India eye perfect finish to historic tour
While India will take winning momentum into this third ODI, their only worry at the moment is the fifth bowling option.
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Good morning all. There is a ten-minute delay to the start of the third one-dayer due to rain. Indian captain Virat Kohli chose to bowl.
Pacer Bhuvneshwar Kumar opens the attack for India and Alex Carey faces him first with Aaron Finch at the other end. Just two balls bowled and it is raining again. The covers will come back on. Australia have scored one run.
This is disappointing. A damp start to what has been a fantastic and historic tour for India.
Meanwhile, changes in the Indian side include the debut of Tamil Nadu all-rounder Vijay Shankar. Mohammad Siraj has been left out. Kedar Jadhav has been brought in in the place of Ambati Rayudu and Yuzvendra Chahal is in for Kuldeep Yadav.
The covers are off and the players are back on the field. Action time again.
Big appeal for leg before against Finch in the fourth ball. But, missing the wickets. Australia one for no loss after one over.
Mohammad Shami is dispatched to the boundary by Carey with a meaty hit in the third ball. Big heave from Carey in the fifth ball and MS Dhoni collects it, but no edge. Finch beats a hasty retreat after attempting a run. Ravindra Jadeja’s throw misses narrowly. Australia five for no loss after two overs.
WICKET: Bhuvi does it for India. Carey gets a thick edge at the top of the bat and Kohli takes a nice catch diving forward at second slip. Carey dismissed for 5. Good start for the visitors. Southpaw Usman Khawaja is the new man in. Finch on 5. Australia 8 for 1 after 3 overs.
Superb third delivery from Shami and Khawaja is completely beaten. Once again in the last ball of the over. Shami doing well. One run off the over, from Finch (4 runs). Australia 9 for 1 after 4 overs.
Two runs from Finch in the third ball, but Bhuvneshwar troubling the batsmen a bit. Australia 11 for 1 after 5 overs.
Khawaja gets going, sending Shami’s fourth delivery to the boundary over point. Finch on 6 and Khawaja on 4, Australia 15 for 1 after 6 overs.
Four from Finch in the third ball. Thick edge from and way beyond Rohit Sharma’s reach at first slip. Kohli moves to the second slip. One more edge from Khawaja but just one run. Finch on 14 and Khawaja on 5 and Australia are 25 for 1 after 7 overs.
Some great fielding work by the Indians. Khawaja takes a swipe at Shami’s fourth delivery but no go. Three runs from the over. Australia 27 for 1 after 8 overs.
WICKET: What was that from Bhuvi in the fourth ball. Finch refuses to face the ball. Dead ball and the umpire has a word with the bowler for delivering way before the pitch. But, Finch does not last. Bhuvneshwar traps him leg before for 14. Shaun Marsh is the next man in. Australia 27 for 2 after 9 overs.
Marsh off the mark with two runs from the third ball. Australia 30 for 2 after 10 overs. Early wickets have ensured the run rate is kept low. It is 3.8 at the moment.
Debutant Vijay Shankar gets the ball in the 11th over. Two runs off the over, one from a wide delivery. Decent start for Shankar. Khawaja on 9 and Marsh on 2. Australia 32 for 2 after 11 overs.
Change at the other end too. Offie Kedar Jadhav brought into the attack. Five runs off the over. Australia 37 for 2 after 12 overs.
On to Khawaja’s pad off the last ball from Shankar. Two runs off the 13th over. Australia 39 for 2.
Australia taking singles, but they seem to be trying hard to get more. Jadhav keeping things tight. Australia 42 for 2 after 14 overs.
India keeping Australia on a tight leash. Just three runs in the 15th over off Shankar. Australia 45 for 2.
Marsh dropped by wicketkeeper Dhoni in the second ball of Jadhav’s over. Four runs off the over. Australia 49 for 2 after 16.
Marsh unleashes his fury on Shankar’s fourth delivery, a superb hit to the boundary over midwicket. The ball had not been to the ropes in a long time. Looks like the batsmen are gaining confidence now. Khawaja on to 17 and Marsh on 16. Australia 55 for 2 after 17 overs.
Jadhav is trying a few things now. Khawaja completely floored in the last ball and gets past the southpaw. Great bowling by Jadhav. Australia 59 for 2 in 18 overs.
Ravindra Jadeja brought into the attack now. He goes for 6 runs, including one for a wide ball. Australia 65 for 2 in 19 overs.
