Mitchell Stark equaled the Australian ODI record in his 10-wicket crushing India
Mitchell Stark equaled the record of five ODI openings by an Australian bowler as the tourists demolished India by 10 wickets in Visakhapatnam.
The left winger took 5-53, his ninth five-wicket return in 50-plus cricket and matching Brett Lee’s feat, to help India run out for just 117 from 26 overs after they were put into cricket.
Opening for Australia, Mitchell Marsh and Travis Head then attacked the Indians bowlers as they cruised to victory in just 11 runs – the 234 uncapped deliveries making it the largest margin of defeat ever in one-day cricket.
Shubman Gill was out for a duck in Starc’s first over, and although Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli added 29, it proved to be India’s highest innings partnership as their collapse accelerated.
Starc picked up two wickets in as many balls, with Rohit caught in slip and Suryakumar trapped Yadav lbw before Lokesh Rahul left in the same fashion.
Sean Abbott (3-23) and Nathan Ellis (2-13) provided ample support, the latter removing Kohli for 31 from his 35 deliveries, although Aksar Patel’s unbeaten 29 runs in a single innings saw India swept over the 100 mark.
But Abbott helped off the tail, dismissing Kuldip Yadav and Mohd Shami in successive balls before Stark returned to complete his five-wicket by bowling Mohd Siraj for a duck.
Any hopes of batting India were quickly stifled by Marsh, who reached 81 in the opening of the series and maintained that form by blazing 66 from 36 overs, including six fours and fours.
The opening half century from 28 deliveries displayed, while Head’s progression was slightly more subdued as he smashed 51 not out from 30, including 10 fours.
The crushing victory for Australia lifts the three-match series up, with the deciding match taking place on Wednesday in Chennai.
