Leg-spinner Yuzvendra Chahal's heroics with the ball were complemented well by former skipper MS Dhoni's third consecutive half-century as he anchored India's run chase to beat Australia by seven wickets in the third and final ODI. With this win, India clinched their first ever bilateral ODI series win in Australia. With the 2-1 series win, India have completed their tour Down Under without losing a series. You can watch video highlights of the Ind vs Aus 3rd ODI here.

The Kohli-led men in blue had earlier registered a historic 2-1 win in the four-Test series while drawing the preceding three-match T20I rubber 1-1. At the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) on Friday, Australia paid the price for dropping the dangerous Dhoni on nought, as the veteran stumper, who has recently been at the receiving end of critics, came up with another defiant and calm half-century to guide the Indians home in style. MS Dhoni, the Finisher, Is Back! Former Indian Captain Helps India Win ODI Series Against Australia With Three Consecutive 50s

Promoted to No.4, Dhoni first raised a strong 54-run third wicket stand with skipper Virat Kohli (46) and thereafter took India home with an unbeaten 121-run stand with Kedar Jadhav (61 not out). Dhoni's unbeaten knock of 87 came off 114 balls and was studded with six hits to the fence.

After the departure of the in-form opening duo of Rohit Sharma (9) and Shikhar Dhawan (23) with the Indian scoreboard ticking 59/2, Kohli and Dhoni laid the foundation for the chase.

Fresh from a century in the second ODI at Adelaide, Kohli looked set for another trademark chase but after facing 62 balls and striking three fours, the India captain was caught behind off Jhye Richardson. Yuzvendra Chahal Registers Joint-Best Bowling Figures by an Indian in ODIs in Australia, Achieves Feat During Ind vs Aus 3rd ODI

With India still needing 118 runs for a win, Dhoni carried on in the company of new man Jadhav and the highlight of their fourth wicket partnership was stealing the odd singles and converting them into twos.

The 37-year-old Dhoni, who was dropped first ball by Glenn Maxwell at backward point, made the most of the life as he battled cramps to eventually get to a hat-trick of half-centuries this series.

With the tourists needing 66 off the last 10 overs, Dhoni and Jadhav, who also got to a hardworking half-century, ensured there were no hiccups and went about their business as usual to eventually guide the team home.

Interestingly, Dhoni also completed 1000 ODI runs in Australia on Friday.

Earlier, Australia's vulnerability to quality leg-spin was exposed by Chahal, who returned with his second overseas fifer to help India restrict the hosts for a meagre 230.

Playing his first match of the series, Chahal wreaked havoc in the Australian line-up, returning a career-best 6/42 as the home batsmen seemed to have no clue about playing the leggie.

After pacer Bhuvneshwar Kumar got rid of the openers -- Aaron Finch (14) and Alex Carey (5) -- and reduced the hosts to 27/2, Chahal ripped through the middle order, taking the crucial wickets of the in-form Shaun Marsh (39) and Usman Khawaja (34) in his very first over.

The leggie then returned to remove all-rounder Marcus Stoinis (10) before ending a stiff 45-run seventh wicket stand between top-scorer Peter Handscomb (58) and Jhye Richardson (16). His sixth victim was his opposite number in the Aussie camp Adam Zampa (3) even as Australia's innings ended by the 49th over. (With IANS inputs).

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Jan 18, 2019 05:01 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).