Australia secured a commanding victory over India, winning by seven wickets in a rain-affected One Day International (ODI) match held in Perth. The match, which faced four rain interruptions amounting to three hours and 40 minutes, saw India struggling to reach a total of 136 runs in 26 overs, setting a target of just 131 for Australia under the Duckworth-Lewis-Stern method.
The match took place at Perth Stadium on March 24, 2024, in front of a crowd of 42,423 spectators. Australia’s chase was led by captain Mitch Marsh, who remained unbeaten on 46 runs from 52 balls, and Josh Philippe, who contributed 37 runs off 29 balls. The home side reached their target comfortably in just 21.1 overs, giving them a 1-0 lead in the three-match series. This victory also ended India’s impressive eight-match winning streak in ODIs.
Both teams opted to bowl first when the match began under overcast conditions, with Marsh winning the toss. India started their innings poorly, losing captain Rohit Sharma for just 8 runs, caught at second slip off Josh Hazlewood’s bowling. The excitement among Indian fans peaked when Virat Kohli arrived at the crease, but he was dismissed after only eight balls, caught by Cooper Connolly off Mitchell Starc.
India’s batting woes continued, with the team collapsing to 3-25 before they were interrupted by rain for the first time. After a brief pause, play resumed, but another rain delay hit shortly after, leaving India at 3-37. Shubman Gill followed Sharma soon after, caught behind for 10 runs, heightening the pressure on the Indian side.
Despite a brief resurgence with contributions from KL Rahul (38 runs off 31 balls), Axar Patel (31 runs off 38 balls), and debutant Nitish Reddy (19 not out off 11 balls), India’s total was far from competitive. Australia’s bowling attack, led by Hazlewood with figures of 2-20, managed to keep the Indian batsmen in check, while debutant Mitch Owen took 2 wickets for 20 runs.
The Australian innings did not start smoothly either, as they found themselves at 2-44 after losing both Travis Head and Matt Short, who both scored just 8 runs. However, a solid partnership of 55 runs between Marsh and Philippe ensured a steady chase, ultimately leading Australia to victory.
Debutant Matt Renshaw also made a notable contribution late in the innings, finishing with an unbeaten 21 runs off 24 balls, including the winning single.
The second match of the series will take place in Adelaide on March 28, followed by the final match in Sydney on March 30. After this ODI series, the teams will face off in a five-match T20 series, promising more exciting cricket ahead.
