India lose by 65 runs in rain-hit ODI

Melbourne, Feb 5 (IBNS) India made a disastrous start to the tri-series losing the first rain-affected ODI against Australia by 65 runs via the Duckworth Lewis Method at the Melbourne Cricket Ground here Sunday.

Australia riding on debutant batsman-wicketkeeper Matthew Wade's 67 and David Hussey's 61 made 261 for five from 32 overs. The match was reduced to 32 overs per side after a three-hour rain delay early in the innings.

Chasing a stiff target, India never got a good start and were dismissed for 151 from 29.4 overs. Clint McKay took 4-20 from 4.4 overs, while Virat Kohli top-scored with 31.

Wade was named man of the match. He was also named man of the match last week in his international Twenty20 debut.

It was a listless performance from India, only two days after they showed marked improvement in the Twenty20 win over Australia.

India made a disastrous start to their innings when Ricky Ponting took a great low catch at gully to snare the vital wicket of Sachin Tendulkar for two. Mitch Starc took his second wicket in the following over when Gautam Gambhir was caught behind for five, leaving the tourists 2-19.

Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma put on 51 to give India some hope before Mckay struck twice in his first over.

Ponting caught Kohli and Rohit was caught behind two balls later for 21, leaving the Indians 4-65.

Earlier in the day after put in, Australia were left struggling at 2-25 before the three-hour rain delay. Captain Michael Clarke (10) was dismissed just after the rain break to leave Australia teetering at 3-49.

Wade and Michael Hussey (45) resurrected the innings quickly with a fourth-wicket stand of 73 runs from just 50 balls. David blasted an unbeaten 61 from 30 balls, with four fours and three sixes while Dan Christian, the other Australian debutant, remained unbeaten on 17.