Starc finished with a career-best 6-43 off 10 overs
Image courtesy of: Zimbio
Australia left-arm pace bowler Mitchell Starc took a career-best six wickets and opener Aaron Finch made 96 as the Baggy Greens beat India by four wickets in Melbourne.
However, India opener Rohit Sharma deserves a lot of credit for his valiant knock of 138.
India captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni would have been regretting his decision to bat first as it only took Starc five balls to dismiss India opener Shikhar Dhawan for two runs.
Ajinkya Rahane only made 12 runs before he was caught behind off the bowling of debutant Gurinder Sandhu.
Virat Kohli failed to have an impact with the bat as well as he was caught by Australia skipper George Bailey at mid-on off the bowling of James Faulkner for nine runs.
Sharma and Suresh Raina stabilised the innings with a 126-run partnership, during which both batsmen brought up their half-centuries, before Raina was caught by Glenn Maxwell at mid-on off the bowling of Starc.
Raina’s solid knock of 51 came off 63 balls and included six boundaries.
Raina played some superb shots during his innings of 51
Image courtesy of: Zimbio
Sharma and Dhoni kept the runs flowing with a 52-run partnership, during which Sharma registered his sixth ODI century, before Dhoni was clean bowled by Starc for 19.
Starc struck again just two balls later when he trapped Akshar Patel lbw for a duck.
Sharma went on to score 138 off 139 deliveries, which included nine boundaries and four sixes, before he was caught by Maxwell at midwicket off the bowling of Starc.
Sharma hit nine boundaries and four sixes during his knock of 138
Image courtesy of: Zimbio
Starc picked up another wicket the very next ball when he clean bowled Bhuvneshwar Kumar for a golden duck.
Thanks to Sharma and Raina, India finished on 267/8 off their 50 overs.
Starc was easily the pick of the bowlers with his six wickets, while Sandhu and Faulkner chipped in with one wicket apiece.
Chasing 268 to win, Australia got off to a good start as Finch and David Warner amassed a 51-run partnership before Warner was caught by Raina at extra cover off the bowling of Umesh Yadav for 24.
Finch and Shane Watson built on Australia’s strong start with a 64-run partnership before Watson was clean bowled by Patel for 41.
Australia’s dominance with the bat continued as Finch and Steven Smith put together a 101-run partnership, during which Finch brought up his half-century, before Smith was caught by Ravichandran Ashwin at short midwicket off the bowling of Mohammed Shami for 47.
Finch ended up making 96 off 127 balls, which included five boundaries and two sixes, before he was caught behind off the bowling of Yadav.
Finch raises his bat after bringing up his half-century
Image courtesy of: Zimbio
Bailey only made five runs before he was caught behind off the bowling of Ashwin.
Maxwell mustered 20 runs before he was caught and bowled by Kumar.
Despite the late flurry of wickets, Faulkner and wicketkeeper Brad Haddin finished things off with an unbeaten 21-run partnership.
Yadav was the most successful bowler with two wickets, while Ashwin, Kumar, Shami and Patel claimed one wicket each.
Dhoni was disappointed with his side’s performance, and said: “Good game over all. Mitch bowled really well, Rohit played brilliantly. But what was crucial was bowling with the new ball. The game was just drifting till the 30th over, but we picked up at 35 overs and once we got reverse swing we were able to put pressure [on Australia]. I said I don’t care about the result, just keep in mind what happened after the last huddle. That will win us tournaments. We have to keep that in mind from now on, whatever games we play we need to execute.
“A lot depends on the conditions, about how the wicket is behaving, especially with drop-in wickets. Also the dew factor, today there wasn’t any. But if it was it becomes difficult to contain the composition of the attack. On the higher end of 270, it should be defended because the bowlers will get extra bounce and [the ball] will reverse. All three teams are top sides and it’s important for the top order to take extra responsibility and [provide] a total our bowlers are comfortable with.”
Bailey was pleased to have won the match, and said: “Would have been nice if we hadn’t left it up to Faulkner. We dragged it back really well with the ball. We had the momentum when we came off the field. Finch batted his natural game, he deserved a hundred and that partnership with Smith was good. We delayed India’s charge leading to the death overs. Once again wickets at the end were so important and Starc had a great night. Finchy’s been in pretty good touch right through the year in ODIs, particularly in Australia.”
Starc was named Man of the Match, and said: “The ball’s coming out well and Australia’s winning games. Great to contribute and it was a team effort. Picked up key wickets. Rohit batted well, but Finchy played well and Faulkner finished it for us. I was a bit nervous, [I’m still] standing with pads on talking to you.”