SYDNEY: Skipper Aaron Finch and Steve Smith blazed centuries and Josh Hazlewood ripped apart the Indian top order as Australia won by 66 runs in the first one-day international at the Sydney cricket Ground on Friday.
The Indians, coming out of coronavirus quarantine, looked rusty in their first taste of international cricket since February, as the Australians went on a run rampage to reach 374 for six after winning the toss.
Hazlewood then put the skids under the tourists, triggering a top-order wobble. Among his victims was coveted wicket of skipper Virat Kohli, as India amassed 308 for eight in reply.
Australia enjoyed perfect batting conditions. Finch belted 114 and shared an opening stand of 156 with David Warner, who made 69 off 75 balls.
Smith had some early luck early before taking charge and hitting 105 off 66 balls with four sixes.
He was saved by DRS after a confident appeal for leg before wicket on 15. Then Shikhar Dhawan badly missed Smith’s miscue on 38 at long on.
“I’ve been searching for something for a couple of months now, but a couple of days ago I started to hit the ball where I wanted it, and everything came back, the rhythm came back,” man-of-the-match Smith said.
“Finchy and Davey set an excellent platform, we could come and just take off.”
After Finch raised his 17th ODI century he was out for 114 off 124 balls trying to steer a Jasprit Bumrah lifter behind the wicket in the 40th over.
Glenn Maxwell hit a rumbustious 45 off 19 balls as Australia built a massive total to defend under the evening lights.
India made a fast start, the openers flaying the Aussie attack for 53 before Mayank Agarwal fell to Hazlewood for 22. Kohli was dropped on one by Adam Zampa at fine leg after top-edging a Pat Cummins lifter.
The reprieve did not last long when the India skipper was cramped by Hazlewood and found Finch at mid-wicket, his night over at 21.
“We got enough time to prepare, I don’t think there’s any excuses on the field when you don’t pull up as a side,” Kohli said.
“It’s probably the first long game we’ve played in a while. The body language after 25-26 overs was disappointing. “A quality side will hurt you (if you have fielding lapses). We’ll have to find out ways of getting a few overs from a few part-time (bowlers) in the side.”
India had not played international cricket since a tour of New Zealand earlier in the year and it showed with their outfielding ragged at times.
— AFP
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