India v Australia LIVE: Cricket World Cup result and reaction as India win by six wickets
India are under pressure from the weight of fans, media and all corners of the host nation when they get their ICC Cricket World Cup 2023 campaign up and running against Australia today.
As the host nation and the No 1 ranked side in the world, the expectation has rarely been higher for a nation to deliver, especially in front of a home crowd. After England were hammered by New Zealand in the tournament opener in Ahmedabad on Wednesday, both India and Australia will be looking to get their campaign off to a winning start.
India have not won a World Cup since 2011, and even Sachin Tendulkar spoke during the tournament opener on Wednesday about how sometimes the team have to remember that hundreds of millions are behind them rather than sitting on their shoulders. Australia lost the pre-tournament series in India against Rohit Sharma’s side, but as the England defeat to New Zealand has shown, the bilateral series results can have little effect on the outcome of a World Cup clash. India will also be hoping their side is up to full fitness.
Follow all the latest live coverage of today’s match in the live blog belowand get the latest match odds and tips here:
India vs Australia
Australia win the toss and choose to bat
Line-ups as India name three-pronged spin attack
Australia bowled out for 199, India need to chase 200 to win
Wicket! Kishan 0 ct Green b Starc, India 2-1
Wicket! Sharma 0 lbw Hazlewood, India 2-2
Wicket! Iyet 0 ct Warner b Hazlewood, India 2-3
Kohli 50! India 100-3
Rahul 50! India 106-3
Wicket! Kohli out for 85 ct Labuschagne b Hazlewood India 167-4
India win by six wickets!
India beat Australia by six wickets
18:22 , Sonia Twigg
India launched their home World Cup campaign with a six-wicket victory over Australia after Virat Kohli and KL Rahul guided them through a jittery run chase on Sunday.
The hosts probably expected their chase to be a cakewalk after their spin-heavy attack bundled out the five-times champions for 199 with three deliveries left in the Australian innings.
India, however, made a shocking start to their reply with three of their top four batters falling for ducks -- for the first time in an ODI -- inside two overs.
Virat Kohli and KL Rahul lead India to dominant victory over Australia
India beat Australia by six wickets
18:22 , Sonia Twigg
India launched their home World Cup campaign with a six-wicket victory over Australia after Virat Kohli and KL Rahul guided them through a jittery run chase on Sunday.
The hosts probably expected their chase to be a cakewalk after their spin-heavy attack bundled out the five-times champions for 199 with three deliveries left in the Australian innings.
India, however, made a shocking start to their reply with three of their top four batters falling for ducks -- for the first time in an ODI -- inside two overs.
India beat Australia by six wickets
17:40 , Sonia Twigg
Rohit Sharma on the situation at the start of the innings: “I was nervous to be honest, you don’t want to start your innings like that when you’re chasing that kind of target. Some loose shots as well but that happens when you have that kind of target.
“But congrats to Virat and KL, how they stuck in the middle out there and created that match-winning partnership for us.”
“This World Cup this is going to be a bit of a challenge when you play in all kinds of venues and adapting to those conditions is going to be very different for us.
“The crowd was brilliant right from the word go, I can understand the players fielding in that heat, but for them sitting out in that heat and cheering means a lot.
India beat Australia by six wickets
17:37 , Sonia Twigg
Pat Cummins on how much his side would have needed: “ I think at least 50-odd it’s going to be tough trying to defend 200 on any wicket out there.
“I think obviously against a good bowling attack, I thought their spinners were tough work out there so it was a wicket you needed to get yourself in.
“We had them 3 for none with our quick bowlers, we still had 20 overs of spin, I think with another 50 that bowling innings looks a little bit different.
“You have a bit of review to this one but it’s only one game out of nine so we won’t dwell on it too much.”
India beat Australia by six wickets
17:29 , Sonia Twigg
KL Rahul said on coming to the crease so early on: “I was just trying to catch my breath and I thought I would get a good half an hour break so it was a bit of a rush but Virat said there was a bit in the wicket and we needed to play proper shots and play like it was Test cricket for some time and see how it goes and that was the plan.
“I think it (the pitch) remained the same for the most part of the game, but there was a bit of help for the fast bowlers with the new ball.
“I think in the last 15, 20 overs the dew played a bit of a part when they were bowling, but it was still two-paced, it wasn’t a great wicket to bat on but I think it was a good cricket wicket and that’s what you get in Chennai.”
India beat Australia by six wickets
17:24 , Sonia Twigg
Having been two for three at the start of the innings, that was an incredible recovery from India. Led by Kohli and Rahul they bounced back and ensured that their side, the host nation, would get their World Cup campaign off to a victory.
Kohli was dropped early on in his innings which proved to be the decisive moment, there would not even be another chance for Australia, until he was out on 85, and by then the result was already all but certain.
While Rahul may regret missing out on a century, it was a solid victory, when Australia won the toss and chose to bat first, but were bowled out for 199.
