Indian team saved some face in the 3rd ODI after winning it by 13 runs. However, they lost the series 2-1 to Australia, who had registered impressive wins in Sydney.
This match was played in Canberra’s Manuka Oval and India batted first after Virat Kohli won the toss. He himself made 63 runs, but none of the other batsmen could continue despite starts.
Then, Hardik Pandya (92*) and Ravindra Jadeja (66*) added 150* runs for the sixth wicket and pushed India’s total to 302/5 in 50 overs. It was sublime hitting from the duo as at one stage India looked barely reaching 250 after Kohli was dismissed at the score reading 152 in 32nd over.
However, it was a big day for Virat Kohli, who went past 12,000 runs in ODI cricket, in his 251st match and 242nd innings, becoming the fastest batsmen to do so, leaving Sachin Tendulkar behind, who made 12,000 ODI runs in 300 innings.
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In reply, Marnus Labuschagne and Steve Smith both were dismissed for 7 runs each with Shardul Thakur removing Smith and T Natarajan picking Marnus as his maiden ODI wicket on debut. Thakur had a field day, picking Henriques (22) and Abbott as well, finishing with 3/51 in 10 overs.
Aaron Finch counter-attacked with 75 and with Alex Carey (38) and Cameron Green (21) helped Australia in middle overs. Then Glenn Maxwell showed his hitting prowess with 59 in 38 balls with 4 sixes and 3 fours.
However, Bumrah (2/43) clean bowled Maxwell, to put the match in India’s pocket and in the end, Australia managed just 289 runs in 49.2 overs. India won the match by 13 runs, handing Australia their first loss in international cricket on Manuka Oval in Canberra.
Hardik Pandya was named the Man of the Match for his 92*, while Steve Smith won the Player of the Series award.
The cricket fraternity was elated to see Indian bowlers in form and the team finally winning a match giving them confidence going into the T20I series, which begins on December 4, in Canberra itself.
Here are the tweets:
