Australia Takes 1-0 Lead in ODI Series by Beating India

Oct 20, 2025
Sports

Photo: Australia won the first match of the three-match ODI series by defeating India (Courtesy)

Staff Reporter | PNN:

Australia won the first match of the three-match ODI series against India, taking a 1-0 lead. The match, held in Perth, was affected by rain and played as a reduced-overs game. Australia secured a 7-wicket victory to lead the series.

On Sunday (19 October), Australian captain Mitchell Marsh, winning the toss, sent India to bat. India’s star batsman Virat Kohli returned to ODI cricket after seven months, but his comeback was disappointing. He was dismissed by Mitchell Starc without scoring.

Indian opener Rohit Sharma also struggled, scoring just 8 runs off 14 balls. From the start, Australian bowlers applied pressure on the Indian batters. Due to rain interruptions, the match was reduced from 50 overs to 26 overs per side.

In 26 overs, India managed 136 runs for 9 wickets. Lokesh Rahul scored 38 runs off 31 balls, and Axar Patel scored 31 off 38 balls. For Australia, Josh Hazlewood, Mitchell Waugh, and Matthew Kuhnemann took 2 wickets each.

Under the Duckworth-Lewis method, Australia’s revised target was 131 runs. Chasing the target, Australia lost an early wicket, with Travis Head dismissed after scoring 8 runs off 5 balls.

Mitchell Marsh and Matthew Short then formed a 34-run partnership to steady the innings. Short was dismissed for 8 runs off 17 balls, and after Josh Philippe scored 37 runs, Australia formed a 55-run partnership to move toward victory.

Finally, Mitchell Marsh, remaining unbeaten on 46 runs off 52 balls, ensured the win along with Matt Renshaw, who scored 21 runs off 24 balls, with 29 balls to spare. For India, Arshdeep Singh, Axar Patel, and Washington Sundar took one wicket each.