Kedar Jadhav and MS Dhoni pulled off an excellent rescue act for India as the hosts clinched a hard-fought six-wicket win over Australia in the first ODI at Hyderabad.
Chasing a challenging 237 runs to win on a tricky surface, India had an early wobble before Jadhav and Dhoni saw the team through with 10 balls to spare in the end.
India were rocked early by Nathan Coulter Nile who removed Shikhar Dhawan for a golden duck. Skipper Virat Kohli and his deputy Rohit Sharma had then started to forge a promising stand but the introduction of spin brought Australia right back into the game.
Aussie leg-spinner Adam Zampa had Kohli’s number once again with the India skipper dismissed lbw on review before Coulter-Nile took advantage of the double-paced nature of the surface to dismiss Rohit. Zampa sent back Ambati Rayudu too shortly after to leave India tottering at 99-4 before Dhoni and Jadhav came together at the crease.
The duo bid their time in the middle-overs with run-scoring proving difficult on the Hyderabad track but kept the asking-rate within touching distance. Having settled in nicely, it was Jadhav who pressed his foot on the accelerator in the death overs with the middle-order batsman striking some crucial boundaries to relieve the score-board pressure.
Both the batsmen brought up their respective half-centuries and finished off the game in style with a flurry of boundaries.
A fine innings under pressure from Jadhav.
Earlier, Australia’s innings too got off to a poor start as skipper Aaron Finch’s horrendous run continued with another duck. Usman Khawaja (50) and Marcus Stoinis stabilised the innings with a steady 87-run stand before Jadhav’s golden arm resulted in the latter’s dismissal.
Spinners strangled Australia in the middle-overs with Kuldeep Yadav striking twice while Ravindra Jadeja (0-33) proved difficult to get away for the batsmen at the other end.
An inspired spell with the old-ball from Mohammed Shami saw the defenses of the dangerous Glenn Maxwell and debutant Ashton Turner breached before Australia limped to 236-7 in their 50 overs.
BRIEF SCORES
Australia: 236-7
Usman Khawaja: 50 (76)
Mohammed Shami: 2-44
India: 240-4
Kedar Jadhav: 81 not out (87)
MS Dhoni: 59 not out (72)