Jadhav’s first delivery is thrashed to the boundary by Marsh. Kohli has a word with the bowler. Once more four from Marsh in the fourth ball. Dhoni has a word with Jadhav now. Pretty expensive 20th over with 15 runs coming off it. Khawaja on 25 but Marsh races to 31. Australia 80 for 2.
Australia gaining momentum now and the runs coming more freely. Eight runs in the 21st over and the home side is 88 for 2.
Better over by Jadhav in the 22nd with 4 coming off it. Marsh on 38 and Khawaja on 29. Australia 92 for 2.
A fancy reverse sweep from Khawaja and Jadeja’s third ball is sent to the ropes. The home side get 7 runs off the over and Australia are 99 for 2 after 23 overs.
2 WICKETS: Yuzvendra Chahal brought into the attack. Superb second ball that is slightly wide on the leg side and Dhoni whips the bails off in no time. It was almost a no ball. It goes up to the third umpire and Marsh is back in the pavilion for 39. A much needed breakthrough. Peter Handscomb is the new man in.
Caught and bowled Chahal and this time Khawaja is sent back for 34. Great over for India. Bringing in the new bowler worked. Just two runs off the over. Australia 101 for 4 after 24 overs.
Four off the 25th over from Jadeja. Handscomb and new man Marcus Stoinis have their task cut out now. After 25 overs, Australia are 105 for 4.
Four runs in the 26th over from Chahal. Australia 109 for 4.
Excellent 27th over from Jadeja and just one run off it. Australia 110 for 4.
A desperate dive from Jadeja but to no avail and Stoinis gets a four in the second ball off Chahal. Five runs off the 28th over and Australia are 115 for 4. Handscomb on 9 and Stonins on 6.
Stoinis edges one just beyond the reach of the fielder at slip. Seven runs in the 29th over. Australia 122 for 4.
WICKET: Chahal gets one more. Superb catch by Sharma in the first slip as Stonis edges the third delivery. He is back in the pavilion after scoring 10. Glen Maxwell is the new man in. Australia are 124 for 5 in 30 overs.
India have put the brakes on Australia’s scoring. Australia 128 for 5 after 31 overs.
Maxwell off the mark rather quickly, including a four in the fifth delivery off Chahal. Australia 135 for 5 in 32 overs.
Maxwell is really taking on the Indian bowling. One more boundary in the third ball of the 33rd over. Six runs off the over. Handscomb on 19 and Maxwell on 13. Australia 142 for 5.
Fours from Maxwell in the second and last ball of the over from Chahal. Eleven runs from the 34th over. Australia 153 for 5. Maxwell on 22 and Handscomb on 21.
WICKET: Pacer Shami brought back. Maxwell in full flow as the fourth ball is dispatched to the boundary. But Bhuvi takes a superb catch running in to send back the dangerous-looking Maxwell, who skies the fifth ball of the 35th over. Maxwell out for 26. Jhye Richardson is the next man in. The change of bowling worked. Australia in a spot of bother at 162 for 6.
Handscomb guides the third delivery towards the second slip. Shikhar Dhawan unable to stop it, four runs. Jadeja concedes 9 runs in the 36th over. Australia 171 for 6. Handscomb on 32 and Richardson on 2.
Seven runs off the 37th over from Shami. Australia 178 for 6.
Shankar gets the ball in the 38th over and concedes just three runs off it. Australia 181 for 6, with Handscomb on 38 and Richardson on 6.
Change at the other end as well with Bhuvneshwar coming back. Good over from the pacer with just one run conceded. Australia 182 for 6 in 39 overs.
Shankar concedes a four, with Handscomb doing the honours in the third ball. Eight runs off the over and Australia are 190 for 6 after 40 overs with Handscomb on 46.
Three runs off the 41st over and Australia are 193 for 6. Handscomb on 48 and Richardson on 7.
Change of bowler once again as Chahal replacs Shankar. Fifty for Handscomb with off 57 balls. Richardson on 9. Australia 197 for 6 after 42 overs.
Things have been quiet for three overs now. The Indian bowlers turning up the heat as Handscomb battles on. Richardson dispatches Shami to the boundary and Ambati Rayudu makes a vain attempt, injures himself and is led away by team physio Patrick Farhart. Australia are 205 for 6 after 43 overs.
WICKET: Richardson out, caught by Jadhav off Chahal in the third ball of the 44th over. Another breakthrough for India. Just 2 runs off the over. Handscomb on 52, Australia 207 for 7.
