Australia started their home ODI series against India in style, securing a seven-wicket win in a rain-affected first match played in Perth today.
Persistent showers disrupted India’s innings, forcing the game to be reduced to 26 overs per side. Batting first, India managed just 136 runs for 9 wickets, with senior players Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli both falling cheaply. KL Rahul top-scored with 38, while Axar Patel contributed 31.
Australia’s bowling attack kept India on the back foot, as Josh Hazlewood, Mitchell Owen, and Matthew Kuhnemann each claimed two wickets.
Under the Duckworth-Lewis-Stern (DLS) method, Australia were set a target of 131 runs in 26 overs. Openers Mitchell Marsh (46 not out)* and Josh Philippe (37) guided the hosts comfortably to victory in just 21.1 overs, sealing the win with seven wickets in hand.
With this emphatic performance, Australia take a 1–0 lead in the three-match ODI series, leaving India with plenty to rethink ahead of the next clash.
