Rohit’s brilliance helps India set mammoth target for Aussies

Perth: Opener Rohit Sharma, who seems to like the Australian bowling attack, gave India a fantastic start on the series down under after scoring a brilliant ton to help his side set a huge target of 310 in the opening ODI of the five-match series here at the WACA cricket ground on Tuesday.

Opting to bat first, India scored 309-3, thanks to Rohit for his unbeaten 171 and Virat Kohli, who fell nine short of scoring a hundred.

The 28-year-old batsman, who smashed 13 boundaries and seven sixes, did not let the Aussie bowlers to settle and smashed them to almost all parts of the ground.

After losing opening partner Shikhar Dhawan cheaply for nine runs, Rohit and Kohli (91) steadied the Indian innings by sharing a brilliant partnership of 207-run for the second wicket.

Skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni also contributed significant 18 runs before getting dismissed at the hands of James Faulkner.

For Australia, Faulkner bagged two important wickets while Josh Hazlewood also chipped in with a wicket. (ANI)