Ranchi, March 8: Clinical Australia outclassed India in every department of the game as they registered a decent 32-run win in the third one-day international here on Friday (March 8) and kept the series alive.
Usman Khawaja's maiden ODI ton, Aaron Finch's 93 guided Australia to a massive 314/5 after the visitors were invited to bat first at Jharkhand State Cricket Association (JSCA) International Stadium. Kuldeep Yadav emerged as the pick of the bowlers for India as he grabbed three wickets from his quota of 10 overs. The chinaman got the key wickets after the pacers failed to get those early breakthroughs.
In response, India lost its top-three cheaply in the run chase before Virat Kohli played yet another masterful innings to prove he's certainly the best ever limited-overs batsman. The Indian batting mainstay slammed his 41st ODI century, 8th against Australia, and 19th as captain but his valiant effort went in vain as the entire Indian innings was wrapped up for 281.
Kohli scored a masterful 123 before Adam Zampa dismissed the right-handed batsman on the fifth occasion in 11 innings. Zampa gave India two more big jolts as he dismissed local boy Mahendra Singh Dhoni (26) and Kedar Jadhav (26) to rattle India's middle-order.
Pat Cummins (3-37) and Jhye Richardson (3-37) also grabbed three wickets apiece and ensured the visitors always kept the asking rate higher for the Indians. India still lead the series 2-1 but would be hoping to make improvements in all three departments.
Men In Blue were particularly sloppy in the fielding department in Ranchi which cost them dearly as Australians encashed the mistakes committed by Indian fielders.
The two teams will now head to Mohali for the fourth ODI on Sunday and Kohli would be hoping for an improved show there.
Here's how the 3rd ODI panned out:
Khawaja, Man of the Match: It is nothing like that. Specially against a very good Indian side. It was nice to get that win. The bowlers bowled beautifully. We weren't quite sure what a good score is, Finchy started well and the lower-order did a good job take us over 300. My highest score was 98, so it was nice to get those extra two runs today.
Finch, after winning the match: It was a pretty good performance. To get 300 on that wicket was very good. It was nice and especially in these conditions. That partnership allowed Maxi to come in and play his game. I have been working really hard and have always had the faith I would get runs. Usman played a fantastic knock, Jhye was also impressive with the ball.
Virat Kohli after losing the match: We were specially the way we pulled things back in the first innings. With the way Australia were going, we thought we would have been chasing 350+. I was told dew would come in in the evening, but that didn't happen and I got that wrong. The wicket wasn't improving at all and wasn't getting easy for batting. They kept pitching the ball in the good areas, then I got out and Vijay got out and that's about it. We are a team that has taken a lot of pride in our cricket. We don't want to see anymore collapses. In terms of hitting the ball well, it was one of my finest hundreds. I was feeling well since ball one. I was really disappointed with the way I got out. Yeah, we will have a few changes in the next couple of games. A little hiccup in the middle, but we will regroup and come back strongly.
Usman Khawaja awarded man of the match for his knock of 104 runs.
Wicket! Kuldeep Yadav (10) is the final wicket to perish. It's all over! Australia beat India by 32 runs as India have been bundled out for 281 in 48.2 overs. Comprehensive win for the Aussies in Ranchi. Series still alive for them. Usman Khawaja, Aaron Finch, Adam Zampa and Pat Cummins starred for the visitors.
4,0,4, W! Mohammed Shami got two boundaries before perishing at 8. Richardson gets the second wicket in this over. India - 281/9 in 47.5 overs.
Wicket! Ravindra Jadeja (24) was looking to clear Jhye Richardson over mid-on but the bowler had taken all the pace off it. Maxwell takes a simple catch at mid-on. India - 273/8 in 47.1 overs
1.0,6,0,2,1! 10 runs came from Glenn Maxwell's over as India reach 273/7 in 47 overs. 41 required from 18 balls.
India reach 260/7 in 45 overs, 54 more runs needed from 30 balls.
This is why the world calls him King Kohli!
ODI centuries since 2017:
— Bharath Seervi (@SeerviBharath) March 8, 2019
VIRAT KOHLI - 15
South Africa - 15
Pakistan - 14
Bangladesh - 13
West Indies - 12
Sri Lanka - 10
International centuries since 2017:
VIRAT KOHLI - 25
Pakistan - 24#IndvAus
Wicket! Jhye Richardson takes a simple catch in the deep to end Vijay Shankar's cameo for 32. Nathan Lyon gets the breakthrough as the all-rounder looked to score runs quickly. India - 251/7 in 43 overs.
Zampa has a huge shout for LBW against Jadeja turned down. No reviews left for the Aussies and replays show three red lights.
Big Wicket! Kohli falls for 123 as he's clean bowled by Adam Zampa after hitting two back-to-back boundaries against the spinner. Brilliant comeback from the spinner as he knocks the Indian captain out. India - 219/6.
SIX!! Slog sweep from Kohli against Zampa and the ball sailed into the stands. 200 also comes up for India in the 36th over.
CENTURY #41!! Virat 'RUN MACHINE' Kohli notches up another ton and it is the second century in succession. This one came off 85 balls. This is his 19th ton as captain.
It isn’t this easy. It isn’t a joke, but this man has made it a joke.
— Mohammad Kaif (@MohammadKaif) March 8, 2019
41st for King Kohli. #IndvAus
Kohli moves on to 99* with a single off Maxwell and a ball prior to that he had edged but keeper Carey failed to grab it.
India - 182/5 after 33 overs. Kohli - 96* and Vijay Shankar - 6* are into the middle.
Wicket! Adam Zampa strikes at a crucial time again as Kedar Jadhav tries to sweep him. The ball hits right in front of his pads and umpire had no problems raising his finger. Jadhav departs for 26 due to poor shot selection. India - 174/5 in 31.4 overs.
9 runs, including two boundaries from Kohli's bat, came from that Jhye Richardson over. India are 169/4 after 31 overs.
India are 160/4 after 30 overs. They are still 154 runs short and have 120 balls in hand.
150 up for India in 27.2 overs. They are almost half-way through in the run chase.
14 runs off the 25th over with Kohli in glorious touch. 51-run partnership between Kohli and Jadhav.
4,4! Virat Kohli gets back-to-back boundaries off Stoinis towards the leg side. India 117/4 after 24 overs.
Fifty! Virat Kohli reaches to his 50th ODI half-century with a single. The chase master had slammed a ton in the previous match.
India reach 103/4 after 22 overs. The required rate is above 7.50 per over.
India 99/4 after 21 overs. Kohli - 45* and Jadhav - 7* are present into the middle. Aussie spinners Zampa and Lyon have bowled well and the asking rate is climbing for India in this run chase.
Big Wicket! MS Dhoni chops it onto his stumps and Adam Zampa gives India a major jolt. Dhoni departs for 26 and India lose their fourth wicket for 86. The fifty-run partnership between him and Kohli comes to an end.
SIX!! MS Dhoni charges down the ground and dispatches Lyon into the stands for a maximum and the Ranchi crowd broke into a huge roar applauding their favourite son attack the bowler. 50-run partnership between Dhoni and Kohli.
After 18 overs, India are 74/3. Dhoni and Kohli are looking to revive the Indian innings but they have a monumental task at hand.
3rd ODI: India are 68/3 after 17 overs. Kohli - 33* off 37 | Dhoni - 17* off 33. The pressure of too many dots is already putting MS under pressure. India need 246 from 198 balls.