Chennai: KL Rahul (97 n o, 115b, 8×4, 2×6) and Virat Kohli (85, 116b, 6×4) helped India overcome early jitters as the hosts began their ODI World Cup campaign here Sunday on a rousing note defeating five-time World Champions Australia by wickets.
Chasing a victory target of 200 on a slow pitch, India had lost three wickets with only two runs on board, before Kohli and Rahul steadied the ship with a partnership of 165 runs for the fourth wicket that took India over the line comfortably.
As is the case, the batters will definitely get more attention, but it was the Indian spinners who conjured the win by creating a web around the Australian batters. Ravindra Jadeja (3/28), Kuldeep Yadav (2/42) and local boy Ravichandran Ashwin (1/34) did the job for the hosts as they ran through the Aussie batting line up. They were well supported by the Indian pacers with Jasprit Bumrah (2/35) once again standing out.
Jadeja became the biggest nemesis among Indian spinners on a tacky Chepauk track as India rolled over Australia for 199 in 49.3 overs. Jadeja, who knows the track like the back of his hand, courtesy his decade-plus association with Chennai Super Kings, used the slowness of the surface with subtle variations and it completely flummoxed the Aussies. The ball that got Australian top-scorer Steve Smith (46) was a beauty with the ball spinning across the face of the bat to hit the off-stump.
Except for the stand of 69 runs for the second wicket between Smith and David Warner (41), none of the other Aussie batters had any answer to the Indian spin attack. The dismissal of Smith and Marnus Labuschagne (27), both by Jadeja, triggered a middle-order collapse from which Australia could never recover. The Indian spin trio collectively bowled 101 dot balls to completely choke the run-flow.
Lack of grass and the dry surface prompted Pat Cummins to opt for batting with an eye on the deteriorating pitch towards the second half of the match. However, with Australia losing opener Mitch Marsh (0) early on, the Aussies could never built momentum during their innings. The batters got bogged down and then perished trying to force the pace.
Brief scores:
Australia 199 all out in 49.3 overs (Steve Smith 46, Ravindra Jadeja 3/28) lost to India 201 for 4 in 41.2 overs (KL Rahul 97 n o, Virat Kohli 85) by six wickets.
PNN & Agencies