Mumbai, Jan 14: Skipper Aaron Finch and David Warner smashed unbeaten centuries to help Australia thrash India by 10 wickets in the first ODI of the three-match series here on Tuesday.

Chasing 256 for win, Finch (110 not out) and Warner (124 not out) took the Indian bowlers to the cleaners to register the emphatic win with 74 balls to spare and take a 1-0 lead in the series.

Earlier, Shikhar Dhawan hit a half-century before Australia pulled things back to bowl India out for 255 after being invited to bat.

Dhawan looked in great touch during his 91-ball 74 and, in the company of K L Rahul (47), shared a second-wicket stand of 121 runs off 136 balls to set the base for India's total. However, India failed to capitalise.

When Dhawan and Rahul were at the crease, India were cruising towards a big total but their dismissal in space of 10 balls affected their run-rate. They raised a 121-run partnership for the second wicket.

The hosts struggled to raise any substantial partnership after that.

The second ODI of the series will be played in Rajkot on Friday.

Brief Scores:

India: 255 all out in 49.1 overs. (S Dhawan 74, KL Rahul 47; M Starc 3/56, P Cummins 2/44, K Richardson 2/43).

Australia: 258 for no loss in 37.4 overs (David Warner 124 not out, Aaron Finch 110 not out).

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Thiruvananthapuram: The Congress-led United Democratic Front (UDF) is projected to return to power in Kerala after 10 years, ahead of the Left Democratic Front (LDF) led by Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, according to different exit polls released on Wednesday evening.

Most surveys indicate a lead for the UDF over the LDF, while the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) is expected to have limited presence in the Assembly with only a few seats projected.

According to Matrize, the UDF is likely to win between 70 and 75 seats, while the LDF is projected to secure 60 to 65 seats. The NDA is expected to get between 3 and 5 seats, as per the same survey.

People’s Pulse has projected a higher range for the UDF, estimating 75 to 85 seats, while the LDF is expected to get between 55 and 65 seats. The NDA is projected to win between 0 and 3 seats in this survey.

Axis My India has also forecast a clear lead for the UDF, projecting 78 to 90 seats for the alliance. The LDF is expected to win between 49 and 62 seats, while the NDA is again projected to remain within the 0 to 3 seat range.

Another projection by Vote Vibe estimates the UDF to win between 70 and 80 seats, while the LDF could secure 58 to 68 seats. Others are expected to get between 0 and 4 seats.

P-MARQ, in its survey for the 140-member Assembly, has predicted 72 to 79 seats for the UDF and 62 to 69 seats for the LDF, with around 3 seats going to others.

According to CNN-18, the UDF is projected to win between 70 and 80 seats, while the LDF may secure 58 to 68 seats. The NDA is expected to get between 0 and 4 seats.

NDTV has predicted 75 to 85 seats for the UDF and 55 to 65 seats for the LDF, while the NDA is expected to secure between 0 and 3 seats.

Meanwhile, today’s Chanakya has projected 72 to 80 seats for the UDF and 60 to 65 seats for the LDF, while the NDA is expected to get between 3 and 7 seats.

Kerala went to polls on April 9, and the counting of votes will take place on May 4.