The first of three one-day international (ODI) matches between India and Australia began on March 17 at Mumbai’s Wankhede Stadium. During the toss, Hardik Pandya correctly predicted that the visitors would bat first on a true cricketing pitch.
After 19.3 overs, Steve Smith’s team had built a solid foundation. Mitchell Marsh was giving a masterclass in Mumbai after pounding the Indian bowlers all over the place.
Yet, with to Mohammed Shami, Mohammed Siraj, and Ravindra Jadeja, India rattled the opposition and swept them out for 188 in 35.4 overs, the fewest amount of overs required by India to dismiss Australia in a one-day international.
As Travis Head pulled one into his stumps from a decent length of Mohammed Siraj, Australia accelerated and began scoring at an alarming rate, with Mitch Marsh hitting the most of the runs and stitching a 72-run partnership with Steve Smith.
Mitch Marsh continued to dominate the opposition, but he was sent back to the pavilion when Ravindra Jadeja wove a web by slowing down the game and allowing the ball some air, forcing Marsh to hit a fake shot. From the 20th over, the visitors have gone from 129/2 in 19.4 overs to 188/10 in 35.4 overs.
Mohammed Shami was on fire in his second session, scooping up 3/17 in six overs, including two maidens, to record his second-best ODI bowling performance against Australia. Siraj was Shami’s second fiddle and tidied up the tail.
Australia, on the other hand, scored the third-lowest total against India in India, batting 188 in Mumbai. The other two low scores were 141 and 181 in Ahmedabad and Indore, respectively.
