IND beat AUS by 7 wickets | Australia vs India, Highlights And Cricket Score 3rd ODI Match
India in Australia, 3 ODI Series, 2019
Date: Jan 18, 2019 Start Time: 07:50 IST | 02:20 GMT | 13:20 LocalVenue: Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG), Melbourne
With the three-match ODI rubber tantalisingly poised at 1-1, the task is cut out for both India and Australia to pull up their socks in the series decider at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) on Friday. India bounced back from the 34-run loss in the series opener at Sydney, with another Virat Kohli masterclass century combined with his predecessor Mahendra Singh Dhoni's vintage finish to pull off a 6-wicket win at Adelaide.
Going into the final ODI, India will be aiming to take the winning momentum and end the ongoing tour Down Under without losing a series. The Virat Kohli-led side started their tour with a three-match Twenty20 International (T20I) series that ended in a 1-1 draw, followed by a historic first-ever 2-1 Test series win for India on Australian soil.
In the crucial series decider at the MCG, India will once again hope for their in-form top order, comprising Rohit Sharma, Shikhar Dhawan and skipper Kohli to score the bulk of the runs.
With Dhoni marshalling the less-tested middle-order, and Kedar Jadhav still warming the bench, both Ambati Rayudu and Dinesh Karthik will aim to get some runs if they are to stay in contention for a berth in the 2019 World Cup squad.
While the bowling department led by Bhuvneshwar Kumar has impressed in both the games, with pacer Mohammed Shami and the spin duo of chinaman Kuldeep Yadav and Ravindra Jadeja providing good support, India's main point of concern will be the fifth bowler in the absence of suspended all-rounder Hardik Pandya.
The Men-in-Blue tried left-armer Khaleel Ahmed in the first ODI before handing a debut to Mohammed Siraj in the second, but neither could make an impact.
In that scenario, the team management could be tempted to test all-rounder Vijay Shankar on Friday or may opt for the leggie Yuzvendra Chahal, who has been warming the bench for the first couple of matches.
Meanwhile, the hosts have made two changes to their playing XI on the eve of the decider. Pacer Billy Stanlake replaced Jason Behrendorff, who has been ruled out with back soreness, while off-spinner Nathan Lyon has been dropped to make way for leggie Adam Zampa.
Lyon's axing from the side comes just two matches after he'd replaced Zampa in the side for the series opener in Sydney. Pacer Kane Richardson has also been called into the squad as a cover.
While the bowlers have done a decent job, Australia will hope for their ODI skipper Aaron Finch to find some form with the willow.
Australia's top-order batting has mainly revolved around their No.3 and No.4 in Usman Khawaja and Shaun Marsh, with the latter blasting a 123-ball 131 in the second match, albeit for a losing cause.
The middle-order, comprising the likes of Peter Handscomb, Glenn Maxwell and Marcus Stoinis have also been among the runs this series, and the hosts will be hoping to put on a 300 plus total to challenge the strong Indian batting. A victory for Australia at the MCG on Friday would hand them their first series win in almost two years, having won just four of their past 23 One-day Internationals.
Australia vs India Highlights And Cricket Score 3rd Match - ODI Summary
That is it from the game then! Australia continue to be winless. They cannot win Tests, nor T20Is or ODIs. Victory continues to elude them and they will hope there is some spark or a change around the corner. They have Sri Lanka coming up next with tours of India (why again?) and UAE. India meanwhile, get ready to expand their tour Down Under with a visit to New Zealand for 5 ODIs and a T20I. Do join us for both series and much more. Plenty of cricketing action in the months to follow in this 'YEAR OF THE WORLD CUP!' ADIOS! TAKE CARE!
Virat Kohli also agrees that it was not an easy wicket to bat on, hence had to bat deep. Admits that the team was getting nervous but had plenty of confidence in Dhoni and Jadhav. On Kuldeep missing out, Kohli says that the team just wanted to rest the chinaman. Praises the other bowlers for stepping up. On the tour overall, Virat says that it has been a long tour and one could not have asked for a better result. Adds that the team is confident and is raring to go to New Zealand and strut its stuff.
Australian captain, Aaron Finch, feels that Australia took it down to the wire. Admits that when you give great players a couple of chances, it backfires. Rues the dropped chances as the result could have been much different had those been taken. Praises his bowlers for giving it their everything, trying their best to defend a modest total. On the dropped chances, he says those things happen. On the batting, Finch says that in this game perhaps there was lesser patience shown in the middle overs and they ended up targetting more than they should have.
MAHENDRA SINGH DHONI HAS BEEN NAMED THE MAN OF THE SERIES. The crowd is rupturing its applause. 'DHONI! DHONI! DHONI!' goes the chant. MS says that it was a slow wicket and hence one had to be careful playing the shots. Adds that he calculated how many overs every bowler had left and planned his knock accordingly. Mentions that it was important to target certain bowlers and that was the gameplan. Praises Kedar Jadhav for the support he gave and adds that his unorthodox shots take the pressure off him (Dhoni). On batting at number 4, Dhoni says that it all depends on the game situation and what the team wants from him. Feels that his batting position is irrelevant when compared to the balance of the team, so is happy to bat anywhere.