India win by six wickets!
17:22 , Sonia Twigg
The crowd is up and bouncing and singing their side over the line.
Rahul won’t get his century, but he has smashed Cummins for six and India have won the match!
Rahul went for the chip and a one-bounce four to give him the chance of a century, but he has 97 not out!
India 195-4 (41) Rahul 90, Pandya 11, Maxwell 0-33 (8) India need 5 runs to win
17:20 , Sonia Twigg
Rahul goes for a six and Maxwell has been hit straight down the ground over his head, that has gone a long way and India are going for the jugular.
He follows it up with another four and it could be done this over if he continues!
India 182-4 (40) Rahul 79, Pandya 10, Hazlewood 3-38 (9) need 18 runs to win
17:16 , Sonia Twigg
Hazlewood will continue and the question now will be whether India want to inflict maximum damage in terms of net run rate and really try and go for it as they chase down 28 runs to win.
Six! Pandya has changed the approach and smashes the first six of the boundary over mid off!
India 171-4 (39) Rahul 76, Pandya 3, Maxwell 0-20 (7) need 28 runs to win
17:10 , Sonia Twigg
Maxwell has bowled tightly, but even a few tight overs will not be enough now to really shift the pressure, despite the wicket, four runs from the over.
India 168-4 (38) Rahul 75, Pandya 1, Hazlewood 3-28 (8) need 32 runs to win
17:07 , Sonia Twigg
That was just what Australia wanted, but it might have come too late.
Pandya is off the mark with a single.
Wicket! Kohli out for 85 ct Labuschagne b Hazlewood India 167-4
17:04 , Sonia Twigg
Hazlewood has been the pick of the Aussie seam attack with his two wickets at the start.
Just as it looked like these two would see India over the line, Kohli has smashed Hazlewood straight to Labuschagne at midwicket!
He it out for 85
India 167-3 (37) Rahul 75, Kohli 85, Zampa 0-53 (8) need 33 runs to win
17:00 , Sonia Twigg
Zampa will have another chance for a wicket, Rahul doesn’t get hold of it but it bounces short of the fielder on the boundary, who makes a mistake and they can come back for 3.
The only question remaining might be whether Kohli can get the 15 more runs needed to reach his century.
India 159-3 (36) Rahul 71, Kohli 81, Hazlewood 2-27 (7) need 41 runs to win
16:53 , Sonia Twigg
The 150 partnership follows, the highest for India against Australia in World Cups - a big achievement especially considering at one point they were 2 for 3.
Hazlewood will bowl his seventh, the wicket has not looked like coming since Kohli was dropped early on.
That was the first half chance! Rahul plays the ball back past Hazlewood who can’t get a hand to it, but the ball was hit upwards.
India 151-3 (35) Rahul 64, Kohli 80, Zampa 0-44 (7) need 49 runs to win
16:48 , Sonia Twigg
Zampa has not looked threatening against this pair, he has been good since the last World Cup, but these two have not had any problems against the Aussie spinner.
The 150 comes up for India, a partnership of 148, and just 50 more runs needed.
There were 5 runs from the over, all singles.
India 146-3 (34) Rahul 62, Kohli 77, Starc 1-31 (8) need 54 runs to win
16:44 , Sonia Twigg
Kohli is pushing Rahul here to keep the running between the wickets as slick as it was at the start.
Concussion check! Kohli was thumped in the helmet by that delivery from Starc, the cross-seam ball just lept up off the wicket and into the top of the helmet.
And the next ball is smashed to the boundary for 4 by Kohli.
India 139-3 (33) Rahul 61, Kohli 71, Zampa 0-40 (6) need 61 runs to win
16:39 , Sonia Twigg
Kohli plays one of the best shots of the innings to send Zampa’s first delivery to the boundary for four. It was dragged down wide and smashed through extra cover.
India 132-3 (32) Rahul 60, Kohli 65, Starc 1-24 (7) need 68 runs to win
16:34 , Sonia Twigg
The harder ball has brought Starc on to bowl his 7th over.
He was a bit more wayward, a wide with the second delivery, the ball might seem and sound newer, but it does not seem to be moving significantly more.
There is no change from the India approach, they have just continued to knock it around, until a slightly wider delivery and Rahul drives through the covers for four, absolutely textbook shot.
India 124-3 (31) Rahul 56, Kohli 62, Maxwell 0-16 (6) need 76 runs to win
16:28 , Sonia Twigg
After that drinks break, Australia turn to Maxwell to try and break what is heading towards a match-winning partnership between Kohli and Rahul.
The ball is dusty, the track is favourable to spin, but the Aussie spinners have not found the same purchase from the surface as the India spinners and the batters can just knock the ball around comfortably.
There’s a new ball after the damage to the old one, but that might just help come onto the bat a bit quicker.
