Indian wicketkeeper-batsman Mahendra Singh Dhoni is in sensational form since the beginning of 2019. First, he helped India win the series decider against Australia in Melbourne, where he scored three half-centuries in three matches. Now, he rescued India’s ship from the spot of bother during the first One-Day International against Australia in Hyderabad.
Chasing 237, India was reeling at 99/4 but from there on Dhoni and Kedar Jadhav shared an unbeaten 141 run stand for the fifth wicket and helped India to win the game by six wickets. Hence, India took an early lead in the five-match ODI series.
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After witnessing Dhoni’s magic, Australian bowler Nathan Coulter-Nile couldn’t stop himself from praising the legend. After the conclusion of Hyderabad ODI, he said “Some things didn’t go our way. MS chipped the ball right in front of the fielders a couple of times but he played a hell of an innings. Credit to India for batting really well.”
He further added “India is 1-0 up in the series so they’ve got the upper hand, but I think it was a really closely fought game. We played well, they played better in the end, but the teams were close and the next four games should be even tighter.”
Australian leggie Adam Zampa was the wrecker in chief as he dismissed Virat Kohli and Ambati Rayudu during the middle overs. From being 80/1, Zampa reduced India to 99/4 but Dhoni and Jadhav’s calmness avoid any further hiccups.
Counter-Nile praised Zampa saying “Zamps (Zampa) bowled well and got a couple of big wickets for us, but it’s just some things that didn’t go our way,” he added. “I thought Stoinis up top was fantastic, he batted really beautifully (as well), played within himself and was probably a bit unlucky to get out the way he did.”
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“Shaun Marsh will come back from the sidelines, though, at some point so how that restructures our batting line-up, I’m not quite sure, so that’s one for the coaches (to decide). But our boys are too good to be going through dry spells for long like Finchie (Aaron Finch).”
Coulter-Nile then talked about the in-form Mohammad Shami, who returned with figures of 2/44 on the day to continue from where he left in New Zealand.
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“I think Shami is a fantastic bowler. I think he’s quality everywhere he bowls. It was really hard to get his Yorkers away towards the end of the innings. We know he’s a quality bowler just like the rest of the Indian bowlers,” he concluded.
The second ODI will be played on March 5 (Tuesday) in Nagpur’s Vidarbha Cricket Association ground.
