Australia dominated India in the opening encounter of the highly-anticipated series, prevailing by 66 runs in the Sydney ODI on Friday. Captain Aaron Finch (114 from 124 balls) and Steve Smith (105 off 66) laid the foundation of mammoth first-innings score of 374-6. India made a spirited start to the chase, reaching 50 in five overs but pacer Josh Hazlewood (3-55) and leg-spinner Adam Zampa (4-54) made the most of a slowing pitch to restrict India to 308-8. Hardik Pandya (90 off 76 balls) was the only Indian batsman to make a serious attempt at chasing down the target. Australia enjoyed perfect batting conditions. Finch belted 114 and shared an opening stand of 156 with David Warner, who made 69 off 75 balls. Smith had some early luck early before taking charge and hitting 105 off 66 balls with four sixes. He was saved by DRS after a confident appeal for leg before wicket on 15. Then Shikhar Dhawan badly missed Smith's miscue on 38 at long on. After Finch raised his 17th ODI century he was out for 114 off 124 balls trying to steer a Jasprit Bumrah lifter behind the wicket in the 40th over. Glenn Maxwell hit a rumbustious 45 off 19 balls as Australia built a massive total to defend under the evening lights. India made a fast start, the openers flaying the Aussie attack for 53 before Mayank Agarwal fell to Hazlewood for 22. Kohli was dropped on one by Adam Zampa at fine leg after top-edging a Pat Cummins lifter. The reprieve did not last long when the India skipper was cramped by Hazlewood and found Finch at mid-wicket, his night over at 21. Two balls later, Hazlewood picked up Shreyas Iyer, failing to get his bat away from a bouncer and skying to Alex Carey for two, leaving the tourists at 80-3. Shikhar Dhawan and Hardik Pandya gave India an outside hope of pulling off victory in a 128-run partnership before Dhawan was caught by Mitchell Starc off Zampa for 74. India's remaining hope went with Pandya who took on Zampa but failed to clear the rope and was caught by Starc for 90.
