1st ODI: Aaron Finch, Steve Smith centuries boost Australia to 374/6 vs India in Sydney

Aaron Finch blasted his 17^th century and fourth against India while Steve Smith hit a century off just 62 balls, his quickest ever. Combined with an aggressive 69 from David Warner and a brilliant 19-ball blitz of 45 from Glenn Maxwell, Australia notched up a mammoth 374/6 against India in the first ODI at the Sydney Cricket Ground on Friday. It was a magnificent display of batting from the Australians who took the attack to the Indian bowlers, with only Mohammed Shami being the pick of the bowlers with 3/59 from his 10 overs. India will have to pull of the second-highest chase in the history of ODIs if they have to take a 1-0 lead in the series.

Australia won the toss in what was the first men’s international match in Australia ever since the coronavirus pandemic stalled all cricket since March, when Australia and New Zealand last played an ODI at the Sydney Cricket Ground. For the first time, fans were allowed to attend the match at the stadium although at 50 percent capacity. Before the match, there was poignancy and a bit of ritual celebration by both India and Australia.

Both India and Australia players participated in the ‘barefoot circle’ event which acknowledged the aboriginal culture of the country. There was also black arm bands worn and also a moment of silence for the deaths of Phillip Hughes six years ago and for the death of Dean Jones.

After a slow start, it was Warner who broke the shackles with a lovely boundary off Jasprit Bumrah. After struggling for timing and momentum, Finch got going with a boundary off Bumrah and he went past 5000 runs, becoming the 16th Australian player to achieve this feat and second-quickest behind Warner. After negotiating the powerplay overs without much hassles, Finch opened up by hammering Yuzvendra Chahal to the long on fence. Finch and Warner both notched up their fifties and both looked in great touch. Both openers stitched a 150-plus stand for the fourth time against India but Mohammed Shami got the breakthrough as Warner jabbed at a yorker and he was given out on review.

Smith tears India apart

Steve Smith looked in great touch and got going with a strike-rate of over 100 instantly. He opened up in grand style by hitting three boundaries in one over bowled by Ravindra Jadeja. Smith followed it up with two more boundaries off Mohammed Shami as he reached his fifty off just 36 balls. Smith smashed his sixth boundary in 10 balls but Finch reached his century by clipping Yuzvendra Chahal for a couple. It was the Australian skipper's fourth ton against India and first at the Sydney Cricket Ground.

Finch was dropped at short fine leg by Chahal off Bumrah after crossing the milestone and he looked to make India pay by smashing two fours off Bumrah. However, the bowler had his revenge as he edged to KL Rahul and the Australian skipper departed for 114. Smith, on the other hand, smashed boundaries at will and although Marcus Stoinis departed for a golden duck, Steve Smith continued to take the Indian bowlers apart. Smith reached his century off just 62 balls, his quickest and it took his sequence of scores against India read 98,131 and 105. It must be mentioned that Steve Smith hit 105 even in the 2015 ICC Cricket World Cup semi-final against India at the same venue.