India vs Australia 1st ODI: Finch, Smith tons power Australia to big win over India
The HinduHardik Pandya’s career-best effort wasn’t good enough to compensate for a forgettable bowling effort as India slumped to a 66-run defeat against Australia in the first ODI, making a rather unimpressive start to the tour in Sydney on Friday. Scorecard and ball-by-ball updates Virat Kohli’s men started exactly on a note they wouldn’t have liked, giving away 374 runs in 50 overs with rival captain Aaron Finch and his illustrious predecessor Steve Smith hitting contrasting hundreds. Pandya, who hit seven fours and four sixes, carried his blazing IPL batting form into the first game of the series but it was his fast-medium bowling that Kohli missed on the day as he lacked options when Smith sent his regular bowlers on a leather-hunt. READ| India’s eternal nemesis Smith seems ready to torment them a lot in next two months if his 11 fours and four sixes were any indication on Friday.