3) (David Warner 41, Steve Smith 46, Marnus Labuschagne 27, Mitchell Starc 28, Jasprit Bumrah 2/35, Kuldeep Yadav 2/42, Ravindra Jadeja 3/28)
India: 201-4 (41.2) (Virat Kohli 85, Lokesh Rahul 97*, Josh Hazlewood 3/38)

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