India vs Australia 2020-21: Australia draw first blood, India suffer 66-run defeat in Sydney ODI

First Published Nov 27, 2020, 6:09 PM IST

This was India's first international match in the prevailing pandemic era. It was also their fourth consecutive loss in the format, having lost the previous three to New Zealand. India are the defending champions of the series, having won it 2-1 during their last visit in 2018-19.

<p>India made a tough comeback to international cricket in the prevailing pandemic era, as they succumbed to a 66-run defeat at the hands of Australia in the opening One-Day International (ODI), at the Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG), on Friday. The match was highlighted by blistering twin centuries from Australian skipper Aaron Finch and Steve Smith, as we take a look at the records scripted.</p>

India made a tough comeback to international cricket in the prevailing pandemic era, as they succumbed to a 66-run defeat at the hands of Australia in the opening One-Day International (ODI), at the Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG), on Friday. The match was highlighted by blistering twin centuries from Australian skipper Aaron Finch and Steve Smith, as we take a look at the records scripted.

<p><strong>Finch is second fastest to 5,000:</strong> Finch played a memorable innings of 114, while he also scored 5,000 runs in the ODIs. Consequently, he became the second-fastest Australian to do so, in 126 innings, while the record is held by his opening partner David Warner, who did so in 115 innings.</p>

Finch is second fastest to 5,000: Finch played a memorable innings of 114, while he also scored 5,000 runs in the ODIs. Consequently, he became the second-fastest Australian to do so, in 126 innings, while the record is held by his opening partner David Warner, who did so in 115 innings.

<p><strong>Finch scripts a special one:</strong> Finch scored his 16th ODI century today. Meanwhile, it was also his sixth century in the format as ODI captain. Consequently, he has now scored the second-most centuries as the skipper, while the record is held by Ricky Ponting (21).</p>

Finch scripts a special one: Finch scored his 16th ODI century today. Meanwhile, it was also his sixth century in the format as ODI captain. Consequently, he has now scored the second-most centuries as the skipper, while the record is held by Ricky Ponting (21).

<p><strong>Finch and Warner dominate against India:</strong> The opening pair of Finch and Warner contributed to a 156-run stand. In the process, they became the most dominant opening pair, to score the most 150-plus ODI stand against a team. The pair have put up for such stands to date against India, going past the previous record of Rohit Sharma-Virat Kohli against Sri Lanka and Rohit-Shikhar Dhawan against Australia. The pair has also scored the third-most runs against India (1,100-plus), while the record lies with Greenidge-Haynes (1,407).</p>

Finch and Warner dominate against India: The opening pair of Finch and Warner contributed to a 156-run stand. In the process, they became the most dominant opening pair, to score the most 150-plus ODI stand against a team. The pair have put up for such stands to date against India, going past the previous record of Rohit Sharma-Virat Kohli against Sri Lanka and Rohit-Shikhar Dhawan against Australia. The pair has also scored the third-most runs against India (1,100-plus), while the record lies with Greenidge-Haynes (1,407).

<p><strong>Chahal scripts an unwanted one:</strong> Indian leg-spinner Yuzvendra Chahal had a tough outing, giving away 89 runs for just a wicket. As a result, it was also the most runs conceded by an Indian spinner in an ODI, as he went past his own record of 88, against England last year.</p>

Chahal scripts an unwanted one: Indian leg-spinner Yuzvendra Chahal had a tough outing, giving away 89 runs for just a wicket. As a result, it was also the most runs conceded by an Indian spinner in an ODI, as he went past his own record of 88, against England last year.

<p><strong>India concede third-highest total:</strong> Australia posted a mammoth total of 374/6, today. Consequently, it happened to be the third-highest total against India in the format, with the highest being 438/4 by South Africa in 2015.</p>

India concede third-highest total: Australia posted a mammoth total of 374/6, today. Consequently, it happened to be the third-highest total against India in the format, with the highest being 438/4 by South Africa in 2015.

<p><strong>India score a fastest:</strong> India managed to achieve their opening 50 runs in just 26 deliveries. In the process, they scored their fastest opening 50 in the format.</p>

India score a fastest: India managed to achieve their opening 50 runs in just 26 deliveries. In the process, they scored their fastest opening 50 in the format.

<p><strong>Zampa nails it with his spin:</strong> Although spinner Adam Zampa was at the receiving end of Hardik Pandya, he did get his number, along with three other, as he finished with figures of 4/54. It happened to be his second-best spell in the format, while his best happens to be 4/43 against Pakistan last year.</p>

Zampa nails it with his spin: Although spinner Adam Zampa was at the receiving end of Hardik Pandya, he did get his number, along with three other, as he finished with figures of 4/54. It happened to be his second-best spell in the format, while his best happens to be 4/43 against Pakistan last year.

<p><strong>First unwanted for India since 2016:</strong> India succumbed to a 66-run defeat today. Meanwhile, it was also their fourth consecutive loss in the format, which happens to be the first time since January 2016.</p>

First unwanted for India since 2016: India succumbed to a 66-run defeat today. Meanwhile, it was also their fourth consecutive loss in the format, which happens to be the first time since January 2016.

<p><strong>Highest aggregate total in Australia:</strong> The match saw a total of 682 runs being scored. Incidentally, it also became the second-highest aggregate total in Australia, after 688 against Sri Lanka, in 2015.</p>

Highest aggregate total in Australia: The match saw a total of 682 runs being scored. Incidentally, it also became the second-highest aggregate total in Australia, after 688 against Sri Lanka, in 2015.

<p><strong>Match report:</strong> Winning the toss, Australian skipper Aaron Finch elected to bat first on a flat track. The openers were off to an explosive start, as they managed to score 156 within 28 overs. It was followed by twin centuries from Finch (114) and Smith (105), as they posted a humongous total of 374/6. In reply, India were off to the right start, but the top middle-order batsmen lost their wickets in haste, piling more pressure on the lower middle-order batsmen.</p>

<p><strong>Brief scores: Australia 374/6 (Finch- 114, Smith 105; Shami 3/59) beat India 308/8 (Dhawan 74, Pandya 90; Zampa 4/54) by 66 runs.</strong></p>

Match report: Winning the toss, Australian skipper Aaron Finch elected to bat first on a flat track. The openers were off to an explosive start, as they managed to score 156 within 28 overs. It was followed by twin centuries from Finch (114) and Smith (105), as they posted a humongous total of 374/6. In reply, India were off to the right start, but the top middle-order batsmen lost their wickets in haste, piling more pressure on the lower middle-order batsmen.

Brief scores: Australia 374/6 (Finch- 114, Smith 105; Shami 3/59) beat India 308/8 (Dhawan 74, Pandya 90; Zampa 4/54) by 66 runs.