Australia defeats India by 72 runs, wins first ODI.

Australia thrashed India by 72 runs in the first ODI of the 7 match ODI series at Pune. After posting a challenging 305 runs target batting first, it was left to the Australian bowlers to halt the solid Indian batting line-up from overcoming the 1st innings score. 

India started cautiously with both openers Shikhar Dhawan and Rohit Sharma taking time to settle and get used to the pitch. The Australians seamers made it extremely difficult for the Indian batsmen to score runs. Consistent line with good bowling speed combined with short bowling pushed Dhawan and Rohit into a shell.

As the pair tried to break free, Dhawan felt prey to a very good delivery from Faulkner which moved away from batsmen and nicked Dhawan's bat on its way to wicket-keeper Haddin. In walked Virat Kohli, but the Australian pace attack of Faulkner and Mckay didn't give any chance to the right handers to score runs. 

In the 9th over Rohit Sharma eased the pressure as he hit Faulkner for 3 boundaries. Just when things started looking good for India and there was a partnership building, Shane Watson bowled a beautiful delivery to get rid of Rohit Sharma. The ball swayed away after hitting the deck and Rohit Sharma couldn't resist nicking the ball to part-time wicket-keeper Phil Hughes. 

Faulkner 3 wickets proved crucial in Australia's victory

Suresh Raina walked in at No.4 to accompany Virat Kohli. The pair looked good as India began scoring runs at a brisk pace. The pair had put on 71 for the 4th wicket till Faulkner striked again to remove Suresh Raina for 39 leaving India at 3 down for 137 runs. Yuvraj Singh walked to the center amidst huge cheers. The crowd went wild as Yuvraj pulled the second ball of his innings for a six. George Bailey made a quick change and brought in the fierce Mitchell Johnson and Johnson in-turn appreciated his captain's call by scalping the price wicket of Yuvraj Singh for 7.

The run rate kept on mounting from 6 an over to 7 and then 9 per over. Australian pace attack kept on greeting Indian batsmen with chin music. No batsmen looked comfortable except for Virat Kohli who completed his 25th ODI fifty. Shane Watson removed the well set Virat Kohli an over before the batting powerplay, leaving India with only two specialist batsmen in Dhoni and Jadeja with over 140 runs to chase. 

Jadeja was caught by Bailey as Faulkner picked up his 3rd wicket of the night. India never looked comfortable chasing 300 plus as they kept losing wickets at regular intervals. Australian bowlers didn't give away anything to Indian batsmen. Every single run was made to earn. Australia's brilliant fielding added to the difficulties for team India. 

Even Dhoni didn't look comfortable facing Australian seamers. The captain cool looked out of options as he was unable to free his arms at his will.  Mckay uprooted Dhoni's off stump in the 41st over, thus crushing any hopes of India winning the match. Bhuvanesh Kumar and Vinay Kumar held on for final few overs to take India to 232. Finch removed Bhuvanesh Kumar to seal a 72 run victory for Australia.

Mahendra Singh Dhoni's off stump uprooted by McKay

It's never going to be easy for India against Australia. Although the current Australian team is being underrated but still they are on the No.2 spot in the ODI rankings for a reason. The win at Pune is a bright example of what this Australian team is capable off. Indian batsmen have to find a way to deal with the short pitch bowling of Australian seamers. It's just the end of first ODI, there are 6 more to go and there are equal number of opportunities for both the teams to top the world ODI rankings.

Bailey and Finch sails Australia past 300.. India Vs Australia : 1st innings

The much awaited battle for the No.1 spot in ODI's began in Pune as India took on Australia in the first one day international of the 7 match ODI series. On a lush green outfield, Australia won the toss and chose to bat first, contradictory to Dhoni's decision of bowling first, if he had won the toss.

Indian bowling attack looked good in the first six overs of the match as Bhuvanesh Kumar and Vinay Kumar restricted the dangerous and explosive Australian openers Aaron Finch and Phillip Hughes to just 14 runs. Aaron Finch cut loose in the sixth over of the match as he dispatched Bhuvanesh Kumar for a six straight down the ground followed by two boundaries. Finch and Hughes broke free from the shackles and went on to score 49 of the next six overs.

Aaron Finch

The opening pair shifted gears as they continued scoring runs all round the park. The bowling changes didn't seem to work for team India. Finch dispatched Ishant Sharma's first ball to the fence and in the next over took on Ashwin for a first ball six. Meanwhile, Virat Kohli dropped Phil Hughes at point of Ishant Sharma's bowling. Hughes was then on 32. Finch completed his run-a-ball 50 as Australia reached 100 in the 18th over. 

Dhoni was quick in making bowling changes and brought in the left arm off-spinner Ravindra Jadeja. Jadeja struck in the 19th over as Suresh Raina held a sharp low catch down the leg slip to send Hughes back to pavilion. Dhoni was quick to realize that the bowl wasn't coming to the bat that easily and brought in Yuvraj Singh from the other end. Shane Watson with all his intentions tried to send Yuvraj's very first ball over the ropes, only to be caught by Jadeja. This was Yuvraj Singh's first wicket since ICC world cup 2011.

Australian captain George Bailey walked in at No.4. Bailey along with Finch steadied the Australian batting as they rotated the strike and hammered the loose balls to the fence. Yuvraj Singh dream comeback continued as he scalped Finch for 72 leaving Australia at 146 for 3. Yuvraj was then responsible for a sharp run out of  Adam Voges as Australia stumbled to 172 for 4.

Australia took the mandatory batting powerplay in the 36th over with captain Bailey and Glenn Maxwell at the crease. The score then read 185 for 4. Bailey and Maxwell made full utilization of the powerplay. Maxwell lived up to his reputation of playing big shots when needed while Bailey completed his 50. Maxwell soon departed after a quick fire 31 of 23 balls featuring a boundary and 3 huge sixes.

George Bailey

George Bailey with the lower order made sure that Australia get past 300 run mark as they scored 119 runs in the last 15 overs. Bailey was caught by Raina of Ashwin's bowling  for 85 as he tried to fuel the score. Faulkner and Johnson made sure that all the hard work by Finch, Bailey, Hughes and Maxwell doesn't go in vain as they took Australia past 300 run mark. Faulkner dispatched Vinay Kumar for 2 consecutive sixes in the 48th over and Johnson hit two consecutive boundaries of Bhuvanesh Kumar in the 49th over. Faulkner was out for a good catch by Vinay Kumar of Ishant Sharma's bowling in the final over of the innings.

Australia has set a tough target for team India to chase. Given the form that Indian batsmen are in and the depth in their batting, 300 runs chase shouldn't be a difficult task for team India...