Virat Kohli’s half-century went in vain as Adam Zampa’s four-wicket haul and all-round team efforts helped Australia defeat India by 21 runs in the third and last match of the ODI series here at MA Chidambaram Stadium on Wednesday.
With the win, Australia clinched the three-match ODI series by 2-1. Australia are the new team at the top of the ICC Men’s ODI Rankings after their thrilling win over India in Chennai. The 21-run win takes Australia marginally ahead of India at the top, with the visitors at 113.286 rating points compared to the Men in Blue’s 112.638. Before the start of the final ODI, India were on top with 114 rating points and Australia had 112.
For Australia, Zampa bagged four while Ashton Agar scalped two wickets. Kohli scored the highest for India at 54 of 72 balls. Hardik Pandya slammed 40 runs in 40 deliveries. Chasing the target of 270, India got off to a flying start as openers Rohit Sharma and Shubman Gill slammed Australian bowlers all around the ground and made them toil hard.
The Indian duo kept piling runs while slamming boundaries at regular intervals and took their team’s total beyond the 50-run mark in under eight overs.
Sean Abbott then provided his team with a significant breakthrough as he dismissed well-set batter Rohit Sharma for 30. The right-handed batter Virat Kohli then came out to bat at the crease. It did not take long for Australia to give another blow to India as Adam Zampa dismissed well-set batter Shubman Gill for 37.
KL Rahul then came out to bat. Kohli opened his hands and slammed one four and one six against Ashton Agar in the 18th over of the game. The Indian duo also brought up a 50-run partnership. However, Australian bowlers delivered tight bowling and controlled the flow of runs. Rahul then slammed a boundary after 49 balls in the 26th over of the game. Rahul hammered Mitchell Starc for 11 runs with the help of one six and four in the 27th over of the game. Rahul’s stint at the crease was cut short as he was dismissed by Adam Zampa. Rahul returned after scoring 32 runs in 50 balls.
Brilliant fielding from Steve Smith sent Axar Patel back into the pavilion as the Indian batter was run out after playing four balls. Hardik Pandya came out to bat. Kohli slammed his 65th ODI half-century and kept the scoreboard ticking.
Ashton Agar gave double blows as he dismissed well-set Kohli and Suryakumar Yadav. Agar first claimed the wicket of Kohli who slammed 54 runs and then Suryakumar for a golden duck.
Ravindra Jadeja then came out to bat. The duo of Jadeja and Pandya took India’s total beyond the 200-run mark. The crucial partnership was broken by Zampa who dismissed Pandya for 40 in the 44th over of the game.
Kuldeep Yadav was next on the crease. Jadeja could not stand long on the crease as he was dismissed by Zampa after scoring 18. New batter Mohammed Shami slammed Marcus Stoinis for one six and boundary. However in the same over he handed his wicket to the Aussie bowler. Mohammed Siraj then came out to bat.
In the 49th over of the match, Stoinis and Alex Carey’s quick fielding and stumping got Australia India’s last wicket. The hosts were bundled out for 248.