1st ODI: Rohit Sharma 171* sets base for India’s 309

Rohit Sharma continued his affinity for Australian bowling attacks ODIs – he now averages 68.46 against them in 19 innings – with a well-compiled century in the series opener at the WACA in Perth on Tuesday. His effort surpassed the previous best individual score by an Indian at the venue, the 77 scored in 2012 by Virat Kohli who was his partner in a stand of 207 that formed the platform for a total of 309/3 against a bowling attack that featured two debutants, James Faulkner in his first international game since he was Man of the Match in the World Cup final last year, and just Glenn Maxwell as the spinning option.

Scott Boland and Joel Paris found international cricket a tough nut to crack – they combined for 127 of India’s total in 18 overs – while only Josh Hazlewood emerged unscathed with 1/41 from his quota. Rohit’s unbeaten 171 is the highest score by any batsman against Australia in Perth and helped India to their highest total in the country.

MS Dhoni opted to bat under grey skies but as the sun crept out, India’s second-wicket pair flourished against a freshly assembled bowling unit that erred in searching for swing when there was none. A couple of half-volleys on the stumps from Hazlewood got Rohit purring immediately, and then he pulled Joel Paris for six over backward square leg in the fourth over. A steady supply of over-pitched deliveries and full tosses from Australia’s seamers helped Rohit tick along fluently – he scored 96 runs between midwicket and long-on with a flourish of the wrists – and with swing not forthcoming, the batsmen cashed in on the regular gifts.

Short-of-a-length deliveries were generally defended or left alone, with the odd tip-and-run to keep the fielders interested. Five genuinely short balls were bowled in the first 21 overs, one smacked for six, two gloved over Matthew Wade for four, one well pulled for three and another claiming an out-of-sorts Shikhar Dhawan for nine, caught at long leg off Hazlewood.

That wicket of an almost disinterested Dhawan during the seventh over, coming just after Steven Smith adjusted his field for the bouncer, was followed by the partnership that fuelled India’s push towards 300. Aware that there was no lateral movement or much bounce in the track, Kohli was quick to get forward and press through the line, his first four boundaries coming off sweetly struck shots to half-volleys. These fluent shots put him on the way to a punchy 91, his first fifty-plus score in five innings in Australia since he opened the World Cup with 107 versus Pakistan last February.

The pair ran well between the wickets, always alert to quick singles nut never attempting anything reckless. A brief period of control from Australia’s bowlers was snapped when Rohit heaved Marsh to cow corner for a mistimed six, and within moments he charged down to Maxwell to collect six more over long-off. Not letting any bowler settle was another critical aspect of this partnership, and indeed Kohli’s perky innings.

His fifty came up off 61 balls with a six over fine leg off Scott Boland, taking the score to 163/1 after 32 overs. Rohit spent 15 deliveries in the 90s before he tapped Paris for a single to get to his hundred off 122 balls, and yet India still scored at over six during this period. Rohit provided the acceleration with six off Paris followed by three nonchalant leg-side boundaries off Boland in the 40th over, which prompted Kohli to attack Mitchell Marsh in the third Powerplay. He fell for 91 off 97 balls in pursuit of quick runs, which ushered in Dhoni for a cameo of 18 off 12 balls.

Boland continued to serve up full tosses to Rohit and was clattered for two sixes in the 48th over, and the last over cost 14 with the opener collecting his seventh six. This 310 will take some chasing from the world champions.