Though India started the chase confidently with openers Shikhar Dhawan (45) and Rohit Sharma (34) rushing the total to 76 in the 13th over, Josh Hazlewood broke through to change the momentum. The 2011 winners were eventually skittled out for 233 in 46.5 overs despite skipper MS Dhoni’s run-a-ball late cameo of 65.
The Indians had themselves to blame for the loss as the bowling unit, which had performed admirably till now, failed to deliver when it mattered the most while the batting too crumbled under pressure. In a tough chase, Dhoni provided brief entertainment but the contest was well and truly over by then. It was one such day, when everything fell apart for India.
The Australians conceded the highest total by any team against India in this edition of the mega-event. This was also the only time Indian bowlers failed to take all 10 wickets of the opposition team and the defeat snapped Dhoni and Co’s impressive winning run of 11 matches across two editions. And worst, they were all out for the first time also.
After a poor outing in the field, Virat Kohli could manage just 1 in 12 deliveries before failing to gauge the extra bounce off a Johnson delivery as the ball ballooned in the air to Brad Haddin behind stumps. Rohit (34) got one that was a few notches higher in speed than he thought and before he could bring his bat down properly, Johnson’s delivery cannoned into the stumps.
Earlier, Smith sent the pacers on a leather hunt with a stroke-filled century which came off only 93 balls with 11 boundaries and two sixes. Finch uncharacteristically played the role of sheet anchor, hitting a patient 81 off 111 balls (4x7, 6x1). Johnson later played a blistering cameo, scoring 27 off just nine deliveries which helped Aussies cross the 320-run mark.
The Indians had themselves to blame for the loss as the bowling unit, which had performed admirably till now, failed to deliver when it mattered the most while the batting too crumbled under pressure. In a tough chase, Dhoni provided brief entertainment but the contest was well and truly over by then. It was one such day, when everything fell apart for India.
The Australians conceded the highest total by any team against India in this edition of the mega-event. This was also the only time Indian bowlers failed to take all 10 wickets of the opposition team and the defeat snapped Dhoni and Co’s impressive winning run of 11 matches across two editions. And worst, they were all out for the first time also.
After a poor outing in the field, Virat Kohli could manage just 1 in 12 deliveries before failing to gauge the extra bounce off a Johnson delivery as the ball ballooned in the air to Brad Haddin behind stumps. Rohit (34) got one that was a few notches higher in speed than he thought and before he could bring his bat down properly, Johnson’s delivery cannoned into the stumps.
Earlier, Smith sent the pacers on a leather hunt with a stroke-filled century which came off only 93 balls with 11 boundaries and two sixes. Finch uncharacteristically played the role of sheet anchor, hitting a patient 81 off 111 balls (4x7, 6x1). Johnson later played a blistering cameo, scoring 27 off just nine deliveries which helped Aussies cross the 320-run mark.