Melbourne, Jan 18: Vintage MS Dhoni once again produced a match-winning knock with the bat after Yuzvendra Chahal returned with splendid 6/42 as a clinical India defeated Australia by 7 wickets in the third one-day international (ODI) to clinch the series 2-1 here on Friday (January 18).
Chasing a below-par total of 231, India looked a little off the course in the middle overs and panic could have just seeped in when Virat Kohli departed for (46 of 61 deliveries) but a calm and composed Dhoni controlled the game in his own style i.e. by taking it to the very end and finishing it off in a flourish.
The 37-year-old remained unbeaten at 87 off 114 deliveries with Kedar Jadhav (61 off 57balls) hitting the winning runs. It was the 48th occasion when the finisher was present at the crease when the winning runs were scored. The next best on this list is South African great Jonty Rhodes (33).
India lost their openers cheaply in the run chase as the wicket kept getting slower. Rohit Sharma (9 off 17) and Shikhar Dhawan (23 off 46) took their time to settle down but were outplayed by Aussie pacers. Jhye Richardson was the pick of the bowlers for the Aussies as he returned with the figures of 10-1-27-1.
Another comeback man Chahal (6/42) reposed the faith of captain for picking him up in a crucial game by producing best-ever figures from an Indian spinner on the Australian soil. Chahal removed the top-order and later got rid of the tail to ensure India have a slightly lesser total to chase. Pacers Bhuvneshwar Kumar (8-1-28-2) and Mohammed Shami (9.4-0-47-2) were equally lethal with the new and old ball.
Here's how the game panned out:
Virat Kohli: It wasn't a great wicket to bat on, so we had to take it deep, but they were professional in getting the job done. Kedar with bat and ball is always handy. Chahal bowled really well. It's been an amazing tour for us. We drew the T20 series, won the Test and the ODI series. We are feeling confident and balanced as a side with the World Cup in mind.
Aaron Finch: We took it down to the wire. Our batting in the first couple of games was very good. Maybe, we should have set our targets lower on those sort of pitches.
MS Dhoni has been named the Man of the Series for his 3 fifties and two match-winning knocks.
"It was a slow wicket, so it was difficult to hit whenever you wanted to. No point going after the bowlers who were bowling well, so we wanted to take it deep and that was the plan. Kedar did a great job in executing. I am happy to bat at any number. The important thing is where the team needs me. I can't say I can't bat at No. 6 after playing 14 years," says Dhoni.
MS Dhoni has been named the Man of the Series for his 3 fifties and two match-winning knocks.
"It was a slow wicket, so it was difficult to hit whenever you wanted to. No point going after the bowlers who were bowling well, so we wanted to take it deep and that was the plan. Kedar did a great job in executing. I am happy to bat at any number. The important thing is where the team needs me. I can't say I can't bat at No. 6 after playing 14 years," says Dhoni.
Yuzvendra Chahal named the Man of the Match for his 6/42. "I enjoyed bowling for the first time in Australia (internationals). The ball was spinning a little bit, so I planned to bowl slow and vary my pace. Looking forward to the New Zealand series."
King of Chase!
Updated figures.....
— Rajneesh Gupta (@rgcricket) January 18, 2019
Highest batting average in successful chases in ODIs (min.25 inns):
103.07 MS Dhoni (2783 runs in 73 innings)
97.98 Virat Kohli (4899 runs in 78 innings)#AUSvIND https://t.co/NQGfSFPrW3
India win! Kedar Jadhav hits the winning runs as Team India win the match by 7 wickets and clinch series 2-1. MS Dhoni 87*, his third consecutive half-century, and 61* from Kedar Jadhav lead the way in another remarkable run chase for the visitors.
Four!! Dhoni gets a boundary and scores are level. India need just one run to win.
FIFTY! Kedar Jadhav gets to his half-century with a boundary. India - 217/8 in 48 overs. 14 needed off 12 deliveries. That boundary also brought 100-run partnership between him and Dhoni.
Four! Boundary on the next delivery for Dhoni.
Dropped! Dhoni charges down the ground to hammer Stoinis but Finch couldn't hold on to it at mid-off. India steal a couple and Kedar survives a run out by a whisker.
Good attendance at MCG!
The official attendance at today’s #AUSvsIND ODI is 53,603 pic.twitter.com/JhVcydJ7Jg
— Melbourne Cricket Ground (@MCG) January 18, 2019
200 comes up for India in 46.2 overs. They still need 31 to win.
11 runs came from 46th over. India need 33 from 24 deliveries. It's going to be a nail-biting thriller.
Four! MS Dhoni gets a boundary on the fourth delivery from Stoinis' over. India reach 187/3 after 45 overs. 44 needed from 30 balls. Big strokes needed from Dhoni and Kedar as they have 7 wickets in hand.
0,0,0,0,0,1! Just one run conceded by Adam Zampa from his final over. Dhoni played the spinner with extra caution, but the asking rate has climbed up.
5 runs conceded by Marcus Stoinis from his over. India reach 178/3 after 43 overs. It's getting tight into the middle. India still 53 short of target, 42 balls remaining. It's evenly poised.
Review lost! Australia lose their DRS as they go upstairs to review appeal against Dhoni. The ball was missing wickets. Dhoni stays.
Dhoni taking some medical aide on the field from physio Patrick Farhart. There's some problem in his thigh. India need 60 from 54 deliveries.
India reach 165/3 in 40 overs. Ten overs left and the visitors need 66 more runs to win. Dhoni (54*) and Jadhav (29*) out there.
50-run-partnership between MS Dhoni and Kedar Jadhav in 58 deliveries.
Fifty! Third consecutive half-century from MS Dhoni. This is his 70th ODI fifty and came off 74 deliveries but the onus of taking India home lies on his shoulders.
FIFTY!@msdhoni in 2019
— BCCI (@BCCI) January 18, 2019
Matches: 3 ✔️
50s: 3✔️
Average: 150 plus✔️#AUSvIND #TeamIndia pic.twitter.com/uyJQAvmKe7
7 runs came from that over bowled by Marcus Stoinis. India reach 147/3 after 37 overs.
Wicket! Virat Kohli pays the price for going for the ball leaving him and Jhye Richardson gives India a big jolt. Kohli departs for 46 and India are three down.
Four! Leading edge from MS Dhoni's blade off Siddle and ball races towards third-man boundary. This bring up 50-partnership between him and Kohli.
100 comes up for India with another quick single between Kohli and Dhoni.
Lucky!! A mixup in between had almost cost MS Dhoni dearly. Had the throw from wicketkeeper been perfect Dhoni would found himself way behind the line.
Dropped! MS Dhoni gets a reprieve on the very first delivery he faced as Maxwell put down a sitter at point off Stoinis.
Wicket! Marcus Stoinis strikes in his very first over as he catches Shikhar Dhawan (23) off his own delivery. The left-handed batsman had faced 46 deliveries and never looked in his zone all through his innings. India - 59/2 in 16.2 overs.
Marcus Stoinis with the big wicket of Shikhar Dhawan!
— cricket.com.au (@cricketcomau) January 18, 2019
Stream live via Kayo HERE: https://t.co/6xmi9N8VsW #AUSvIND pic.twitter.com/OTCp2cpn09
15 overs have been bowled, India are 54/1.