ICC World Cup 2023. Match 5
India VS Australia played at MA Chidambaram Stadium, Chennai, India, October 8
Australia 199 All Out in 49.3 Overs (Steve Smith 46, David Warner 41, Mitchell Starc 28, Marnus Labuschagne 27 , Glen Maxwell 15, Pat Cummins 15, Ravindra Jadeja 3/28 , Jasprit Bumrah 2/35 ,Kuldeep Yadab 2/42)
India 201/4 in 41.2 Overs (KL Rahul 97*, Virat Kohli 85, Josh Hazelwood 3/33, Mitchel Starc 1/31)
India won by 6 wickets with 52 balls to spare
Player of the match: KL Rahul
Host and currently top ICC ODI ranked India firing in all cylinders pulverized awful Australians to the pulp in the battle of giants yesterday at M.A Chidambaram Stadium Chennai.
Australian bowling was successfully put to leash by penetrative high quality all round Indian bowling attack. Ravindra Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah and Kuldeep Yadab proved too hot to handle by the Australian batsmen struggling slow, gripping, and turning wicket. Other than veterans Steve Smith (46) and David Warner (41) none to play Indian bowling at all at ease. Even Warner or Smith could not take control. Australia labored to reach 199 all out in 49.3 Overs.
Aussie pacers Josh Hazlewood (3/33) and Mitchell Starc (1/31) could rock Indian top order reducing them to 3/2 within the first two overs. But Virat Kohli (85) and KL Rahul (97*) putting together wonderfully crafted 4th wicket partnership of 165 made India cruise across and over the target. India won by 6 wickets with 52 balls to spare. A good win and dream start of team India mission in CWC 2023. The contest failed achieving the intensity expected from a battle of the giants.
The match between two top dogs of world cricket was expected to create lots of intensity and fervor ultimately turned into an exclusive one-sided affair. Winning the toss and batting first Australian batsmen could not take any liberty against very accurate and penetrative all-round Indian attack. Indian X-factors Jasprit Bumrah (2/35) and Kuldeep Yadab (2/42) castled Aussies. The mysteries of Ravindra Jadeja (3/28) could not be decoded. Other than Steve Smith (46 in 71 balls) and David Warner (41 in 52 balls), none looked comfortable. If the veterans could not take full control. Australians’ batsmen huffed and puffed in reaching 199 all out in 49.3 overs. Wicket had some uneven bounce but not such that 250-260 could not be scored. Australian batting looked awfully ordinary.
However, defending well below par score Starc and Hazelwood struck deadly blows removing Ishan Kishan (0), Rohit Sharma (0) and Shreyas Iyer (0) in the first two overs. India was tottering at 3/2 by the 2 over. But two main stays of Indian batting Virat Kohli (85) and KL Rahul (97*) took charge. Throwing caution in the wind their 165 fourth wicket partnership not only revived Indian innings but made it a cake walk for India winning the match by 6 wickets. India overhauled the target scoring 201 /4 in 41.2 overs. Virat innings of 85 had 6 strikes across the fence. KL Rahul in his unbeaten 97 had 8 fours and 2 sixes. Hazelwood took 3 wickets for 33 runs. Australia must carry out serious soul-searching taking lessons from the match.
India looks good with all ends covered. The absence of Shubman Gill down with Dengue fever had some impacts but India has enough batting resources all the way to absorb shocks. Great start of CWC mission 2023 of team India
BDST: 0856 HRS, OCT 09, 2023
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