ICC ODI World Cup 2023 final: Australia walked back for the innings break happily, having contained India to a marginal 240 in the Narendra Modi Stadium on Sunday. After managing to get 80 runs in the first 10 overs, India had to settle for the below-par total as Pat Cummins and co saved their best for the last.
Here is how the opening 10 overs turned out for the Australians, who named an unchanged squad for the summit clash.
ALSO READ | ICC World Cup 2023 final: India's Powerplay recap
Australian openers Travis Head and David Warner handed the five-time champions a dream start by plundering 15 runs in the first over the innings. The two left-handers punished Jasprit Bumrah for three boundaries and a triple. The first ball of the innings witnessed a half-chance wasted when Warner edged a boundary through the slips as Virat Kohli and Shubman Gill stood watching.
1.1 Rohit Sharma opted to go for his star man Mohammed Shami to partner Bumrah with the new ball instead of Mohammed Siraj. The strategy immediately paid off as Warner edged a ball outside off stump towards Virat Kohli at slip. The Indian batting great made no mistake and Warner was dismissed for 7 runs from 3 balls.
It was Shami's 24th scalp of the tournament -- the most by any bowler.
Jasprit Bumrah celebrates a wicket with teammates | Reuters
However, Mitchell Marsh and Head ensured that the over was not a full disaster for their side as they squeezed 11 runs in the next four balls.
4.3 Bumrah gave India a much-needed breakthrough by sending back Mitch Marsh who was looking dangerous. Trying to smash a short and wide delivery, the right-hander ends up giving an easy catch to KL behind the stumps. Marsh scored 15 from 15 balls including a six and a four. Jasprit Bumrah finished the over sans giving a single run to the opposition.
Australia adopted a cautious approach after Marsh's departure and the sixth over from Shami yielded just a single.
Virat Kohli and Ravindra Jadeja celebrate Steve Smith's wicket | Reuters
Bumrah handed Australia another jolt by sending back veteran Steve Smith (4 from 9) in the last ball of the eight-over. Smith fails to read a slow delivery from Bumrah and ends up getting hit in the pads. The umpire rules out and the right-hander walks back sans appealing after consulting his partner. Australia 47/3.
Shami produced six sharp deliveries to produce another maiden over in the batting powerplay.
In the final over the powerplay, Head found a couple of boundaries to take Australia to 60/3.
India bowling 0-10 overs:
M Shami (5-1-33-1)
J Bumrah (5-2-21-2)
