Australia’s reserve pace bowlers and recalled batters shocked India by 34 runs at the SCG, where even Rohit Sharma’s 133-run knock couldn’t overhaul the hosts’ 288-5 in the ODI series opener.

Desperate to shore up a World Cup defence that looked in awful shape after three wins from Australia’s past 21 completed ODIs, the selectors made six changes. Usman Khawaja scored 59 during his first ODI in almost two years while Peter Handscomb, playing his first ODI in 15 months, top-scored with 73.

Australia beat India by 34 runs in first one-day international – live! Read more

Debutant Jason Behrendorff and Jhye Richardson, both called up in the absence of rested guns Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood and Pat Cummins, quickly reduced India to 3-4. Behrendorff trapped Shikhar Dhawan lbw for a golden duck then Richardson, who finished with figures of 4-26, removed Virat Kohli and Ambati Rayudu in the space of three balls to make the target look an imposing one.

Sharma countered with his 22nd ODI century, sharing a 137-run stand with MS Dhoni as they threatened to drag the tourists to victory. It was an epic fightback from Dhoni, whose 332 ODIs boasted as much experience as Australia’s entire XI, and Sharma, arguably the best one-day batter in the world. Behrendorff, who was earlier presented his cap by Glenn McGrath, ended the partnership by trapping Dhoni lbw for 51 and the visitors eventually finished at 254-9. Ball-tracking replays confirmed the ball was pitching outside leg stump but Rayudu had already wasted India’s only review.

Richardson blasted out Dinesh Karthik and Ravindra Jadeja but Sharma’s six sixes and continued presence at the crease gave India’s fans, well represented in the 37,556-strong crowd, some hope. The requirement of 75 runs from the final five overs ultimately proved insurmountable and Sharma went down swinging at Marcus Stoinis.

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Earlier, Stoinis smacked an unbeaten 47 off 43 balls as Australia batted out their full 50 overs for just the third time in nine ODIs under Justin Langer. The absence of a collapse was a big tick, especially after Australia slipped to 41-2 when promoted opener Alex Carey joined Finch in the pavilion. Australia failed to find the rope between the start of the 37th over and end of the 43rd over, a stretch that featured 27 runs and the dismissal of Shaun Marsh on 54.

But Australia took 80 runs off the final seven overs as Stoinis and Handscomb delivered what proved to be a winning score.