New Delhi: Australian batters, in a collective effort, managed 269 runs before getting all out in the 49th over. The tailenders took the score from 203/7 to 269 after Hardik Pandya and Kuldeep Yadav picked three wickets each. The Australian inning started with a bang as Mitchell Marsh and Travis Head laid a cracking 68-run opening stand.
It was 26 off 23 by Sean Abbott, who hit two fours and one six and 17(21) by Ashton Agar which took Australia forward after their main batters were back in the dugout. They laid a 42-run partnership for the eighth wicket.
Mitchell Marsh scored a run-a-ball 47 to give the visitors a perfect start in the first powerplay. Travis Head contributed 33 off 31 with four fours and two sixes to the opening stand before Hardik Pandya got him out in the 11th over. Pandya got an outside edge off Steve Smith’s bat to get him out for a duck and also bowled Marsh to bring the Aussies to 85/3.
Kuldeep Yadav picked three wickets in the middle to solve the problem for India. His delivery, which got Alex Carey out was an outstanding view of turn and bounce and stunned the Australian batter at 38 off 46. While Axar Patel also dismissed Marcus Stoinis for 25(26), him getting Sean Abbott bowled was the much crucial one after the budding partnership.
Mohammed Siraj dismissed Ashton Agar and Mitchell Starc to get the visitors all out for 269.
David Warner played his second-ever game not opening the batting for Australia. He replaced Cameron Green in the team, who was unwell and scored 23 off 31 balls at number 4. While Marsh and Head have fixed their spots as openers and as Green returns, Warner does not seem to get a place in the playing XI for World Cup this year.
India suffered a batting collapse in the last game in swinging conditions. While Chennai is proving well for spinners, no one can undermine Mitchell Starc with the new ball. However, if Australia wants to win the game, spinners Adam Zampa and Ashton Agar need to pick wickets in the middle.
