In-form Mitchell Starc was breathing fire again as he ran through India’s top-order and helped Australia bundle out hosts for a paltry 117. No Indian batter could play an anchor role as Starc picked up a fifer at Visakhapatnam on March 19.
Another left-armer haunted 15 years ago
This is India’s lowest ODI total in home conditions against Australia. Their previous lowest against the Aussies at home was 148 at Vadodra in 2007. Like Starc, former Australian left-arm pacer Mitchell Johnson picked up five wickets for just 26 runs as apart from Sachin Tendulkar no other Indian batter could pose a threat.
Fourth lowest at home
This is India’s fourth lowest ODI total at home. Their lowest at home came against Sri Lanka in Kanpur in 1986. Kapil Dev-led India got all out for 78 in the run chase of 196. Their second-lowest total came in Ahmedabad against West Indies in 1993. The Mohammad Azharuddin-led side got bundled out for 100 in run chase of 170 (revised target). Their third-lowest of 112 came against Sri Lanka at Dharamsala in 2017 where MS Dhoni played a patient 65-run knock.
Starc’s fiery spell
After taking three wickets with the new ball in the first ODI to make run chase tough at Wankhede Stadium, Starc was on fire again. He started off with the wicket of opener Shubman Gill in his first over. In his third over, he got the wickets of Rohit Sharma and Suryakumar Yadav off consecutive deliveries. Suryakumar’s dismissal was almost identical to his dismissal in the previous game where he got lbw trying to play an in-swinger. He got out for second consecutive golden duck.
Axar stranded on one end
In his first spell, Starc bowled another in-swinger to trap KL Rahul in front of the stumps. He came back into the attack and got the wicket of Mohammed Siraj to wrap up India's innings and leave Axar Patel stranded on the other end. He took five wickets for 53 runs in eight overs. Sean Abbott took three wickets for 23 runs whereas Nathan Ellis took two wickets for 13 runs as India got all out with 24 overs left in the innings.
