Australia break India’s winning streak in ODIs by defeating Virat & Co by 35 runs and complete stunning turn-around to win series 3-2
Considered as gone on the back of series of disappointing results in limited overs games in last year and half, defending World Champions pull out a historic series win against India for the first time in ten years by beating World Cup favourites India by 35 runs in the final game of five match series at the Feroz Shah Kotla stadium in New Delhi on Wednesday.
Batting first, courtesy of brilliant hundred by Usman Khawaja, Australia posted 272 runs on the board asking India to chase 273 to win series in the skipper's home turf but it turned out to be an off day for India's top order and world's number one batsman, who failed to entertain his local crowd by playing memorable innings before he was caught behind by Alex Carey in 13th over of his going to IPL teammate Marcus Stoinis delivery. He scored 20 off 22 balls and at the time of his dismissal India scoreboard was reading just 68 runs.
However it was not just Kohli who failed to perform in his local ground, two another Delhi boys Shikhar Dhawan and Rishabh Pant too had an off day in the business.
It was a lot expected from Dhawan, who came after scoring career best 143 runs in last game, but his stay at crease couldn't last long and the left hander was the first to go after getting caught behind for 12 runs.
While seen as Dhoni's deputy behind wickets, Delhi's former Ranji skipper Pant welcomed Zampa by hitting six of the very first ball of his spell but was sent back to pavilion by Lyon after he was caught at slip by Ashton Turner managing run a ball 16.
At the top only Rohit Sharma managed to get some runs but his 56 run innings came off 89 balls, which is in complete contrast to his reputation of an explosive limited over batsman.
He was sent back by Zampa in the 29th over after Carey did a brilliant work behind wickets to remove his bails before he could manage to return back into the crease. And three balls later, Ravindra Jadeja was also stumped for duck leaving India to struggle at 132 for 6.
And just when it was looking like, it's all over for India, Bhuvneshwar Kumar (46 off 54 balls) and Kedar Jadhav (44 off 57 balls) tried to get something out of nowhere. The duo added 91 of 103 balls and blossom up India's hope of an astonishing comeback but Bhuvi's dismissal in the last ball of 46th over was a major setback. And with Kedar's sensational catch at boundary line by Maxwell of the immediate next ball. Any hopes of India's comeback was virtually dismantled.
The remaining two batsmen could only add 13 runs and India was all out in the last ball of the game and series.
While this win will boost Australia's confidence going into the World Cup, where they will compete for the defence of their record fifth title. It is a harsh reality check for Virat Kohli and his boys just before cricket's biggest extravaganza.
This series defeat will hurt more because of the fact that India was in stern control after winning first two ODIs and were looking for a series sweep but the mighty Kangaroo's made a sensational comeback and did what it looked as an absolute impossible after first two games.
Earlier, after winning toss and electing to bat first, riding on brilliant hundred by in form Usman Khawaja and his 99 runs partnership for second wicket with Peter Handscomb, Australia posted 272 runs on the board for the loss of 9 wickets.
Bhuvneshwar Kumar turned out to be most successful bowler for India picking 3 for 48, along with Shami and Jadeja also grabbing two wickets each.
While for Australia, Adam Zampa was the wrecker in chief with three wickets for 46 runs and two wickets were each shared by the three pacers Cummins, Stoinis and Richardson.