India 120-3 (30) Rahul 54, Kohli 60, Cummins 0-27 (6) need 80 runs to win
16:19 , Sonia Twigg
Cummins has not found the breakthrough he would have wanted, but he has not been expensive either.
Just the one run from the over, it’s not quick or entertaining but the crowd is getting louder now that the host nation are on top.
India 119-3 (29) Rahul 53, Kohli 60, Maxwell 0-12 (5) need 81 runs to win
16:15 , Sonia Twigg
Maxwell returns, he has bowled well in his earlier spell, tight lines and length, but the batters weren’t as in then.
The pair at the crease have not put a foot wrong, they have done the hard work and can now just play the ball into gaps.
Three runs from the over
India 114-3 (28) Rahul 50, Kohli 59, Cummins 0-25 (5) need 84 runs to win
16:10 , Sonia Twigg
That was a weird delivery from Cummins! It looked like he was looking for something special and that one has landed off the strip!
Three runs from the over and the fourth was so wide it was impressive Carey managed to get there, and it will be a no-ball.
First free-hit of the innings...and it’s a slower ball bouncer missed by Kohli, but that has been called a wide.
A second free-hit...and it’s gone for four to midwicket with two bounces off the rope, his fourth four of the innings.
Rahul 50! India 106-3
16:07 , Sonia Twigg
Just two overs after Kohli, Rahul has his half century as well, with a drive off Cummins.
His 50 came from 72 balls, and together this partnership has done wonders.
India 104-3 (27) Rahul 49, Kohli 53, Zampa 0-31 (5) need 95 runs to win
16:05 , Sonia Twigg
The required total has just moved under 100 here and India are well and truly on top after their disastrous start when they were 2 for 3.
And that’s the 100-run partnership.
India 100-3 (26) Rahul 47, Kohli 50, Cummins 0-16 (4) need 100 runs to win
16:01 , Sonia Twigg
Just the three from the over but Kohli has his half century, and Rahul is just three runs away.
Kohli 50 (75)! India 100-3
16:00 , Sonia Twigg
Cummins brings himself on to try and squeeze out what is turning into a much-needed wicket as it’s all looking a bit easy for India at the moment.
Kohli brings up his half century, off 75 balls, he was lucky to survive a drop early on in his innings but has yet again dragged India out of trouble and into a comfortable position.
It is his 67th 50 in the format.
India 97-3 (25) Rahul 46, Kohli 48, Zampa 0-28 (4) need103 runs to win
15:56 , Sonia Twigg
Zampa’s over was slightly more expensive than the previous ones, going for five runs, and halfway through the innings India are almost halfway towards their required total of 200.
India 92-3 (24) Rahul 44, Kohli 45, Hazlewood 2-18 (6) need 108 runs to win
15:52 , Sonia Twigg
Hazlewood continues and bowls very tight, as he is known to do, just two runs from that over.
India 90-3, Rahul 43, Kohli 44, Zampa 0-23 (3) need 110 runs to win
15:47 , Sonia Twigg
Again just the singles, but neither look to be having any particular difficulty against the Australian attack.
India 87-3 (22), Rahul 42, Kohli 42, Hazlewood 2-17 (5) need 113 runs to win
15:43 , Sonia Twigg
The running between the wickets has been exceptional, so quick and always looking for that one extra run.
Hazlewood, who took two wickets earlier has been brought on, probably with an intent to find another and break this partnership which is threatening to shift momentum in favour of India.
There might be just a hint of reverse swing under the lights.
India 82-3 (21) Rahul 40, Kohli 39, Starc 1-16 (6) need 118 runs to win
15:38 , Sonia Twigg
Starc has not looked as menacing with the older ball, and India have kept the scoreboard ticking along.
Just the two from that over from Starc, but the runs required is creeping downwards.
India 79-3 (20) Rahul 39, Kohli 38, Zampa 0-20 (2) need 120 runs to win
15:34 , Sonia Twigg
After 20 overs, India have slowly trickled towards their current total, but crucially they have not lost more wickets after sliding to 2 for 3 in the first few overs. But they have depth and these two are quality.
Kohli survived a drop and both him and Rahul are closing in on half centuries.
India 73-3 (19) Rahul 34, Kohli 36, Starc 1-14 (5) need 127 runs to win
15:30 , Sonia Twigg
The India batters are just starting to look comfortable, they are using the width on offer to go for shots and have a partnership of over 70 now.
Although there are not a lot of boundaries on offer, Rahul and Kohli have continued to rotate the strike, scoring singles at ease.
India 69-3 (18), Rahul 32, Kohli 34, Zampa 0-13 (1) need 131 runs to win
15:25 , Sonia Twigg
Cummins has thrown the ball to Zampa, freshly sporting a graze on his nose after swimming into the wall of the pool at the hotel - after Carey’s slip in Karachi the Aussies don’t have the best of luck with hotel pools.
India look comfortable and Rahul has cut the ball away for four as this partnership continues to build for the home side after a disastrous start.
