Australia savaged by cricket fans after 'terrible' scenes against India

Another day, another shocking batting collapse for Australia in India. This time, it came in the series-opening ODI cricket match in Mumbai, as the Aussies threw away a promising start and crashed to a five-wicket defeat.

India overcame a scintillating spell from Mitchell Starc (3-49), who combined with Marcus Stoinis (2-27) to rip through India's batting attack, before a late rally got the hosts home with 61 balls to spare. Mitch Marsh top-scored with 81 off 65 balls to set Australia up for what should have been a competitive total.

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However, a disastrous middle order collapse saw the Aussies lose their last six wickets for just 19 runs, as they were bowled out for just 188 runs. It was an all-too familiar sight for Australia's batters on this tour of India, with similarly worrying collapses seen in the recently completed four-match Test series between the two cricket powerhouses.

Marsh cracked 10 fours and five sixes to set an excellent platform for Australia after the visitors were sent in to bat. But Marsh's departure in the 20th over resulted in a stunning collapse of 8-59 as Australia slipped from 2-129 to be all out in 35.4 overs.

Josh Inglis (26), Steve Smith (22), Marnus Labuschagne (15) and Cameron Green (12) all made starts without looking entirely comfortable.

Glenn Maxwell, playing his first international match since breaking his left leg in November, was out for eight after his attempted slog went awry. India paceman Mohammed Shami was the chief destroyer with 3-17 off six overs, while Mohammed Siraj snared 3-29.

"We weren't expecting this when we rocked up, they're usually pretty big scores here," Australia's stand-in skipper Steve Smith said. "I thought India bowled really well. We probably left a few out there.

"I think if we got up over 250 it could have been an interesting game. We were one partnership away from them beating us, and Jadeja and Rahul showed how to do it."

The cricket world was equally as perplexed by Australia's epic collapse. Many fans described the scenes as "terrible" and were left gobsmacked by the drastic nature of the Aussie collapse, after such a blistering start.

India cruise to victory after shocking start

India's chase got off to a horrible start, with the hosts reeling at 4-39 and 5-83 after Starc and Stoinis rattled through their batting lineup. However, a 108-run stand between KL Rahul (75no off 91 balls) and Ravindra Jadeja (45no off 69 balls) steered India to what was a comfortable victory in the end. The result gave India a 1-0 lead in the three-match series, with game two to be played in Visakhapatnam on Sunday.

Stoinis struck in the second over to remove Ishan Kishan lbw for three, before a devastating spell from Starc put the visitors on top. The left-arm quick trapped superstar Virat Kohli (four) lbw with a peach of a delivery, then sent Suryakumar Yadav packing on the very next ball to reduce the hosts to 3-16.

Rahul negotiated the hat-trick ball with a beautiful cover drive for four, but Starc wasn't done with yet. Shubman Gill (20) was on two when he was dropped by wicketkeeper Josh Inglis off the bowling of Starc.

Starc eventually got his man, with Marnus Labuschagne taking a sharp catch. By that stage, Starc had figures of 3-20.

When stand-in skipper Hardik Pandya (25) hooked Stoinis to Cameron Green in the deep, India were 5-83 and looking shaky. But from there Rahul and Jadeja took control of the match, with their steady partnership ensuring India cruised to victory.

with AAP

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