India Vs Australia, 1st ODI, Highlights: Jadhav and Dhoni see Men In Blue home in ODI opener

Hyderabad, March 2: Unbeaten half-centuries from Kedar Jadhav and MS Dhoni sealed a six-wicket victory for India in the opening one-day international against Australia in Hyderabad.

Australia won both Twenty20 Internationals between the sides, but Virat Kohli's side came out on top in the first of five ODIs on Saturday courtesy of an unbroken stand of 141 from Jadhav and Dhoni.

Opener Usman Khawaja (50) was the only Australia batsman to make a half-century in their total of 236-7, with Mohammed Shami (2-44), Jasprit Bumrah (2-60) and Kuldeep Yadav (2-46) taking two wickets apiece.

1st ODI: As it happened

The match was in the balance when Nathan Coulter-Nile and Adam Zampa reduced India to 99-4, but Jadhav and Dhoni came to the rescue with superb knocks of 81 and 59 respectively.

dhoni and federer were born within a month of each other in 1981...here they are, 37 years old, still getting it done...

— Gaurav Kalra (@gauravkalra75) March 2, 2019

Aaron Finch was caught behind off Bumrah without scoring after winning the toss in his 100th ODI, but Khawaja and Marcus Stoinis prevented further early damage from being done.

The excellent Shami and Bumrah kept it tight before Khawaja launched Kuldeep's third ball for six and Stoinis looked well set before whipping Jadhav to Virat Kohli at midwicket, ending a stand of 87.

Kedar Jadhav continues with his lucky charm.... India have won 44 ODIs out of the 55 in which Jadhav has been a part of the ODI team. That's 80% win record - highest for any player in ODIs with 50+ appearances. #INDvAUS @sagarcasm

— Rajneesh Gupta (@rgcricket) March 2, 2019

Khawaja reached his half-century from 74 balls, but was on his way when Vijay Shankar took an excellent catch for Kuldeep and Australia were 133-4 after the spinner removed Peter Handscomb.

Glenn Maxwell - promoted to number five after his Twenty20 heroics - timed the ball sweetly as he struck five boundaries before being cleaned up by Shami, who also bowled Ashton Turner.

India India 🇮🇳 ❤️

— hardik pandya (@hardikpandya7) March 2, 2019

Alex Carey (36 not out) and Nathan Coulter-Nile (28) added 62 for the seventh wicket but the India bowlers did a great job of restricting the tourists to a what appeared to be a below-par total.

Dhoni hai toh mumkin hai.....fourth consecutive 50s against Australia. Timed the run-chase to perfection. His kind of total.... #IndvAus

— Aakash Chopra (@cricketaakash) March 2, 2019

Australia needed to make early inroads and Coulter-Nile removed Shikhar Dhawan, caught at point for a golden duck. However, Rohit Sharma and Kohli steadied the ship in a patient stand.

Rohit rode his luck and took a blow on the arm from Pat Cummins after the more fluent Kohli hooked the paceman for six, but Zampa dealt a big blow to India by trapping the captain leg before for 44.

Coulter-Nile (2-46) struck again to remove the scratchy Rohit (37) and India were 99-4 in the 24th over when Ambati Rayudu edged the impressive Zampa (2-49) behind.

India have already won 3 ODIs this year without any of the top-3 making 50+.

In 20 games last year, there was just one such win.

Good signs, just before the World Cup! #IndvAus

— Bharath Seervi (@SeerviBharath) March 2, 2019

Jadhav and Dhoni dug in on a tricky track, though, and the former captain slapped Coulter-Nile over his head for six to ease the tension, with Jadhav reaching his fifty off 67 balls and bringing up the hundred stand by casually guiding Cummins for four.

Dhoni needed treatment for what appeared to be cramp, yet he looked untroubled as he also passed 50 prior to striking Stoinis for back-to-back boundaries to secure victory with 10 balls to spare.