Rahul has another boundary with the width on offer, using the pace of Zampa to guide the ball to the boundary. Not enough turn for the Aussie bowler.
Three successive fours and the pressure has been released!
India 56-3 (17) Rahul 20, Kohli 33, Starc 1-10 (4) need 144 runs to win
15:19 , Sonia Twigg
Starc is back on after Green went for two successive boundaries at the end of his over, but it will be a different task for the bowler, who is most lethal when the ball is moving at the start of the innings.
It hasn’t caused the problems it did at the start but he is still a skilled bowler with pace.
India 52-3 (16) Rahul 18, Kohli 31, Maxwell 0-9 (4) need 148 runs to win.
15:15 , Sonia Twigg
The two fours off the last ball of the over have helped India bring up the 50 in Maxwell’s over following it.
Just three from the over but it’s a good 50 partnership from this pair who came to the crease with India two for three.
India 49-3 (15), Rahul 15, Kohli 31, Green 0-11 (2) need 151 runs to win
15:09 , Sonia Twigg
India have continued to knock the ball around for singles, but had to wait until the fifth ball of Green’s over to find the boundary!
A lovely shot from Kohli, and there haven’t been many boundaries but every one will count move India slowly towards the total.
India 40-3 (14) Rahul 15, Kohli 22, Maxwell 0-5 (3) need 159 runs to win
15:04 , Sonia Twigg
Whenever India have found the gap it seems to go to the man in the deep, three from the over but there is still a long way to go in this game.
India 38-3, Rahul 14, Kohli 21, Green 0-3 (1) need 162 runs to win
15:01 , Sonia Twigg
A change of bowling to Cameron Green, but there is no marked chase in terms of the runs or the pace of the game.
Three singles off the first 3 balls and that was it from the over.
India 34-3 (12) Rahul 13, Kohli 19, Maxwell 0-3 (2) need 165 runs to win
14:56 , Sonia Twigg
Maxwell went for just one run in his first over and will be looking for something similar here.
Rahul has tried to open the face and push the ball into the gap but the field placements were good and there were just two runs from the 12th over.
India 33-3 (11) Rahul 12, Kohli 18, Cummins 0-13 (3) need167 runs to win
14:52 , Sonia Twigg
Rahul and Kohli are just rotating the strike comfortably, after the loss of the three early wickets.
There is a lot of time left in this game and they will have to build slowly. The target is definitely still chase-able.
Rahul has his first boundary in the 11th over with a well-timed cover drive.
India 27-3 (10), Rahul 7, Kohli 17, Maxwell 0-1 (1) need 173 runs to win
14:48 , Sonia Twigg
And we will see spin for the first time in the innings with Glenn Maxwell into the attack.
India’s spinners had a lot of joy, but Maxwell and Zampa are not quite as good in the same conditions.
India 26-3 (9), Rahul 7, Kohli 16, Cummins 0-7 (2) need 174 runs to win
14:44 , Sonia Twigg
Kohli inside edges one that just goes past the stumps, another lucky let off.
The ball is still moving around here, I wonder if the lights at Chennai are slightly aiding the Aussie bowlers.
India 21-3 (7) Rahul 5, Kohli 13, Hazlewood 2-12 (4) need 179 runs to win
14:40 , Sonia Twigg
Hazlewood will continue, and it just looks like the ball is starting to move less, which will be a relief to the Indian batters.
Kohli has been dropped! Mitchell Marsh and Alex Carey both went for the ball that top-edged into the gap, Marsh got there and spilled the ball, he didn’t even get his hands to it, and it thumped into his leg and along the ground!
That’s a huge let off for India and could it come back to haunt the Aussies?
India 20-3, (7), Rahul 5, Kohli 12, Cummins 0-2 (1) need 180 runs to win
14:35 , Sonia Twigg
Pat Cummins is into the attack for the first time, this is an exceptional fast-bowling trio that Australia have to offer, there is no weak link and they are all so experienced and so good across all three formats.
India 18-3 (6), Rahul 4, Kohli 11, Hazlewood 2-11 (3) need 182 runs
14:31 , Sonia Twigg
The runs have not been flowing freely, but more important for India will be not losing any more wickets.
India 12-3 (5), Rahul 4, Kohli 5, Starc 1-6 (3) need 188 runs to win
14:26 , Sonia Twigg
Starc has kept going and with Hazlewood at the other end, the pressure is on the Indian batters, but they have a lot of time to play themselves in and see off the opening pair before looking to score.
Starc bowled a wide, but runs of the bat haven’t been coming
India 6-3 (4), Rahul 4, Kohli 4, Hazlewood 2-5 (2) need 190 runs to win
14:21 , Sonia Twigg
Hazlewood has not conceded a run and has two wickets, he has bowled with incredible control here and India will hope that the Kookaburra stops moving soon.
And that’s a lovely shot from KL Rahul for the first boundary from the final ball of the over.
