India played some brilliant cricket, especially the likes of Rohit Sharma, Ajinkya Rahane and Hardik Pandya shone with the bat to help the home team beat Australia in the third ODI by five wickets. This win at Holkar Stadium in Indore also helped them clinch the series, and register their ninth straight ODI win under Virat Kohli.
India had to score 294 runs from 50 overs to beat Australia. There was a serious need for India openers to start well. Rohit and Ajinkya got India off to a blistering start, as they completed a 100-run stand as well to provide a perfect base, with Hitman dealing in boundaries.
Rohit took the attack to the Australia pacers, who were bamboozled with his onslaught during the first 15 overs or so.
After Rohit and Rahane fell for 71 and 70 runs, it was all about Pandya, who played a majestic innings of 78 runs, which paved the way for victory.
It was one of those rare matches for Kohli, who could not score big in the second innings, but Pandya took over the mantle and ensured India would beat Australia.
Pandya hit some lusty blows to the fence, which put Australia in the backfoot. Despite India losing the wicket of Pandya in the 46th over, MS Dhoni and Manish Pandey steered India home in Indore.
How did the first innings go?
Comeback man Aaron Finch provided the much-needed impetus to Australia when he hit his 8th ODI ton to help the visitors reach 293 for 6 in 50 overs in the must-win third ODI at Holkar Stadium, Indore on Sunday, September 24.
Finch, who replaced young opener Hilton Cartwright following the latter's poor returns in the first two ODIs, hit a 125-ball 124, which included five sixes and 12 boundaries. | Live streaming and TV coverage |
Finch today:
— Bharath Seervi (@SeerviBharath) September 24, 2017
v Spin - 66 (53), SR 124.52, 6x4, 4x6
v Pace - 58 (72), SR 80.55, 6x4, 1x6#INDvAUS
The 30-year-old looked at ease against the likes of Kuldeep Yadav and Yuzvendra Chahal, who had troubled the Australian batsmen in the first two ODIs (Chennai and Kolkata).
Skipper Steve Smith (63 off 71 balls) came up with a crucial knock as he played second fiddle to Finch during their 154-run stand, which came after David Warner (42 off 44 balls) failed to convert a good start into a big one.
Middle order fails yet again
However, Kuldeep and Chahal got India back into the game when they removed Finch, Smith and Glen Maxwell in a span of five overs.
Australia's middle order woes continued as Maxwell (5) and Travis Head (4) walked back to the pavillion without troubling the scorers much.
Impressive death bowling from India
Quick wickets had its impact on the Australian innings as the run rate dipped towards the 45th over.
India's death over speciallists Jasprit Bumrah and Bhuvneshwar Kumar were in top form towards the end of the innings as the hosts conceded only 59 runs in the last 10 overs to limit the visitors to 293.
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