Virat Kohli (85) and K.L. Rahul (97 n.o.), put up an incredible 165-run partnership for the fourth wicket as India made an easy 6-wicket win over Australia in their World Cup cricket fixture played at Chidambaram Stadium, Chepauk, Chennai yesterday.
India chasing a target of 200 runs made a very poor start, losing their first three wickets in just 2 runs. However, Virat Kohli, the most dynamic batsman, played an outstanding knock adding 85 in 116 balls with 6 fours. Rahul who came to the wicket at number five stroked an unbeaten 97 in 115 balls with 8 fours and 2 sixes ending with a six over cover off the bowling of skipper Pat Cummins.
Indian openers Rohit Sharma, Ishan Krishan and number three batsman Shreyas Iyer were dismissed for a duck as Australian pace duo Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazlewood got an early breakthrough but Kholi and Rahul changed the game in their favour to seal their victory in 41.2 overs. Rahul was named the Man of the Match.
Indians kept up the pressure while they strengthened their spinners to get full advantage of this Chennai wicket as Australians faced a big challenge from the beginning.
Australians won the toss but couldn’t take advantage as openers David Warner and Mitchell Marsh couldn’t set a good platform. Marsh was removed for a duck in the third over which was bowled by paceman Jasprit Bumrah and Virat Kholi took a superb catch.
Steve Smith joined Warner to build up the Innings and added a valuable 69 runs for the third wicket. Warner hit 41 in 52 balls with 6 fours and Kuldeep Yadav took his prize wicket while leg spinner Ravindra Jadeja pocketed his first wicket after he clean bowled Smith who missed his well-deserved half century by four runs. Smith hit 46 in 71 balls with five fours but was back in the pavilion during the 28th over. Australia were 110 for 3 wickets at that stage.
Marnus Labuschagne scored 27 in 41 balls as Australia had to face a big challenge with just a single boundary while Alex Carey (0) and Cameron Green (8) failed to strengthen the middle order as the Indians fought back strongly.
The paceman Mitchell Starc stroked 28 in 35 balls with 2 fours and a six in an attempt to accelerate the innings but they were bundled out for 199 with three balls to spare.
The 34-year-old leg spinner Ravindra Jadeja was the most successful bowling taking 3 for 28 in his ten-over spell while Kuldeep Yadav the wrist spinner had 2 for 42 and paceman Jasprit Bumrah ended with 3 for 35 in his ten-over spell. Indian recalled their experienced off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin to play at his home ground and took 1 for 34 while opener Shubman Gill did not play India’s opening match due to dengue fever and Ishan Kishan with skipper Rohit Sharma came out as the openers.
Netherlands will meet New Zealand in their game today (9) at Hyderabad while Sri Lanka will meet Pakistan at the same venue tomorrow.