YUZVENDRA CHAHAL HAS BEEN NAMED THE MAN OF THE MATCH. Chahal, says he's obviously happy to have done well in his first game in Australia. Adds that the wicket was turning so he wanted to take advantage of that by varying his pace. Continues saying that there are plenty of challenges, with the next one being in New Zealand, so is looking forward to those.
Hard to fault too much from the Aussie bowlers. They bowled with intensity, created pressure and also made opportunities. But, their fielders let them down. As many as 2 dropped catches and then 2 run out chances missed. Too much in a series finale. Jhye Richardson bounced back after a poor second ODI while Zampa showed some confidence with the ball. Please stay tuned for the presentation...
87. What is so bad about 87? Ask the Aussies. 13 short of a 100. Hence, they consider it unlucky. Normally, it is their batsmen who get dismissed on that number. Tonight, it is a man from the opposition, who came in with the team in a bit of trouble at 59/2 but has stayed unbeaten till the end on guess how much - 87. Just 6 boundaries in his knock but till he was there in the middle, no one had any doubt who would win. His average in run chases now zooms up to 103.07. Mahendra Singh Bradman. Take a bow.
Kohli and Dhoni did what they do best. Grind out oppositions. First the skipper had a 44-run stand with Dhawan. Then added 54 with his former captain. And then, when things seemed to be in Australia's control with Kohli getting out, Kedar Jadhav came out and eased out all fears. His unbeaten 121-run stand with Dhoni would have instilled tremendous amount of confidence in the Indian think tank. Yes. Their batting looks even more stronger now, with the middle order stepping up.
Coming to this match, chasing 231 should never have been difficult but circumstances made it difficult for India. Some tight opening bowling saw the visitors struggling and they were reduced to 26/1 in Powerplay 1. Then they would have lost Kohli and later Dhoni, not once but multiple times but Australia kept grassing chances. Well, good teams do not need more opportunities.
T20 series tied. Test series won. ODI series won. Boy, what a tour it has been for India. They were expected to win but they have not allowed the Aussies to win more than 3 matches in 10 outings. Superb. Take a bow.
Marcus Stoinis to Kedar Jadhav. FOUR! INDIA WIN THE MATCH, SERIES AND THE TOUR! Full on middle, Jadhav whips it over mid on and finds the fence! The batsmen do not run because the ball has raced to the fence.
Marcus Stoinis to Kedar Jadhav. A low full toss outside off, pushed straight to mid off.
Peter Siddle to MS Dhoni. We have a last over. Full on middle, almost a yorker, Dhoni can only push it towards short mid-wicket.
Peter Siddle to MS Dhoni. FOUR! Ahhh... full and outside off, Dhoni pummels it past the bowler. Mid off is inside and cannot get there!
Peter Siddle to MS Dhoni. WIDE. Full and down the leg side, MS misses his flick.
Peter Siddle to Kedar Jadhav. What a shot that is. Backs away to the leg side and Siddle bowls a full toss. Kedar is cramped for room but somehow, he turns his bat and carves it over point. Three runs taken. India a hit away from a series win now.
Peter Siddle to Kedar Jadhav. Excellent comeback from the bowler. Fires in a yorker, Kedar can only jab it back to the bowler.
Peter Siddle to Kedar Jadhav. FOUR! Killing blow and that should seal the deal. Just 9 needed now from 10. A short ball outside off, Jadhav rocks back and slaps it over point for a boundary!
Peter Siddle to MS Dhoni. Misdirected yorker, a low full toss on the pads, Dhoni flicks it towards fine leg and gives Jadhav the freedom to use his weapon of destruction...
Marcus Stoinis to Kedar Jadhav. FOUR! What a way to bring up your half century! Full and wide outside off, Jadhav reaches out and slashes it behind point. The fielder starts to run to his right but comes second! 13 from the over, just 14 needed from the final 2.
Marcus Stoinis to MS Dhoni. The batsman has played it fine down the leg side. They pick up a single. 100-STAND IS UP! What a way to finish off the series.
Marcus Stoinis to Kedar Jadhav. Down the leg side, Jadhav misses his flick and a leg bye is taken with the ball going off the hips.
Marcus Stoinis to MS Dhoni. Comes down the track now and helps it through square leg for a single.
Marcus Stoinis to MS Dhoni. FOUR! A full toss and it has been put away! Stoinis misses the yorker but Dhoni doesn't. Gets down on a knee and sweeps it powerfully behind square leg. Peter Siddle starts to chase from fine leg but comes second in the chase!