Australia crush India in opening match
A brilliant all round show by Australia inflicted a massive 65-run defeat on India in the first ODI of the tri-series at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on Sunday.
Chasing a stiff 217-run target set by hosts, visitors were bundled out for just 151 as they suffered yet another embarrassment on the foreign soil. Matthew Wade was adjudged man of the match for his brilliant batting and a fantastic show behind the stumps.
With Virender Sehwag missing from the squad, Sachin Tendulkar opened the Indian innings along with Gautam Gambhir.
However, Indian fans couldn't witness a good start as Mitchell Starc drew the first blood by getting Tendulkar (2) caught at gully by Ricky Ponting to give India the first blow at the score of 9.
Before India could recover, Starc struck again to sent back Gautam Gambhir (5) putting India in deep trouble.
Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma then tried to rescue the side with sensible display of their batting. However, Clint McKay struck in his very fist over to dismiss both right-handers, giving Australia the edge.
Very soon Daniel Christian sent back Suresh Raina to give India the fifth blow at the score of 77.
Earlier, Matthew Wade and Hussey brothers powered Australia to post mammoth 216 runs in the rain-curtailed first ODI, which was reduced to 32 overs a side, of the tri-series at the Melbourne Cricket Ground.
After the rain break, the hosts amassed 181 runs in 21 overs, of which 55 runs came in the last five over. The Indian bowling fell completely apart after the break.
David Hussey, who played scintillating knock, remained unbeaten on 61 smashing four boundaries and three huge sixes to lift Australia to 216/5 in 32.overs.
Australia lost Matthew Wade and Michael Hussey in quick succession after they displayed some fine batting performances.
Rahul Sharma broke the vital 73 runs fourth-wicket stand between Wade and Hussey as they revive Australian innings after losing three quick wickets.
Wade reached to his maiden ODI fifty in 55 balls that included four boundaries and a huge six.
Australia suffered an early blow as they lost skipper Michael Clarke after the rain played the spoilsport at MCG.
Skipper MS Dhoni's decision to bring part-timer Rohit Sharma into the attack got the reward as he struck in his first over to dismiss Clarke.
The match has been reduced to 32 overs per side after rain spoiled more than two hours game.
The quota of bowlers were also reduced after the rain disruption as two can bowl 7 overs while 3 will get a chance to bowl 6 overs.
Australia were 35/2 in 11 overs when the play was stopped due to heavy rain at MCG.
Skipper Michael Clarke (5*) and Matthew Wade (21*) were at the crease when the rain disrupted the play.
Earlier after opting to bowl, India gave Australia early blows when Vinay Kumar dismissed David Warner and Ricky Ponting.
Vinay struck in his successive overs to remove Warner and Ponting cheaply and reduced Australia to 19/2 in 7.5 overs.
Ponting, who made a strong comeback in the Test series after long rough patch, went on the back foot to slap it through covers but failed to control his shot that went straight to Suresh Raina.
Warner attempted a big heave across the line on a full length delivery. The ball curled in, travelled through the gap between bat and pad and rattled the stumps. Warner contributed only six runs in his 14 balls stay at the crease.
Earlier, Indian skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni won the toss and again decided to field against the hosts.
Indian opener Virender Sehwag has been rested from the match, while veteran Sachin Tendulkar has been included in the playing XI.
For Australia, wicketkeeper-batsman Matthew Wade and all-rounder Dan Christian will make their ODI debuts.
Their pace spearhead Brett Lee is out of the match and the tri-series, also featuring Sri Lanka, due to a broken foot.
Lee picked up the injury during the second Twenty20 international against India on Friday.
Finally a win under their belt in what has been a highly disappointing tour, India would aim to carry the Twenty20 momentum into the ODI series.
After a 0-4 thrashing in the Tests and a loss in the first T20 against Australia, India tasted victory in the second T20, winning by eight wickets on Friday.