Rahul leads India past Australia by 5 wickets in 1st ODI - GulfToday

Rahul leads India past Australia by 5 wickets in 1st ODI

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India’s KL Rahul (centre) and Ravindra Jadeja celebrate after winning their first one-day international cricket match against Australia in Mumbai on Friday. AP

India bowled out Australia for 188 and overcame an early wobble to win by five wickets with 10.1 overs to spare in the first of three one-day internationals on Friday.

India's reply was in jeopardy at 39-4 but Lokesh Rahul anchored winning partnerships of 44 with Hardik Pandya and an unbeaten 108 with Ravindra Jadeja.

India finished on 191-5. Without run rate pressure, Rahul led with 75 not out off 91 balls.

Jadeja was named man of the match for his two wickets and unbeaten 45.

The second ODI is on Sunday at Visakhapatnam. Both teams are building to the cricket World Cup in India in October.

Mitchell Marsh made light of the bowler-friendly pitch and gave Australia hope with 81 off 65 balls. He struck 10 fours and five sixes.

He and Steve Smith (22) put on 72 for the second wicket until Smith was caught behind off Pandya.

Marsh added another 52 runs with Marnus Labuschagne (15) by attacking Kuldeep Yadav's wrist spin.

But when Marsh mishit a wide delivery by Jadeja and was caught at short third man, Australia collapsed from 129-3 to 188 all out in the space of 16 overs.

The visitors lost eight wickets for 59 runs.

Labuschagne fell to Yadav, and fast bowler Mohammed Shami returned for a second spell to wreak havoc.

In three consecutive overs, Shami bowled Josh Inglis (26) and Cameron Green (12), while Marcus Stoinis (5) was caught behind. Shami's burst of 3-17 in six overs left the Australia innings in tatters at 184-7 in the 32nd over.

Jadeja finished with 2-46 and Mohammed Siraj finished things off with a double blow as Australia lost its last four wickets for four runs in the space of 25 balls.

Siraj took 3-29 in 5.4 overs.

Chasing a paltry total, India faltered as the Australia pacers made good use of swing conditions.

Stoinis (2-27) trapped Ishan Kishan for 3, and Mitchell Starc bowled a fiery opening spell. Starc got Virat Kohli lbw for 4, and dismissed Suryakumar Yadav similarly for a first-ball duck in the fifth over.

India was 16-3 and Shubman Gill survived a close lbw shout off Sean Abbott. But Starc (3-49) had Gill caught at slip later on as the hosts slumped to 39-4 in 10.2 overs.

India was batted out of danger by Rahul, who was composed and overcame poor form to reach 50 off 73 balls. Overall, he faced 91 deliveries, hitting seven fours and a six.

At the other end, Jadeja also played a chanceless knock as the duo brought up a 100-run partnership off 119 balls.

Jadeja faced 69 balls, and his fifth boundary, off Starc through midwicket, got India over the finish line.

Associated Press

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