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HomeBREAKING NEWSAustralia Crush India by 7 Wickets in Perth ODI Opener as Pace...

Australia Crush India by 7 Wickets in Perth ODI Opener as Pace Exposes Batting Weakness

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Under a brooding sky at Perth Stadium, India’s batting faltered badly, collapsing to 136 for nine in a rain-shortened 26-over innings. The hosts made light work of the chase, cruising to victory in just 21.1 overs to seal the ODI opener by seven wickets. It was a masterclass in fast bowling and disciplined batting, proving once again why the Perth wicket has long been a graveyard for subcontinental teams.

Australia vs India Perth ODI: Mitchell Marsh’s Tactical Brilliance Pays Off

Winning the toss and choosing to bowl turned out to be a game-changing decision for skipper Mitchell Marsh. From the very first over, Australia’s pacers dominated. Rohit Sharma fell early for 8, undone by Josh Hazlewood’s steep bounce, and soon after, Virat Kohli nicked a wide delivery from Mitchell Starc to backward point for a duck, silencing the Indian crowd. By the time the scoreboard read 45 for four, India’s hopes of setting a competitive target had all but faded.

Australia vs India Perth ODI: KL Rahul and Axar Patel Offer Brief Resistance

A brief spark came from Axar Patel and KL Rahul, who counterattacked with confidence. Their pair of sixes off Matthew Short lifted spirits briefly, but the partnership ended too soon. Axar miscued a lofted shot, and Rahul departed shortly after, leaving the tail exposed. Debutant Nitish Kumar Reddy played fearlessly, launching Mathew Kuhnemann into the stands twice, but India’s innings eventually folded for 136 for nine.

Australia vs India Perth ODI: Philippe and Marsh Lead the Chase with Authority

Chasing a revised target of 131 under DLS, Australia displayed poise and precision. Travis Head departed early for 8, but Josh Philippe exploded with two sixes and three crisp boundaries, taking the game away. Mitchell Marsh anchored the chase with a calm, commanding knock, punishing Siraj and Arshdeep with successive boundaries and sixes. Matt Renshaw (21*) complemented him perfectly with composed stroke play as Australia sealed victory comfortably.

India’s Fielding Shines but Perth Pitch Proves Too Tough

Despite the loss, India’s fielders showed moments of brilliance – Mohammad Siraj’s one-handed stop off Renshaw and Arshdeep’s sliding catch to dismiss Philippe stood out. But Perth’s bouncy pitch once again exposed India’s long-standing struggle against pace and movement. Australia now lead the three-match series 1-0, while India will look to regroup and adapt quickly to keep the contest alive.

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