India 5-3 (3), Rahul 0, Kohli 3, Starc 1-4 (2)
14:17 , Sonia Twigg
Starc is back into the attack and Kohli scores two to take the runs score over the number of wickets lost.
Kohli chases a wide one and there’s heads in hands from those in the slips, that was close!
Wicket! Iyer 0 ct Warner b Hazlewood, India 2-3
14:13 , Sonia Twigg
Hazlewood strikes again and India are in trouble here! I have no idea what has gone into the decision-making but it’s exceptional.
Hazlewood has bowled well but this is approaching a disaster for India.
Wicket! Sharma out for 0! lbw Hazlewood India 2-2
14:09 , Sonia Twigg
Hazlewood will take the second over, and strikes almost immediately to dismiss the captain lbw.
India review the decision, but the DRS shows the ball hitting on umpire’s call and Sharma has to leave.
India 2-1 (1), Sharma 0, Kohli 0, Starc 1-2 (1) need 198 runs to win
14:05 , Sonia Twigg
At the end of the first over, India still have yet to score off the bat, with their two runs coming from a leg bye and a wide.
Wicket! Kishan 0, ct Green b Starc, India 2-1
14:02 , Sonia Twigg
Mitchell Starc, having been the last batter out, will now bowl the first over as Australia try and defend their below-par total.
But he started with a wide. And there’s an early wicket before there’s been a run off the bat!
Kishan goes first ball!
India need 200 runs to win
13:51 , Sonia Twigg
India just preparing to come out and start their chase of 200, it looks like a low target, but there was a lot of spin on offer.
India need 200 to win
13:45 , Sonia Twigg
Here are some photos from the first innings:
India need 200 runs to win
13:38 , Sonia Twigg
Here’s a look at one of the other stories from the Cricket World Cup, at New Zealand youngster Rachin Ravindra
If the international cricketing community didn’t know who Rachin Ravindra was, they are certainly familiar with the all-rounder now after the opening game of the ICC Cricket World Cup 2023 in which he became the youngest New Zealand batter to score a World Cup century.
The astounding feat came as Ravindra played a significant role in both innings of New Zealand’s nine-wicket win against defending champions England in the cricket tournament’s opening game on Thursday.
Who is Rachin Ravindra – New Zealand’s new World Cup hero with strong Indian roots
Wicket! Starc caught off Siraj for 28! Australia all out for 199
13:29 , Sonia Twigg
Last over of the innings how many can Australia limp to?
Starc hits down the ground and they choose not to run, the fast bowler clearly backing himself. The next one is drilled down the ground for four, to take them to 199.
But they won’t get their 200, Siraj has another wicket as Starc is caught in the deep.
Australia 195-9 (49), Hazlewood 1, Starc 24, Pandya 1-28 (3)
13:25 , Sonia Twigg
Hazlewood manages to get off strike first ball, that might be his tactic for the rest of the balls remaining.
It proves to be the best tactic, with Starc flicking the ball into the leg side shortly after, and crucially keeps the strike with a single last ball of the over.
Wicket! Zampa caught by Kohli for 6, Australia 189-9
13:22 , Sonia Twigg
Pandya just getting his finger taped slightly before starting his third over of the match, that was the injury from when Warner hammered one back at him that just caught the end of the middle finger.
But it does not matter, Zampa has just driven one straight to Kohli on the edge of the ring after catching the bottom of the bat.
Australia 188-8 (48), Zampa 6, Starc 18, Siraj 0-22 (6)
13:19 , Sonia Twigg
Some lovely shots from the area of the beach near the stadium in Chennai.
Siraj is back to bowl on the field and fires the second one wide down the leg side, every run is going to feel valuable for Australia.
Zampa is just struggling to get the ball away here, but manages to get a single and there’s another wide.
Australia 182-8 (47), Zampa 5, Starc 15, Bumrah 2-34 (10)
13:12 , Mike Jones
Bang! Jasprit Bumrah is too short to Mitchell Starc and the left-hander absolutely nails him into the stands at deep midwicket. Bumrah responds with a couple of yorkers and a wide.
Seven runs from the over.
Australia 175-8 (46), Zampa 5, Starc 9, Ashwin 1-34 (10)
13:06 , Mike Jones
Ashwin is going to bowl out his allotment. He’s milked away for a couple of singles before Mitchell Starc tries to smoke him into the stands and misses the ball.
Three runs come from the over.
Australia 172-8 (45), Zampa 4, Starc 8, Bumrah 2-27 (9)
13:04 , Mike Jones
Mitchell Starc guides Jasprit Bumrah away for one bringing Adam Zampa back on strike. He defends one then gets a thick outside edge down to third man for one more.
A drilled drive from Starc brings another single as Australia continue to tick over the score.
Australia 168-8 (44), Zampa 3, Starc 6, Jadeja 3-28 (10)
12:59 , Mike Jones
Jadeja ends his bowling day with a maiden. He’s been incredible today and Australia will be happy to see the back of him.
