MS Dhoni and Kedar Jadhav pull off an unbeatable 141-run partnership to beat Australia by six wickets in the first one-day international on Saturday, in Hyderabad.
India needed 237 for victory when the top order was back in Pavillion at 99/4. But Dhoni and Jadhav’s knock helped India reach the target with 10 balls to spare.
Jadhav made 81 not out – his fifth ODI fifty – off 87 balls, while Dhoni was unbeaten on 59.
Rohit and Kohli gave India a solid start with their 76-run partnership after Nathan Coulter-Nile removed Shikhar Dhawan for a golden duck in the second over. Kohli made 44 while Rohit scored 37.
Dhoni sealed the victory with his sixth boundary off Stoinis, overtaking Rohit Sharma for most sixes for India in ODIs with 216 sixes.
MS Dhoni finishes it off in style.
Kedar Jadhav (81*) and MS Dhoni (59*) hit half-centuries as #TeamIndia win by 6 wickets and take a 1-0 lead in the 5 match ODI series #INDvAUS pic.twitter.com/HHA7FfEDjZ
— BCCI (@BCCI) March 2, 2019
“It was a difficult game. I thought we did really well with the ball. The wicket didn’t offer as much as it did under the lights. Their partnership was outstanding.” Kohli said praising the duo.
Australia only managed to put up a target of 237 for India to chase. Pacers Mohammed Shami and Jasprit Bumrah got a pair of wickets each and Kuldeep Yadav also managed to get two wickets of his own.