Hyderabad (Telangana): Finishing in style with a four over mid-off, former skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni led India to a 6-wicket victory in the first match of the ongoing 5-match ODI series against Australia on Saturday.
India defeated Australia by 6 wickets with 10 balls remaining in the match, thanks to Kedar Jadhav’s unbeaten 81 off 87 deliveries and Dhoni’s unbeaten 59 off 72 balls. India now lead the series 1-0.
Jadhav remained the player of the match after he played a double role at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium by first finishing at 7-0-31-1 with the ball and striking a crucial 81 with the bat.
The 141-run partnership between Jadhav and Dhoni steered the home side to victory after the collapse of the initial batting lineup in quick succession. T
Indian bowlers remained committed to their duties and restricted Australia to 236 runs in the first phase of the match.
Australia lost successive wickets twice in the game. First, Usman Khawaja and Marcus Stoinis posted 87 to steady the innings after Finch nicked off the third bail to a Jasprit Bumrah brute in the second over. Further, Mohammed Shami sent back debutant Ashton Turner and Glenn Maxwell in a bristling second spell.
Khawaja remained the top-scorer for Australia with a knock of 50 runs. For India, Shami, Yadav and Bumrah scalped two wickets each while Kedar Jadhav contributed with one priced wicket of Stoinis.
The two teams will now lock horns on Tuesday where India will strive to maintain the lead while Australia will eye for an opening win in the series.
[source_without_link]ANI[/source_without_link]