Australia’s chance of securing a rare series clean sweep of India evaporated in the final overs, as the hosts fell short by 13 runs in the third ODI, at Canberra’s Manuka Oval.
Key points:
- India made 5-302 with the bat, before dismissing Australia for 289 in the final over of the home side’s run chase
- Glenn Maxwell gave Australia hope with his half-century prior to falling to Jasprit Bumrah
- Australia won the three-match series 2-1
Glenn Maxwell put the hosts in a position to win the match with a dominant 59 from 38 balls, but his dismissal in the 45th over saw Australia lose 4-21 to be all out for 289.
Their effort was in deep contrast to that of India, who smashed 84 runs from the same five-and-a-half over period in its innings.
Australia missed the opportunity of claiming its first series whitewash over India since 1999/2000, while the win in Canberra gives the tourists some confidence ahead of the Twenty20 series starting Friday.
After Aaron Finch helped kickstart Australia’s pursuit of India’s 5-302 with 75 runs of his own, Maxwell looked to have it in the bag for Australia.
The Victorian’s knock included four big sixes, after he had already struck 108 runs from just 48 balls in the first two matches of the series.
He launched two of those off Ravindra Jadeja in as many balls, including one he pulled 108 metres to land on the roof of the Bob Hawke Stand.
On another occasion he punished Kuldeep Yadav with a 100-metre reverse sweep into the crowd.
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But when he was the seventh man out, bowled by Jasprit Bumrah (2-43), the match turned drastically with the hosts still needing 35 runs from 33 deliveries.
Australia managed no more boundaries from that point as Ashton Agar (28), Sean Abbott (4) and Adam Zampa (4) all fell.
Bumrah finally had the white ball swinging again for India in a dangerous opening spell that was unlucky to go without a wicket.
He had Finch dropped at first slip on 22 and grassed a tough chance from him off his own bowling on 27, while Marnus Labuschagne was out for 7 at the other end.
Steve Smith had his first failure of the summer, caught down the leg side for 7 off the bowling of Shardul Thakur (3-51), while debutant Cameron Green showed plenty of promise with his 21.
The wicket of Alex Carey also proved crucial, with the Australian wicketkeeper run out for 38 to end a 52-run stand with Maxwell as the pair looked to steady the ship.
But ultimately the big hitting of Hardik Pandya and Jadeja at the end of India’s innings proved crucial.
After the tourists looked set for a mediocre total, Pandya finished with an unbeaten 92 from 76 deliveries, while Jadeja hit three sixes in his 66 from 50 balls.
Abbott (1-84) copped most of the punishment and went for 32 runs in one eight-ball stretch, with Australia missing pace duo Pat Cummins and Mitchell Starc.
Josh Hazlewood (1-66) had earlier got Virat Kohli’s (63) wicket for a fifth time in as many battles with the India captain.
The highly touted Green bowled well but had a tough initiation to international cricket with figures of 0-27 from four overs.
AAP