Australia 168-8 (43), Zampa 3, Starc 6, Bumrah 2-24 (8)
12:56 , Mike Jones
Australia are in danger of getting bowled out here. Adam Zampa is the new batter and he lifts Bumrah over midwicket for two runs. A full toss brings another run for Zampa.
Australia need to get as many as they can now.
Wicket! Pat Cummins ct Shreyas Iyer b Jasprit Bumrah 15 (24), Australia 165-8 (42.2)
12:53 , Mike Jones
Mitchell Starc hasn’t really decided to go after the Indian bowlers yet, preferring to leave the big shots to Pat Cummins. Cummins goes for it against Bumrah and picks out Shreyas Iyer on the deep mid on boundary.
Australia 164-7 (42), Cummins 15, Starc 5, Jadeja 3-28 (9)
12:50 , Mike Jones
The man who has caused all the problems for Australia, Ravindra Jadeja, comes back into the attack. He finds his length immediately and gets one to spin past the outside edge of Pat Cummins’ bat.
Runs! Leg byes bring Australia four from the final delivery but another over comes and goes in quick fashion.
Australia 160-7 (41), Cummins 15, Starc 5, Bumrah 1-20 (7)
12:47 , Mike Jones
Jasprit Bumrah is back to have a dart at the Australian bowlers. Wisely, Mitchell Starc takes a single before Pat Cummins defends a couple of straight, sharp deliveries.
Cummins heaves Bumrah over the legside and takes two runs to keep the total ticking over. If Australia can get over 200 they will feel as though they have something to defend.
Australia 156-7 (40), Cummins 12, Starc 4, Kuldeep 2-42 (10)
12:43 , Mike Jones
Just the over Australia needed! Mitchell Starc gets off strike and Pat Cummins decides to take on Kuldeep Yadav.
He picks out a slower ball and smokes it into the stands for six runs!
The response is good from Kuldeep and he finds the outside edge of the bat but the ball beats KL Rahul behind the stumps and races away for four.
11 runs from the over!
Australia 145-7 (39), Cummins 2, Starc 3, Ashwin 1-31 (9)
12:38 , Mike Jones
The Indian spinners have been incredible today. They’ve been accurate, varied their pace and their lengths and, crucially, got the ball to turn sharply.
Cummins and Starc take three runs from the over.
Australia 142-7 (38), Cummins 1, Starc 1, Kuldeep 2-31 (9)
12:35 , Mike Jones
Kuldeep Yadav gets the ball to grip and turn back into Pat Cummins pinning him on the pads. Cummins manages to get outside the line of off stump though and the lbw shout is turned down.
Cummins then works the ball into the legside to get himself off the mark before Mitchell Starc pushes the ball down the ground for one as well.
Australia 140-7 (37), Cummins 0, Starc 0, Ashwin 1-28 (8)
12:31 , Mike Jones
Mitchell Starc and Pat Cummins need to bat for a long time now. They’ve got to get Australia to the back end of the innings and pick up as many runs as they can.
Ashwin sends down a wicket maiden.
Wicket! Cameron Green ct Hardik Pandya b Ravichandran Ashwin 8 (20), Australia 140-7 (36.2)
12:29 , Mike Jones
Ravi Ashwin has his wicket!
Cameron Green tries to spank him over the offside and delivers the ball straight into the hands of Hardik Pandya. Australia are in dire straits now.
Australia 140-6 (36), Cummins 0, Green 8, Kuldeep 2-29 (8)
12:27 , Mike Jones
The Australian captain Pat Cummins is the new batter and he defends the final ball of the over.
Wicket! Glenn Maxwell b Kuldeep Yadav 15 (25), Australia 140-6 (35.5)
12:26 , Mike Jones
Grip, spin and gone!
Kuldeep gets one to sharply turn back into Glenn Maxwell who tries to dispatch him over the ropes. He misses the ball and leg stump is knocked over.
The Indian spinners continue to do the damage.
Australia 140-5 (35.4), Maxwell 15, Green 8, Kuldeep 1-29 (7.4)
12:24 , Mike Jones
Rohit Sharma decides to hold a couple of overs back from Ravindra Jadeja and he’ll tempt a big shot out of Glenn Maxwell by bringing Kuldeep Yadav back into the attack.
Maxwell pulls the ball into the legside for one run. Green is more composed with a push down the ground but Australia still can’t find the boundary...
Australia 138-5 (35), Maxwell 14, Green 7, Ashwin 0-28 (7)
12:20 , Mike Jones
Ravichandran Ashwin come back into the attack for India now to replace Jasprit Bumrah. Green and Maxwell each rotate the strike with a run apiece before Green blocks back consecutive deliveries.
He skips down the track and heaves Ashwin over the legside which brings him another run. Maxwell then thinks about a big shot chips the ball wide of the fielder at midwicket.
