||Desk Report||

Australia kept the 5-match series alive 2-1 after beating India by 32 runs in the third ODI held on Friday in Ranchi. Earlier, India won the first two matches, though the visitors were Australia were close, but finally, they managed to cross the line.

Usman Khawaja smashed 104 and Aaron Finch knocked 93 that put Aussies to 313 for 5. In reply, India managed to score 281 all out in 48.2 overs. Though the Indian skipper hit 123 off 95 including 16 fours and 1 six, the hosts lost the game.

Earlier, Virat Kohli invited the visitors to bat after wicking toss, which proved a wrong decision later.  The two openers Usman Khawaja and Aaron Finch gave a solid start adding 193 runs in the opening-stand. In-form captain Finch smashed 93 off 99 balls including 10 fours and 3 sixes before his departure by Kuldeep Yadav. But Khawaja was still on the crease and continued his scoring, knocked his maiden ODI ton 104 off 113 hitting 11 fours and 1 six. According to stats, it was the first individual ton for Aussies in a winning cause since David Warner's 124 in Bengaluru in September2017.

However, Mohammed Shami finally removed Khawaja, followed by in-form Glenn Maxwell for 47.  Then, Kuldeep Yadav gave another breakthrough sending back Shaun Marsh for 7. The visitors lost another wicket of Peter Handscomb for the naught, who also being dismissed by Kuldeep. However, another in-form batsman Marcus Stoinis and wicketkeeper Alex Carey dragged Aussies at 331. Stoinis remained unbeaten for 31 while Carey for 21. Kuldeep Yadav took 3 for 64.

In chasing of a massive target of 314, India lost Shikhar Dhawan (1) for a total of 11. In the very next over, another opener Rohit Sharma was sent back for 14, followed by Ambati Rayudu for 2. India were 27 for 3 while skipper Kohli along with MS Dhoni took charge and stove off the home side adding 59 runs in the fourth-wicket-stand. But, the pair was broken as MS Dhoni bowled out for 26.

Kohli then, along with Kedar Jadhav added 88-run in the fifth-wicket stand before Kedar’s departure for 26. However, the captain was still on the crease and finally knocked his 41st ODI ton before being bowled out by Zampa. Vijay Shankar and Ravindra Jadeja tried to resist, but Shankar dismissed for 32, followed by Jadeja for 24. Kuldeep Yadav was being stopped for 10 and Mohammed Shami for 8. India were all dismissed at 281. Pat Cummins, Jhye Richardson and Adam Zampa picked up three wickets each. The two teams now will lock horns in Mohali on March 10.

Khawaja, who clinch the Man of the Match award, said after the post-match reaction, “There is nothing like winning. Especially against a very good Indian side. They made us work hard. Patty getting us those wickets early when we first went out there was massive, but Virat batting the way he is and then a lot of good batsmen around, nice to get that win… My first hundred in ODIs, I had 98 before this and ran myself out, so it was nice to get those extra two runs today.”

Brief Scores

Australia: 313/5