MELBOURNE, Australia (AP) – Aaron Finch made 96 to lead Australia to a four-wicket win over India Sunday in a tri-series One-Day cricket match shaped by the innings of two opening batsmen.
Rohit Sharma earlier made 138, batting for 49 overs and adding 126 with Suresh Raina, to steer India to 267 for eight as they batted first at the Melbourne Cricket Ground after winning the toss.
Mitchell Starc took a career-best six for 43 to limit India.
Australia’s innings developed along strikingly similar lines: Finch opened and played the anchor, sharing a 101-run third-wicket partnership with Steve Smith that carried Australia within sight of victory.
Finch and Smith were out within three balls of each other around the 40th over and Australia lost two more wickets before it reached 269 for six with an over to spare.
Summarised scores:
India 267-8 (Rohit Sharma 138, Suresh Raina 51; Mitchell Starc 6-43). Australia 269-6 (Aaron Finch 96, Steve Smith 47, Shane Watson 41; Umesh Yadav 2-55). Australia won by four wickets.