Away team’s bowling attack leads the way as they stifle the home side’s top order.
Australia have moved one step closer to reclaiming the number one one-day international ranking in the world thanks to their commanding 72-run win against India at Pune.
The away side’s top order did the job expected of them first up on a pitch that was at times low and uneven as Aaron Finch (72 off 79) and George Bailey (85 off 82) top-scored for their side.
The Australian bowlers were then able to extract much more life out of the pitch then their Indian counterparts had managed as they bowled their side to an easy victory.
“It was a good team effort. We know it was tough going against them,” James Faulkner said.
“(C;int) McKay bowled exceptionally well. Mitch (Mitchell) has been bowling well for the past 6 months.
“He has been bowling fast and swinging the ball. I think on this wicket here I was trying to keep it really simple. I think we did well as a team to restrict them to 230.
“There was a little more grass here than what we have seen from T20 cricket, but as I said, it was a good team performance.
“I think India showed their class the other night when they chased over 200. We put up 300 today, so we did our job. We expect a good remaining six matches to come as well.”
Batting first and Australia was given an ideal foundation from which to build on as Philip Hughes (47) and Finch added 110 for the first wicket.
Shane Watson came and went quickly for just two before Bailey started his excellent innings from number four.
Small but handy innings were played further down the order with Glenn Maxwell adding 31 from 23 balls and Faulkner chipped in with 27, but the real damage was done at the top as the Australians finished on 304.
India needed quick runs to begin its innings, and while several batsman got starts none went on with the job as Virat Kohli top-scored with 61.
Rohit Sharma also looked good before being sent packing on 42 and Suresh Raina made 39 before becoming a victim of Faulkner (3-47).
Yuvraj Singh was unable to replicate his heroics with the bat from his side’s Twenty20 win earlier this week as he made just seven off as many ball.
The second match of the series will be played in Jaipur on October 16.
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