Australia beat world champions India by four wickets in a thrilling one-day International at the Melbourne Cricket Ground yesterday, overcoming a late mini-collapse to win with just six balls remaining.
India’s world-record holder Rohit Sharma (138) smashed his sixth one-day international century to contribute more than half of his team’s total, but Mitchell Starc’s career-best six for 43 restricted the visitors to 267-8.
When the hosts replied, swashbuckling opener Aaron Finch proved he is not just a reckless slogger, compiling a composed 96 as Australia overwhelmed the target with one over to spare.
Photo: AFP
Finch hit five fours and two sixes in his 127-ball knock, but missed out on his seventh one-day century as Australia chalked up their second win in the tri-series, which also involves England.
Australia’s chase got off to a strong start with the openers putting on 51 runs before the dangerous David Warner (24) spooned a simple catch to Suresh Raina at extra-cover.
Shane Watson (41) also began aggressively, but looked desperate when the boundaries stopped flowing and lost his off-stump to left-arm spinner Akshar Patel going for a slog-sweep.
Steve Smith (47), who punished India in the preceding four-Test series, continued to trouble them, once again exposing the visitors’ bowling limitations in his century stand with Finch.
From 216-2, Australia lost four quick wickets to inject fresh excitement into the contest, but eventually prevailed when James Faulkner hit the winning boundary off Bhuvneshwar Kumar.
Earlier, Sharma did not threaten the record 264 he blasted against Sri Lanka last year, but the India opener gave the Australia bowlers an insight into his intentions ahead of next month’s World Cup with an almost a run-a-ball knock.
Opting to bat first, India slumped to 59-3 inside the first 13 overs, before Sharma and Raina (51) set about rebuilding the innings, adding 126 for the fourth wicket.
Sharma’s 138 came off 139 deliveries and was highlighted by nine boundaries and four sixes at the MCG, which is to host the World Cup final.
The elegant right-hander departed in the penultimate over when he mistimed a full toss from Starc and holed out to Glenn Maxwell at midwicket.
Starc, who claimed four wickets in Friday’s tournament opener against England, missed out on a hat-trick, but walked away with back-to-back man-of-the-match awards.
India meet England in the third match of the tri-series tomorrow.
Memphis Grizzlies forward Brandon Clarke, 29, has died, the NBA team said in a statement on Tuesday, while the family of Jason Collins, the first openly gay man to play in a major US pro sports league, announced the former Grizzlies and Brooklyn Nets player had died after a battle with brain cancer. “We are heartbroken by the tragic loss of Brandon Clarke,” the Grizzlies said in a statement posted on social media. “Brandon was an outstanding teammate and an even better person whose impact on the organization and the greater Memphis community will not be forgotten.” The statement did not provide
Mathys Tel was hero and villain as Tottenham drew 1-1 at home to Leeds United on Monday — a result that leaves their English Premier League future hanging in the balance. The Frenchman broke the deadlock early in the second half to ease the tension at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, but then gave away a penalty with a reckless attempted clearance. In the dying minutes, Spurs were grateful to Antonin Kinsky, who produced an astonishing save to deny the visitors a win. Tottenham are now two points clear of 18th-placed West Ham United with just two games left this season. The
Taiwan’s top male badminton player, Chou Tien-chen, on Saturday bowed out in the men’s singles semi-finals at the Thailand Open after losing in straight games to Thailand’s Kunlavut Vitidsarn. The world No. 6 Chou, seeded fourth at the Super 500 tournament, lost to the world No. 2 Thai 21-7, 21-19 in 53 minutes. The victory improved Vitidsarn’s head-to-head record against Chou to 3-5. Chou, 36, trailed throughout the opening game after the score was tied 2-2. His relatively passive approach allowed the 25-year-old Thai to capitalize on Chou’s defensive clears with powerful smashes while committing few unforced errors. The Taiwanese
FRUSTRATION: Gauff smacked herself on the head with her racket before storming down the tunnel, emerging afterward to have a heated discussion with her coach Elina Svitolina on Saturday won the Italian Open after beating Coco Gauff 6-4, 6-7 (3/7), 6-2 to claim her third Rome title, while Jannik Sinner set a date with Casper Ruud in the men’s final. Ukraine’s Svitolina had not claimed a WTA 1000 title since her last victory at the Foro Italico eight years ago, but prevailed over the ever-erratic Gauff to claim her 20th tournament triumph. Saturday’s win over Gauff was her third in a row against a player in the top four of the world rankings — including Iga Swiatek and Elena Rybakina — ahead of the French
RSS