Aust chase 268 in ODI, Sharma posts ton

Mitchell Starc captured six wickets and Rohit Sharma scored a classy century as India posted a total of 8-267 in Sunday’s one-day clash at the MCG.

The visitors slumped to 3-59 before Sharma rallied, peeling off 138 runs from 139 balls.

A full toss from Starc was an inappropriate end to the opener’s masterful innings, with Sharma popping up a regulation catch to Glenn Maxwell at midwicket in the 49th over.

Starc rattled Bhuvneshwar Kumar’s stumps with his following delivery.

The left-armer was unable to complete the hat-trick, but finished with career-best figures of 6-43 and extended his stellar form in the tri-series.

Starc, who snared 4-42 in the series opener against England, had Shikhar Dhawan out edging in the opening over.

He sent down a masterful ninth over, capturing the scalps of MS Dhoni and Akshar Patel in a double-wicket maiden that curbed India’s momentum.

But a 300-plus total had been the cards when Sharma powered to three figures off 109 balls, his innings a mix of exquisite timing and lusty hitting.

Sharma’s knock was the highest ODI score by a visiting batsman at the MCG since Sir Viv Richards’ unbeaten 153 in 1979.

The two sides, fresh from a heated four-Test series over summer, were at it again as tempers flared on Sunday.

The flashpoint came following the 23rd over of India’s innings, when Sharma and David Warner came face to face after the Indian batsmen snuck an overthrow.

Umpires John Ward and Kumar Dharmasena intervened to separate Sharma and Warner, while captain George Bailey also attempted to cool things down.

Shane Watson and Sharma exchanged terse words in the following over, but it was nothing compared to Warner’s unsavoury stoush with the star batsman.

Ajinkya Rahane and Virat Kohli both fell to early loose strokes, but Sharma formed a steadying 126-run stand with Suresh Raina.

Debutant Gurinder Sandhu, promoted at the expense of spinner Xavier Doherty, claimed his maiden ODI wicket when Rahane was caught behind.

Raina scored a polished half-century, his downfall coming off a full Starc delivery.

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