Owing to a through performance, Australia has clinched India vs Australia 2019 five-match One-day International series at the Punjab Cricket Association Stadium in Mohali. The guests rode on a prolific opening show from Ashton Turner who was equally supported by wicket-keeper batsman Alex Cary. The Kangaroos went on to win the game by four wickets to level the series two each with 13 balls to spare. With this, the series decider will be held at Feroz Shah Kotla Stadium in New Delhi on March 13.
In the high-scoring thriller, the Kangaroos has prevailed with a record run-chase. Turner remained unbeaten on 84 off 43 deliveries. He slammed six sixes and five fours. Carey faced 15-balls for his 21*
Man of the Match:
Turner, who registered his maiden half-century in his second ODI played a gem of a knock to take Indian bowlers to cleaners. He went on to take Australia home by winning the game in style.
Handscomb has set up a plinth for a record chase. He on his way excelled to slam first-ever ton in the 50-over format.
The turning point of the game:
The partnership of 86 off 39 between Turner and Carey for the sixth wicket has taken away the game from India.
India vs Australia 2019, Mohali: Australia’s innings:
In a bid to chase the target of 359, Australia had a miserable start when the lost two quick wickets at the score of 12.
Aussie skipper Aaron Finch has yet again faltered against Bhuvneshwar Kumar. Finch got castled on nought to bag an unwanted record for bagging two ducks in a bilateral ODI series.
He was followed by southpaw Shaun Marsh when Jasprit Bumrah yorked him. Marsh faced 10 deliveries for his six while finding a fence once.
However, Peter Handscomb and Usman Khawaja have kept Australia into the game by slamming 192-run partnership off 178 balls for the third wicket.
Handscomb has brought up his maiden ODI hundred after Usman Khawaja failed to register his back-to-back hundred. Khawaja was caught by Kuldeep Yadav on the bowling of Bumrah. He faced 99-balls for his 91.
The right-handed batsman Handscomb slammed 117 off 105 balls. His innings was laced with eight fours and three sixes.
Glenn Maxwell had a brisk start to score 13-ball 23 before Kuldeep Yadav trapped him in front of the stumps.
India vs Australia 2019, Mohali: Here’s Australia’s scorecard:
India vs Australia 2019, Mohali: India’s innings
On deciding to bat first, Kohli’s decision was equally backed by Rohit Sharma and Shikhar Dhawan. The duo has stitched 193-run stand for the opening wicket in 31 overs.
So much so, since 2013 ICC Champions Trophy, Dhawan-Rohit backed each other at the top to achieve yet another feat into their kitty. Both stand second on the list of most run-getters as a pair in ODIs for India. They’ve eclipsed Sachin Tendulkar and Virender Sehwag to bag the milestone.
Unfortunately, Rohit was five shy away from his 23rd ODI hundred when he played a shot to perfection at deep square leg region where Handscomb completed a simple catch on the bowling of Jhye Richardson.
Rohit managed to post 92-ball 95 runs on the board with the help of seven fours and two sixes.
However, his partner Dhawan, who was criticised for his poor show with the bat, returned to a form by slamming his 16th ODI hundred. And on his way to hundred, he further registered his highest ODI total by surpassing his previous best of 137 which came against the Proteas in February 2015.
Dhawan was cleaned up by Pat Cummins as his strike-rate read as 124.34.
Lokesh Rahul, who made a return after replacing Ambati Rayudu, had a decent start but he failed to continue with his momentum. He was undone by Adam Zampa when Alex Carey completed a sharp catch behind the stumps. Rahul faced 31-balls for his 26.
In between, skipper Virat Kohli aimed to continue with his tempo following back-to-back hundred. But his innings was cut short on seven off six balls when Carey completed a low catch on the bowling of Richardson. And with this breakthrough, Richardson got Kohli’s wicket for the fourth time since home series earlier this year.
Kedar Jadhav could manage 10 runs off 12 deliveries, whereas, wicketkeeper-batsman Rishabh Pant played a cameo of 24-ball 36 with the help of four fours and a six.
Furthermore, Vijay Shankar consumed 15-balls to score 26. All of them were dismissed by Cummins.
At the fag end of innings, Yuzvendra Chahal was caught and bowled by Cummins on one to complete his maiden five-for in ODIs.
Kuldeep Yadav remained not out on one, as Jasprit Bumrah swung his willow on the final delivery to fetch maximum.
India post 358 for nine on board in 50 overs. For Australia, Pat Cummins was the chief architect with the ball. He claimed five wickets while giving away 70 runs in 10 overs. On the other side, Richardson bagged three wickets although he was too expensive while conceding 85 runs in nine overs. Leg-spinner Adam Zampa managed to pick a wicket for 57 in his quota of 10 overs.
India vs Australia 2019, Mohali: Here’s India’s scorecard:
As the series stand levelled 2-2, Australia and India will wrestle in the finale in New Delhi on Wednesday.