Shreyas Iyer Struggles vs. Hazlewood; Marsh Enters Australia’s Six-Hitting Elite
In the first ODI held at the Optus Stadium in Perth, India’s vice-captain Shreyas Iyer struggled against Australia’s Josh Hazlewood, who has proven to be a challenging opponent for him over the years. The match occurred on October 19, where Iyer came in to bat with India facing a precarious situation at 25 for 3 after losing the toss.
Shreyas Iyer’s Ongoing Struggles
Shreyas Iyer faced difficulties early in his innings. Battling through turbulent conditions, he scored just 11 runs from 24 balls before getting dismissed by a short delivery from Hazlewood. This dismissal highlighted a continuing trend; Hazlewood has dismissed Iyer seven times in 13 innings across formats, marking him as a significant obstacle in Iyer’s ODI career.
Iyer’s Performance Against Hazlewood
Under seaming conditions, Iyer’s record against Hazlewood is notably weak. He has faced 57 balls from the Australian bowler, managing only 55 runs at an average of 18.33. His struggles against Hazlewood reflect the broader challenges faced by India’s top order in this ODI.
Australia’s Mitchell Marsh Enters Elite Six-Hitting Club
While Iyer battled in the middle, Australia’s stand-in captain Mitchell Marsh enjoyed a stellar outing, becoming the eighth Australian to hit over 100 sixes in ODIs. Marsh’s explosive performance helped Australia chase down a revised target of 131 runs, set by the DLS method.
Six-Hitting Milestone
- Marsh’s six-hitting tally now stands at 102.
- He joins an elite list of Australian players, including:
- Ricky Ponting – 159 sixes
- Glenn Maxwell – 155 sixes
- Adam Gilchrist – 148 sixes
- Shane Watson – 131 sixes
- David Warner – 130 sixes
- Aaron Finch – 129 sixes
- Andrew Symonds – 102 sixes
Marsh showcased his power-hitting ability with several boundaries, including three sixes off different bowlers. This previous success fueled Australia to a comfortable position, contributing to a comprehensive performance amid challenging conditions.
With this match, the ongoing rivalry between Iyer and Hazlewood might warrant closer observation as India’s next outings in the series unfold.
