In a stunning turn of events, Australia managed to salvage some pride with a resounding 66-run triumph over India in the third One-Day International (ODI) clash on Wednesday. Although the Indian cricket team had already secured a series victory with a 2-1 lead, this victory served as a consolation for Australia, sparing them the ignominy of a whitewash.
What initially seemed like a promising chase for India, with the team cruising at 171 for 2 in pursuit of a challenging target of 353, took a dramatic turn as the middle-order succumbed to the pressure created by the part-time off-spin of Glenn Maxwell. Maxwell’s exceptional spell, where he claimed four vital wickets for just 40 runs, proved to be the turning point of the match. Despite a strong foundation set by Skipper Rohit Sharma, who scored a dynamic 81, and Virat Kohli, who notched up a fifty, the rest of the batting lineup faltered, ultimately handing Australia the advantage.
In the first innings, Mitchell Marsh was the star performer for Australia, narrowly missing out on a century with a superb knock of 96. He received significant support from the likes of David Warner, Steve Smith, and Marnus Labuschagne, all of whom scored aggressive half-centuries. This collective batting effort helped Australia break their five-ODI losing streak.
Looking ahead, both teams will engage in a couple of warm-up matches before their much-anticipated clash in the tournament opener in Chennai on October 8. With this victory, Australia aims to regain its form ahead of the World Cup.
Despite the loss, Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli’s partnership at the start of India’s innings was a bright spot, accumulating 70 runs for the second wicket. However, after their dismissals, India’s middle-order struggled, allowing Australia to seize control of the game.
Glenn Maxwell played a pivotal role for Australia, not only with the ball but also in the field, where he took a stunning reflex catch to dismiss Rohit Sharma and later claimed the crucial wicket of Virat Kohli. Other Australian bowlers, such as Josh Hazlewood and Cameron Green, provided vital support to Maxwell’s efforts.
While Rohit Sharma’s explosive innings featured six sixes and five fours, taking him to 81 runs off 57 balls, Virat Kohli’s contribution of 66 runs was equally noteworthy. However, the lack of support from the rest of the middle-order proved costly for India.
KL Rahul managed to add 52 runs with Shreyas Iyer for the fourth wicket before falling to Mitchell Starc for 26 runs. Suryakumar Yadav’s dismissal for 8 and Shreyas Iyer’s departure for 48 further hindered India’s pursuit of the target.
In the end, India’s batting lineup crumbled under the pressure exerted by Australia’s bowlers, resulting in a comprehensive win for the visitors.
The Indian cricket team, despite this loss, retains its top position in the ICC ODI Rankings, reflecting their consistent performance in the format. While Australia may have fallen short in the series, their convincing victory in the third ODI underscores their resilience and determination.
As the cricketing world eagerly awaits the World Cup, these encounters between India and Australia serve as a tantalizing preview of what promises to be an exciting tournament.
