Shami's worth on view as India beat Australia

Not quite the ease they would have been seeking but India will take a five-wicket win over Australia here on Friday as a good workout. The bowling was on point, the batting recovered after a mid-innings stutter but the message to the dressing room is loud and clear: If fielding and catching doesn't improve then the World Cup could be a distant dream.

- Shalini Gupta

Led by the brilliant Mohammed Shami, who ended with a match haul of 5/51, and Jasprit Bumrah, India restricted Australia to 276 when they could have gotten past 300. The opening pair of Shubman Gill and Ruturaj Gaikwad was quick off the blocks, almost toying with the Aussie bowlers but one wicket led to another till India found themselves in a bit of a spot. When Gill fell to Adam Zampa, 26 short of what would have been a dream century in front of his home crowd, the game threatened to swing towards the visitors. But stand-in skipper KL Rahul (58₹) and Suryakumar Yadav (50) batted with the assurance coach Rahul Dravid was harping upon to round up the win.