Mitchell Marsh steers Australia to big win over India in rain-hit first ODI

Mitchell Marsh hit an unbeaten 46 off 52 balls while Virat Kohli was out for an eight-ball duck as Australia crushed India by seven wickets to spare in a rain-affected ODI series opener in Perth.

Four rain delays totalling three hours and 40 minutes caused havoc as India stuttered to nine for 136 off a reduced 26 overs at Optus Stadium. Under the Duckworth-Lewis-Stern method, Australia required just 131 for victory from their 26 overs, with Marsh and Josh Philippe (37 runs off 29 balls) ensuring the hosts made light work of it.

Marsh struck three sixes and two fours as Australia reached the victory target in 21.1 overs, winning with 29 balls to spare in front of 42,423 fans. Victory gives the host a 1-0 lead in the three-match series and snaps India’s eight-match winning streak in one-day internationals.

Travis Head and Matt Short both fell for eight as Australia slipped to two for 44 in their run chase, but Marsh and Philippe’s 55-run partnership ensured there would be no major dramas. Debutant Matt Renshaw got in on the fun late on with an unbeaten 21 off 24 balls, including the winning single.

Both captains wanted to bowl first under the overcast conditions, but it was Marsh who had the coin toss go his way. Rohit Sharma (eight) was the first to fall when he was caught at second slip off the bowling of Josh Hazlewood (2-20 off seven overs).

Indian fans erupted when Kohli strolled out to the crease, but the veteran superstar lasted just eight balls before striking Mitchell Starc (1-22) to a diving Cooper Connolly at gully. It was in stark contrast to Kohli’s last appearance in Perth 11 months ago, when he struck an unbeaten century in India’s 295-run Test victory.

Virat Kohli walks off after being dismissed for a duck by Mitchell Starc. Photograph: David Woodley/EPA

Alarm bells were ringing at three for 25 when Shubman Gill (10) was caught behind after tickling Nathan Ellis’s first delivery down the leg side. A 12-minute rain break gave India a short respite, before players were forced off again – this time for more than two hours – with the score at three for 37.

Shreyas Iyer struck Hazlewood for four upon the resumption, but he was out a short time later for just 11 when he gloved the Aussie paceman down the leg side for Philippe to take another diving catch, reducing India to four for 45.

Handy runs from KL Rahul (38 off 31 balls), Axar Patel (31 off 38) and debutant Nitish Reddy (19 not out off 11) finally got the scoreboard ticking, but it wasn’t nearly enough to set a competitive total. Renshaw took three catches, while fellow debutant Mitch Owen snared two wickets for 20.

Marsh cramped late in his innings, quipping to the umpire: “It’s either cramp or I’ve done both of my calves,” but recovered to continue his fine recent batting form. Game two will be held in Adelaide on Thursday, with the third and final ODI in Sydney on Saturday, followed by a five-match T20 series.