Slightly expensive over from Bhuvneshwar with nine runs coming off the 45th over. Adam Zampa is the new man in and Handscomb on 58. Australia 216 for 7.
WICKET: Chahal bags one more and this time it is of the dangerous-looking Handscomb. The Australians have opted for a review and the third umpire has given him out. Handscomb’s brave effort of 58 comes to an end with this leg before decision. Australia are 219 for 8 after 46 overs. That is a five for Chahal.
Good 47th over for the Australians with 8 runs coming off it. Australia 227 for 8.
WICKET: Sixth one for Chahal with Zampa sent back for 8 in the 48th over. Australia 229 for 9.
WICKET: That’s it. Shami cleans up Billy Stanlake and Australia’s innings comes to an end at 230 from 48.4 overs with a run rate of 4.80.
Chahal’s figures of 6 for 42 are the best for any bowler in a one-dayer in Australia.
Chasing down 231 should not be too difficult a task for the Indians.
India start batting
Slow but steady, the Indian batsmen got off to a careful start with Rohit Sharma and Shikhar Dhawan opening the batting. After five overs, India had scored 10 for no loss with both batsmen having scored five each. Jhye Richardson and Peter Siddle opened the bowling attack for the home side.
WICKET: It was an early setback for India as Rohit Sharma was caught at first slip by Shaun Marsh off Siddle for just 9. After 6 overs, India were 15 for 1 with Dhawan on 6. Looks like it is upto skipper Virat Kohli to show his mettle once again.
Just one run off the 7th over. India 16 for 1.
A better over in the 8th for India. Seven runs coming off it India 23 for 1.
Richardson keeps the bowling tight and the Indians are taking a cautious approach. Just two off the over and India are 25 for 1 after 9 overs.
Change of bowling and speedster Billy Stanlake is brought in for Siddle. Kohli takes a heave at Stanlake’s fifth delivery but lucky to have not got an edge. Dhawan goes for a widish delivery in the last ball but it is just short of second slip. India 26 for 1 after 10 overs.
Bowling change again as Glen Maxwell is brought into the attack. Seven runs off the 11th over and India are 33 for 1. Dhawan on 15 and Kohli on 9.
Heart in the mouth moment for Kohli as Finch hits the stumps directly. But the Indian skipper is home. Kohli edges a bouncer from Stanlake but Handscomb is unable to catch it. Four runs for Kohli off the last ball. India 39 for 1 after 12 overs.
Another bowling change and leggie Adam Zampa is brought in. A modest over for India with five coming off it. India 43 for 1 off 13 overs. Dhawan on 18 and Kohli on 16.
Kohli takes Stanlake to task and it is a cracking four from the first ball. The fourth ball yields a boundary too. Looks like Kohli is taking control of the situation. India 51 for 1 after 14 overs. Kohli on 24 and Dhawan on 18.
Modest over for India with 3 coming off it. India 54 for 1 in 15 overs.
Just three runs off this over from Stanlake. Things have slowed down and India’s run rate stands at 3.56 as against the required 5.11. India 57 for 1 after 16 overs.
WICKET: Dhawan out yet again with a low score of 23. New bowler Marcus Stoinis takes the catch off the second ball of his over. New man in Mahendra Singh Dhoni dropped by Maxwell off the third ball. This could prove costly for the Australians. Dhoni gets it on the pad off the fourth ball but no go. India 60 for 2 after 17 overs. Kohli is on 27 and Dhoni on 1.
Five runs off the 18th over and India are 65 for 2.
Another quiet over in the 19th for India, with just four coming off it. India 69 for 2, Kohli on 29 and Dhoni on 8.
Things have slowed down and the Indian batsmen seem to be taking the cautious approach. India 73 for 2 in 20 overs.
A Dhoni run out chance missed by Stoinis. Three runs off the over and India are 76 for 2.
Dhoni escapes a run out attempt once again, this time in the second ball of the 22nd over. Just two runs off the over. Kohli on 33 and Dhoni on 13. India on 78 for 2 after 22 overs.
Finally, the ball sees the boundary off Dhoni’s bat in the third ball of the 23rd over. India add five runs and are 83 for two.
Good over by Zampa, just two off it. India 85 for 2 after 24 overs. Kohli and Dhoni on 35 and 18 respectively.