India were interested there but the Aussies get away with one.
Australia 134-5 (34), Maxwell 12, Green 5, Jadeja 3-28 (8)
12:15 , Mike Jones
Ravindra Jadeja will probably bowl through now and hopefully pick up another couple of wickets for India. Maxwell and Green each collect a single as they’re trying to negate any spin from the left-armer.
Three runs come from the over.
Australia 131-5 (33), Maxwell 11, Green 3, Bumrah 1-16 (6)
12:12 , Mike Jones
After three dot balls from Jasprit Bumrah a misfield brings Cameron Green a single which annoys the Indian captain Rohit Sharma. It’s a superb over from the seamer though with just one coming from it.
Australia 130-5 (32), Maxwell 11, Green 2, Jadeja 3-25 (7)
12:08 , Mike Jones
Cameron Green pushes the ball into the offside for one to get his innings going. Glenn Maxwell turns the ball around the corner for one more.
Four! Maxwell moves outside the leg stump and gives himself some room. He smokes Jadeja through the gap at cover and the ball races away to the boundary. It’s the first one in 73 deliveries.
Can Australia kick on now?
Australia 123-5 (31), Maxwell 6, Green 0, Bumrah 1-15 (5)
12:04 , Mike Jones
Jasprit Bumrah, arguably India’s best bowler, is brought back into the attack as Rohit Sharma senses the opportune moment to nip out a couple more wickets.
Glenn Maxwell defends the first two deliveries then ducks underneath a sharp bouncer which gets signalled wide. The Indian quick tries to rough Maxwell up again and gives up another wide before Maxwell misses out on a full toss.
The last delivery brings two to get Maxwell moving again. Four from the over.
Australia 119-5 (30), Maxwell 4, Green 0, Jadeja 3-18 (6)
11:58 , Mike Jones
That is an exceptional over from Ravindra Jadeja. Two wickets from it and Australia are in a whole heap of trouble. One more wicket and India are into the Australian bowlers.
Wicket! Alex Carey lbw Ravindra Jadeja 0 (2), Australia 119-5 (29.4)
11:57 , Mike Jones
... And is out on the second!
Alex Carey plays all around the ball as he looks to work it into the legside. It rattles into his pads and the umpire raises his finger for lbw.
Australia’s hole gets a little deeper. Jadeja is on fire.
Australia 119-4 (29.3), Maxwell 4, Carey 0, Jadeja 2-18 (5.3)
11:55 , Mike Jones
Consistent wickets falling mean that Australia haven’t managed to get a hold of this innings and turn the screw on the Indians. They need a big partnership but the spinners are keeping things incredibly tight.
Alex Carey is the new batter and Rohit Sharma sticks a short fine leg in immediately. He defends the first ball...
Wicket! Marnus Labuschagne ct KL Rahul b Ravindra Jadeja 27 (41), Australia 119-4 (29.2)
11:51 , Mike Jones
Another one! Marnus Labuschagne has to go now after trying to sweep Ravindra Jadeja out of the ground. A thin edge clips the bat of the Australian number four and KL Rahul takes a superb, sharp catch behind the stumps.
The Aussies are in real trouble now.
Australia 118-3 (29), Maxwell 3, Labuschagne 27, Kuldeep 1-27 (7)
11:48 , Mike Jones
From this point if Australia score at 6 runs-per-over they’ll only manage a total of 244. You don’t think that would be enough for them to defend.
Kuldeep continues and so does the Australian accummulation. Four singles and a two come from the over. That’s the minimum six runs that the Aussies require.
Australia 112-3 (28), Maxwell 1, Labuschagne 23, Jadeja 1-17 (5)
11:42 , Mike Jones
Glenn Maxwell is the new batter and he could change the outlook of this innings if he gets in. Maxwell scores quickly and could be a crucial counter-attacking cog for the Australians.
He’s off the mark immediately before Labuschagne takes a single. A wicket and two runs from the over.
Wicket! Steve Smith b. Ravindra Jadeja 46 (71), Australia 110-3 (27.1)
11:40 , Mike Jones
What a ripper!
Jadeja comes round the wicket to Steve Smith and angles the ball into the right hander. Smith plays down the correct line but the ball grips and spins past his outside edge dislodging the off stump bail and sending Smith back to the pavilion.
Australia 110-2 (27), Smith 46, Labuschagne 22, Jadeja 0-15 (4)
11:38 , Mike Jones
The atmosphere is bouncing around the ground with India in control of this innings. There aren’t many Australian’s in the crowd, understandably, and the dancing and partying will be a joy for the Indian fielders to see.
Australia 110-2 (27), Smith 46, Labuschagne 22, Kuldeep 1-21 (6)
11:35 , Mike Jones
Here comes Kuldeep Yadav.
Australia will need to start thinking about increasing the run-rate but it’s really difficult to get the spinners away. Marnus Labuschagne misses out on a late cut and seems deep in thought about how to handle the left-arm leg spinner.
