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Rahul, Kohli guide India home after early scare on tricky track

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KL Rahul's match-winning six left him three short of an unbeaten century (pic Cricinfo)

The hosts and favourites for the 2023 World Cup are up and running. But as clinical as India’s six-wicket victory over Australia looks on paper, there was far more jeopardy out on the field in Chennai.

Ravindra Jadeja’s exemplary 3 for 28 restricted Australia to 199, but the pursuit of a modest target began with a historically bad start. India were reduced to 2 for 3 – the first time in ODIs three of their top four were dismissed for ducks. Mitchell Starc removed Ishan Kishan for a first-ball duck before Josh Hazelwood’s  double-wicket maiden snared captain Rohit Sharma lbw and Shreyas Iyer, caught tamely at short cover.

But from the ruins rose Virat Kholi and KL Rahul – two of India’s “been there, done that” world-beaters. A stand of 165 turned a problematic start into a cakewalk of a finish. So much so that while Kohli fell for 85 – he was dropped on 12 – Rahul was able to manoeuvre himself into a position for an outside shot at ODI century number seven.

With 91 to his name and five left to get, a four and a six would have taken him to three figures. Alas, too sweet a connection on a lofted drive off Pat Cummins cleared the boundary sponge at extra cover, finishing the match and leaving the keeper-batter dismayed on 97 not out.

It was particularly chastening for Australia for the match to end in such one-sided circumstances. Cummins’ decision to be the first captain to win the toss and choose to bat at this World Cup looked optimistic, especially as the second innings wore on and the ball stopped talking.

Halzewood’s 3 for 38 ended up being the only plus point in the second half. But one imagines most of the post-match debrief will centre around the inability to combat the turn and nous of Jadeja, Kuldeep Yadav and Ravichandran Ashwin.

Brief scores:
India 201 for 4 in 41.2 overs (KL Rahul 97*,Virat  Kohli 85, Josh Hazlewood 3-38) beat Australia 199 all out in 49.3 overs (Steven Smith 46, Ravindra Jadeja 3-28) by six wickets

(Cricinfo)

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