India began their preparations for the 2015 World Cup on a positive note as opener Rohit Sharma propelled India to safety at the half-way mark with 267-8 runs on the board. Rohit Sharma scored his sixth ODI hundred and got out for a classy knock of 138 off 139 balls, the knock which overshadowed some top notch bowling Mitchell Starc, who ended his spell with figures of 6-43.
Choosing to bat after winning the toss, India lost opener Shikhar Dhawan in the very first over as he was caught by Aaron Finch in the slip cordon off the bowling of Mitchell Starc. Rahane looked good in his short stay that was ended by debutant Gurinder Sandhu. Test captain Virat Kohli too didn’t last long as India were reduced to 59-3 at the end of 13 overs. Suresh Raina joined Rohit Sharma at the crease as the duo started the repair works.
The duo batted sensibly as they rotated the strike and scored boundaries against the run of play which did not let the run rate dip. Both Rohit and Raina reached their respective fifties before Raina got out to a loose shot to offer Glenn Maxwell a sitter off Starc ending the 126 run partnership for the fourth wicket. Rohit continued his good form and reached his century with a outside edge to the third man region. MS Dhoni got out at a wrong time for 19 which triggered a late collapse for India. Akshar Patel got out a couple of balls later. Rohit in the company of Ashwin added some quick runs before Starc struck again to dismiss Rohit and Bhuvneshwar Kumar off successive balls. India, somehow managed to score 267 at the end of 50 overs.
Starc was the pick of the Aussie bowlers with figures of 6-43 while Raina’s 51 backed Rohit’s 138 in the Indian innings. Now Australia have to chase down 268 in fifty overs to reach the finals of the Carlton-Mid ODI series.