That’s inventive. Labuschagne decides to reverse sweep Kuldeep but some good fielding from Ashwin at short third man keeps it down to one.
Smith drops to one knee and swivels the ball into the legside for one more before Labuschagne ramps Kuldeep fine for two. The Aussies are starting to open up a bit now.
India’s fielding has been superb today and Hardik continues the trend with a one-handed stop to deny Labuschagne a boundary through cover.
Smith ends the over with one, six from it.
Australia 104-2 (26), Smith 44, Labuschagne 18, Jadeja 0-15 (4)
11:28 , Mike Jones
Close! Steve Smith chips the ball down the ground as he tries to increase the tempo. At long off Mohammed Siraj is too slow to react to the ball and it bounces short of him when he comes storming forward from the boundary rope.
The ball continues to get stuck in the wicket and Labuschagne is too early on the ball. He mistimes a couple before taking one.
Australia 102-2 (25), Smith 43, Labuschagne 17, Siraj 0-17 (5)
11:25 , Mike Jones
Australia pass 100 with a couple for Marnus Labuschagne who pulls Siraj into the legside. He then leans onto a whip through midwicket for one more and is starting to look at home on this tricky wicket.
Just four runs come from the over.
Australia 98-2 (24), Smith 42, Labuschagne 14, Jadeja 0-13 (3)
11:20 , Mike Jones
Steve Smith edges ever closer to a half-century as he continues to milk the Jadeja for ones.
Four runs come from four deliveries before Labuschagne finds the fielder at midwicket. The last ball of Jadeja’s third over brings one more but it is still just five from the over.
Australia 93-2 (23), Smith 40, Labuschagne 12, Siraj 0-13 (4)
11:17 , Mike Jones
Another change in bowling now sees Mohammed Siraj brought back into the attack. His first spell was a decent one but the reintroduction of pace bowling may allow Austalia to increase the run-rate.
Smith defends the first ball before guiding the second down the third man for a single. Marnus Labuschagne plays the same shot but angles it fine of Ravi Ashwin on the boundary meaning he can sprint back for a second run.
A pull shot brings him another run but Siraj’s return is strong with just four from it.
Australia 89-2 (22), Smith 39, Labuschagne 9, Jadeja 0-9 (2)
11:12 , Mike Jones
Jadeja is a little quicker through the air than Kuldeep and prefers to angle the ball into the pads of the right-handers. He gets through his overs quickly and leaves the batters no moment to gather themselves and think about the next ball.
Just one comes from his over.
Australia 88-2 (21), Smith 38, Labuschagne 9, Kuldeep 1-15 (5)
11:09 , Mike Jones
The run-rate has been pretty consistent over the first 20 overs, hovering a touch over 4 runs-per-over.
Kuldeep throws one wide to Smith who misses out on a cut shot and looks up to the heavens in disbelief. He then gets off strike leaving Labuschagne four deliveries.
A smoking cut shot is drilled to the fielder at point and Labuschagne misses out on a potential boundary. He takes one with a risky sweep shot before Smith pulls the ball into deep midwicket for one more.
Australia 85-2 (20), Smith 36, Labuschagne 8, Jadeja 0-8 (1)
11:05 , Mike Jones
Rohit Sharma wants to get his third spinner into the attack so on comes Ravindra Jadeja for a bowl. India have put the pressure on Australia and what they don’t want to do is relinquish it with a change of bowling.
Two singles sees the batters ease into the over before Labuschagne rolls onto the back foot and guides the ball wide of Ravi Ashwin for four runs!
That’s a needed boundary.
Another two runs come from the rest of the over and Australia get themselves moving on the scorecard again.
Australia 77-2 (19), Smith 34, Labuschagne 2, Kuldeep 1-12 (4)
11:01 , Mike Jones
Labuschagne flicks the ball into midwicket for one as Kuldeep repeatedly targets the stumps.
There’s no release shot for the Aussies right now and Rohit decides to compound the issue by moving into the gap at square leg to cut out that easy run.
Smith blocks out the rest of the over. One from it.
Australia 76-2 (18), Smith 34, Labuschagne 1, Ashwin 0-24 (6)
10:57 , Mike Jones
Rohit Sharma may decide to bowl Ravi Ashwin out here as the off-spinner is controlling the tempo of Australia’s innings quite well.
He gets the ball to grip and spin past the outside of Steve Smith’s bat before Smith awkwardly scoops the ball into the legside for one.
Marnus Labushagne gets off the mark with a single of his own. India are strangling Australia a bit now.
Australia 74-2 (17), Smith 33, Labuschagne 0, Kuldeep 1-11 (3)
10:54 , Mike Jones
Kuldeep Yadav gets the breakthrough and brings Marnus Labuschagne to the crease. He feels his way into the innings with three dot balls to finish off a wonderful over from the leg-spinner.
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