Vintage Dhoni gives Siddle the boundary treatment off the third delivery, with the runs flowing in this over. India 93 for 2 in 25 overs.
Five runs off the 26th over. Kohli moves on to 40 and Dhoni to 26. India 98 for 2.
Looks like the typical tough Melbourne pitch for batsmen. The Indians are making the most of the experience these two have. India crosses the century mark at 104 for 2 after the 27rd over.
A maiden 28th over for Richardson.
A big heave from Dhoni to Siddle’s fourth delivery. The ball travels to four, following an edge and over the wicketkeeper. India 109 for 2 after 29 overs. Kohli batting on 43 and Dhoni on 34.
WICKET: Kohli’s gone for 46. Australia have struck. Big blow for India. It was a thick inside edge from Kohli that wicketkeeper Carey took easily. India 113 for 3 from 30 overs.
31 overs gone and the hill is getting tougher to climb for India. India 117 for 3.
Run rate pressure going up for India. India 120 for 3 from 32 overs.
India struggling at 123 for 3 in 33 overs. Dhoni on 38 and Jadhav on 5.
Jadhav slams Stanlake’s last ball for a boundary. Six runs off the over. India 129 for 3 in 34 overs.
Jadhav lucky to get a life as the ball falls short of Richardson in the fourth ball off Zampa. India 133 for 3 in 35 overs.
A better 36th over for the Indians as seven runs come off it. India 140 for 3. Dhoni and Jahdav on 46 and 13 respectively.
Stoinis back into the attack. Four for Jadhav off the last ball of the 37th over. The edge sees the ball fly over the slip area and to the boundary. India 147 for 3.
A single and Dhoni has scored a well-deserved 50 off 75 balls. The pitch has not been kind to the batsmen. Looks like it is upto MS to see India home. India also bring up 150 runs for the loss of three wickets after 38 overs.
Stoinis frustrated with Jadhav dispatching his fourth delivery to the boundary. Bad over for the bowler as nine runs come off the 39th over. India 159 for 3.
The Indian batsmen keep the scoreboard ticking with ones and twos. India 165 for 3 off 40 overs. Dhoni on 54 and Jadhav giving him company on 29.
Zampa brought back into the attack in the 41st over. It is again the singles and twos, but it should not matter as long as they keep coming. Dhoni moves to 58 and Jadhav at 31. India 171 for 3.
Indian physio Farhart checking on Dhoni before the start of the 42nd over. Richardson’s third delivery gets Dhoni on the pads. The on-field umpire calls is not out and Australia have asked for a review. The decision is upheld. Ball tracking showed the ball was a tad high over the stumps. Two runs off the over. India are 173 for 3.
Dhoni gets a tad lucky in the opening ball of the 43rd over from Stoinis. Dhoni’s inside edge falls short of Carey. Dhoni lucky again as Maxwell misses a run out chance. India move to 178 for 3. Dhoni at 63 and Jadhav at 33.
Just a single from the 44th over.
Fine shot by Dhoni off Stoinis’s fourth delivery of the 45th over. Good over for India and eight coming from it. India 187 for 3, with Dhoni on 70 and Jadhav on 35.
Jadhav in a belligerent mood and smashes a four off Siddle’s first delivery. Jadhav runs into Siddle while taking a run. Two wide deliveries as well. Australia looking in slight disarray in the 46th over as the concede 11 runs. India 198 for 3. Dhoni on 71 and Jadhav races to 43.
With a single in the second ball, India bring up their 200. Jadhav lofts the fifth delivery from Richardson into the air but the ball falls short of Maxwell. Six runs from the 47th over and India are 204 for 3. Dhoni on 74 and Jadhav on 46.
What a beginning to the 48th over. Dhoni dropped by Finch and then Jadhav survives a close run out attempt while coming back for the second one. Dhoni gaining in confidence, thrashes a four off the second ball from Stoinis. Jadhave brings up his fifty with a boundary from the last ball. India in sight of victory at 217 for 3, with 13 runs coming in the over. Dhoni on 82.
Siddle is getting it again. Jadhav lofts the bowler’s second delivery over the fielder and to the boundary. Now, its Dhoni who dispatches Siddle to the boundary. Thirteen runs off the 49th over. India need just one run to win.
Jadhav scores a four. INDIA WIN! INDIA WIN!
After the historic Test series win, India wrap up the one-day series 2-1 with a seven-wicket win against Australia in the third ODI. A great tour Down Under.
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