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KL Rahul, Ravindra Jadeja Power India To Victory in First ODI; Hosts take 1-0 Lead


image-lfcnlttqKL Rahul scored his 13th ODI fifty [Source: Twitter]

India overcame Australia's challenge in a low-scoring encounter in the first One-Day International (ODI) at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai. KL Rahul starred for the hosts in the chase, scoring an unbeaten 75* to help India to pocket the Mumbai encounter by five wickets, and take a 1-0 lead in the three-match series.


KL Rahul sets India's win

India's chase got off to a horrid start as Ishan Kishan fell in the second over itself to Marcus Stoinis, who opened the bowling for the first time. Kishan's departure brought in Virat Kohli, who lasted just nine balls before Mitchell Starc trapped the star-batter in front. 

Starc removed No.1 T20I Batter Surya Kumar Yadav for a first-ball duck to pin down India 16 for 3. Gill scored a scratchy 20 but also became Starc's third scalp. 

KL Rahul, in alliance with skipper Hardik Pandya, consolidated the innings and snitched a 44-run stand in just 55 deliveries.

Just as Pandya was looking to get into his groove, Stoinis had him caught playing the pull-short for 25.

Rahul, joined by the ever-consistent Ravindra Jadeja, slowed things down in the middle and played percentage cricket. The duo added 50 runs in 76 balls.

The under-fire Lucknow Super Giants captain notched up his 13th ODI fifty in 73 deliveries. 

The pair wasted no time in farming the remaining runs, as India reached their target in 39.5 overs. Rahul and Jadeja remained unbeaten on 75* and 45*, respectively, taking their partnership to 108.

Mitchell Marsh's 81 helps Australia to 188

image-lfclun2bMitchell Marsh top-scored with 81 [Source: Twitter]

Put into bat, Australia lost Travis Head quickly, with Mohammed Siraj providing India with early inroads. However, Mitchell Marsh had other plans as the explosive all-rounder hammered Indian bowlers all over Wankhede, along with Steve Smith, forming a 72-run stand.

Pandya got the better of his Australian counterpart, getting Smith for 22. Marsh's onslaught did not stop as he breezed past his first fifty as an opener.

After adding 52 runs with Marnus Labuschagne, Marsh fell to Kuldeep Yadav for a swashbuckling 81.

Since then, it was downhill for the Smith-led side. India's most experienced pace in the attack, Mohammed Shami rattled Josh Inglis and Cameron Green's stumps for 26 and 12, respectively.

Siraj and Shami cleaned up the tailenders with disciplined bowling to end up with three wickets each, while Jadeja claimed two wickets. 

Australia lost their final eight wickets for just 59 runs, which folded their innings on 188 in 35.4 overs.

The second ODI will take place on Sunday in Visakhapatnam.

Brief Scores:

Australia: 188 all out (35.4)

Mitchell Marsh 81(65), Josh Inglis 26 (27);
Mohammed Shami 3 -17 (6), Mohammed Siraj 3-29 (5.4).

India: 191/5 (39.5)

KL Rahul 75* (91), Ravindra Jadeja 45* (69);
Mitchell Starc 3 - 49 (9.5), Marcus Stoinis 2 -27 (7).

India won by five wickets