Rohit’s unbeaten 171 sets Australia 310 for victory

Final score: Australia 310/5 in 49.2 overs beat India 309/3 in 50 overs by five wickets. The first test match was played at PCA Stadium in Mohali which India won by 108 runs.

Rohit smashed 13 fours and cleared the boundary seven times to the delight of the large contingent of Indian fans at the ground.

The hosts’ centurions were generally untroubled thereafter on a true surface, Smith appearing in superb touch as he gradually raised his tempo to record a new career-best ODI score from 135 deliveries. Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma shared 207 run second wicket partnership which was broken when Kohli got out after scoring 91.

Rohit’s 163-ball knock was the highest score by a visiting batsman against Australia, overtaking West Indies batting great Viv Richards’ unbeaten 153 in 1979 in Melbourne. But it was Bailey who took charge of proceedings and Smith joined in soon.

Bailey eventually fell when he tried to smash another six off Ashwin and was caught on the boundary by Bhuvneshwar Kumar but Smith continued his incredible vein of form.

Smith-Bailey produced a splendid 242-run partnership for the third wicket before Bailey was dismissed in the 42nd over to reduce the hosts at 263/3.

The Australians are expected to be more comfortable batting in the second innings than they were bowling in the first innings, with experienced campaigners like David Warner, Steve Smith and David Warner at the crease, compared to their relatively inexperienced bowling line up. “All over Australia you will find pitches that assist the fast bowlers, but the spinners also get a bit more bounce”. The pair stole runs by maintain first-class running between the wickets. The match began in warm, overcast conditions after a brief shower, which seemed likely to suit an Australian pace attack that included two players on debut ” Joel Paris and Victorian Scott Boland.

Team India will look to get their combination right as they renew their fierce rivalry against a confident Australia here, marking the onset of a long limited-overs schedule stretching until the World T20.

With the dismissal kohli, skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni (18) scored a couple being out caught off the bowling of Faulkner.

Australia have now taken a 1-0 lead in the five-match series, and the next game of the series will be played at the Gabba, Brisbane on Friday.