India vs Australia 1st ODI: Australia amass third highest total in ODI history against India

India vs Australia 1st ODI: Australia amass third highest total in ODI history against India
Aaron Finch

India’s tour of Australia got underway today with the 1st ODI at the Sydney Cricket Ground. The match marked the return to international cricketing action for India after a gap of nearly 8 months. The match got underway with a ‘barefoot circle’ gesture as a sign of the fight against racism and a mark of respect and recognition towards the Aborigines of Australia.

Winning the toss and choosing to bat, Australia got off to a terrific start as Aaron Finch and David Warner put on an excellent partnership. There seemed to be no sign of India getting a wicket but it finally arrived when Australia were on 156 as Mohammad Shami had Warner nick one to the keeper. Finch however, kept going and got his 17th ODI century and marked a return to form following a below-par Indian Premier League (IPL) season.

Australia post a mammoth total on the board

Steve Smith

Finch was joined Steve Smith who also had a below-par IPL season and the former Australian captain roared back to form with a scintillating display of hitting. Following Finch’s dismissal and that of Marcus Stoinis for a duck, Glenn Maxwell and Smith hit the Indian bowlers to all parts of the ground. Smith brought up the second century of the day and was finally dismissed for 105. Maxwell’s contribution of 45 runs off just 19 deliveries was crucial.

Australia’s final score of 374 was the third highest innings score against India in ODI history. The 438 runs that South Africa scored at the Wankhede Stadium in 2015 is top of the list. Second is 411 runs by Sri Lanka in Rajkot in 2009.

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