Smith, Maxwell, bowlers steer Australia to 66-run win in first ODI

David Warner, Steve Smith, Glenn Maxwell and bowlers produced an impressive performance to guide Australia to 66-run win over India in first ODI.

Australia win the first ODI by 66 runs!

SCORECARD: https://t.co/xIpYIYfBLO#AUSvIND pic.twitter.com/tg9aRj7eci

— cricket.com.au (@cricketcomau) November 27, 2020

Batting first, Australia hammered India to all parts of Sydney Cricket Ground as they scored a mammoth 374 for 6 in first innings.

Australia enjoyed perfect batting conditions. Finch belted 114 and shared an opening stand of 156 with David Warner, who made 69 off 75 balls.

Smith had some early luck early before taking charge and hitting 105 off 66 balls with four sixes. He was saved by DRS after a confident appeal for leg before wicket on 15.

Then Shikhar Dhawan badly missed Smith’s miscue on 38 at long on. After Finch raised his 17th ODI century he was out for 114 off 124 balls trying to steer a Jasprit Bumrah lifter behind the wicket in the 40th over.

Glenn Maxwell hit a rumbustious 45 off 19 balls as Australia built a massive total to defend under the evening lights.

India made a fast start, the openers flaying the Aussie attack for 53 before Mayank Agarwal fell to Hazlewood for 22.

Kohli was dropped on one by Adam Zampa at fine leg after top-edging a Pat Cummins lifter.

The reprieve did not last long when the India skipper was cramped by Hazlewood and found Finch at mid-wicket, his night over at 21.

Hazlewood picked up Shreyas Iyer, who failed to get his bat away from a bouncer and skying to Alex Carey for two, leaving the tourists at 80 for three.

Shikhar Dhawan and Hardik Pandya gave India an outside chance of pulling off victory in a 128-run partnership before Dhawan was caught by Mitchell Starc off Zampa for 74.

India’s remaining hope went with Pandya who took on Zampa but failed to clear the rope and was caught by Starc for 90 off 76 balls. Zampa finished with four for 54 off his 10 overs.