Australia avoided an unprecedented series whitewash after registering a 66-run victory over India in the third ODI on Wednesday.
Australia saved their stylish for the last as Indian middle- order wilted under pressure wielded by part- time off- spin of Glenn Maxwell, losing the third ODI by 66 runs on Wednesday. India still won the series 2- 1. India were cruising along at 171 for 2 chasing a stiff target of 353 on a placid track but the middle- order atrophied in chase with Maxwell (4/40) getting pivotal improvements to circumscribe the hosts to 286 in 49.4 overs. commander Rohit Sharma (81) and Kohli struck fifties to give the middle- order with a perfect platform in the big chase, but the rest floundered to hand Australia the advantage.
Before, Mitchell Marsh (96) headlined Australia’s stylish fur show with David Warner, Steve Smith and Marnus Labuschagne helping themselves to attacking half- centuries during a fostering performance to break a five- ODI losing band.
The two brigades will now play a couple of warm-up games before meeting again in 10 days’ time for the event- nature in Chennai on October 8.
While Marsh missed reaching triadic figure by a whisker, Australia’s batters came good inclusively in what was their last functionary ODI before the launch of the World Cup.
Warner had himself to condemn for his redundancy after a fiery 56 off 34 balls (6x4s, 4x6s), but he set the tone for Australia beforehand on.
Smith also put thickets on his poor run of scores to make a rapid-fire 74 and towards the end, Labuschagne upped the figure with his 58- ball knock to help Australia post their grueling score.
Labuschagne also came Australia’s top run- getter in the ongoing timetable time.
During the chase, Rohit clobbered six sixes and five fours to race to 81 from 57 balls and recorded his ninth fifty against Australia and 53rd overall, while Kohli, who looked good for his 48th ODI ton had to settle for 66th half- century.
The two batters put on 70 for the alternate gate and took India close to the 150- run mark by the 21st over, but after Rohit and Kohli were dismissed, the others fumbled inclusively.
Maxwell reckoned for Washington Sundar (18) and also held onto a stunning kickback catch of Rohit, had Kohli mistime a pull- shot and wisecracked Shreyas Iyer (48) with a beauty to mark an emotional return after a six- month long injury layoff.
Josh Hazlewood took2/42 and Cameron Green claimed 2/30 to give ideal support for Maxwell.
Rohit began with two spectacular sixes off Mitchell Starc over cover and pulled Pat Cummins doubly over midwicket with command to give early motivation.
The India captain, coming off a two- game break, hit the strips incontinently which also made up for the fleck balls his first- gate mate Washington Sundar consumed.
The new nature Washington Sundar pulled Hazlewood for his first four and smacked Cummins for a six-evocative of his notorious six from the 2020- 21 Australia stint- but decomposed for 18 off 30 balls.
Rohit and Kohli went about their jobs unchallenged for the better part of their stage, but their association came to an abrupt end in the 21st over when Maxwell, taking an fugitive action on a important shot from the India commander, ended up catching the ball one- handed.
Maxwell continued to make raids as this time he got the crucial gate of Kohli, who, looking to clear Steve Smith at midwicket, got a top edge, which was collected by the fielder running before.
Despite a set platform to take the mantle, India’s middle- order stuttered which allowed Australia to snare control.
KL Rahul added 52 runs with Iyer for the fourth gate but fell to Starc after a 30- ball 26 and Suryakumar Yadav( 8) pulled one short from Hazlewood to Maxwell.
Maxwell also gutted up Iyer for a 43- ball 48 (1x4s, 2x6s) and Hazlewood had Kuldeep Yadav hash one onto his lattices.
Ravindra Jadeja scored 35 from 36 balls( 3x4s, 1x6s) but had no fur mate left to try avoiding the ineluctable. Know More Latest Cricket News…
