India sealed their ninth ODI victory in a row with a win over Australia that seals the series with two to play
Related: Hardik Pandya and India power past Australia to clinch ODI series
India win the series. Australia no good.
So, that’s nine on the trot for the home side, their longest ODI winning streak, wrapping up this series with two rubbers still to play. Australia, meanwhile, have lost ten of their last 11 away from home. Ugly, no matter how you cut it.
There it is! Pandey down the ground with one last lavish stroke, then the winning run digging a Richardson yorker down to fine leg. That’ll do, 13 balls to spare. Clinical, all told. Some final thoughts in a tic.
47th over: India 287-5 (Pandey 30, Dhoni 2)
Well, Maxwell is on. Sure, why not. Two singles. Dhoni, for the most part, just happy to knock it on the head. Come on fellas, finish this off now.
46th over: India 285-5 (Pandey 29, Dhoni 1)
Can’t get over this response to Dhoni. As Harsha says, cheerily, every person is on their feet. Off the mark to mid-on. Nine needed, four overs. Nine on the trot for India when they finish this off.
Pandyamonium comes to an end! Tries to clear a fifth sixth over long-on, but doesn’t quite make the contact this time. But what a hand it has been. Brought up to number four and has, quite simply, won the match for his country. Crowd don’t mind though, thrilled that Pandya is gone as it means they can watch Dhoni bat for a few minutes. What a massive response!
45th over: India 283-4 (Pandya 78, Pandey 29)
Boom, boom, boom, boom!I want you in my room! (Sorry, had to). Let’s go through it. Stonis the man getting punished. Pandey, slap through midwicket. Four. Pandey, pulled through midwicket. Four. Pandya, ramp over the ‘keeper. Four. Pandya, pull shot that would have travelled two or three times the length of the boundary. Four. A couple singles along the way. 18 off the over. Carnage. Nothing Australia can do.
44th over: India 265-4 (Pandya 69, Pandey 20)
Twitter is still losing its mind over Pandya being elevated to four. Weird. Anyway, what a player. Demonstrated by the most immaculate on-drive off Cummins to begin the fresh over. Hardest shot in the game, and all that. A lot more than a bloke who smacks them over cow corner. Eight from it. Nearly done now, 29 to get in six overs for the series win.
43rd over: India 257-4 (Pandya 63, Pandey 18)
It is Stoinis. Probably not the guy they want bowling over 43, but Smith had to push hard with his frontliners between overs 30 and 40. Pandey cuts/slaps the penultimate delivery to the cover boundary. Ensures seven come from the over. 50 partnership up in 47 balls.
42nd over: India 250-4 (Pandya 62, Pandey 12)
Cummins it is. Clarke still predicting a hat-trick. A bit loose, but whatever works. He does go within a couple of inches of getting Pandya! Another inside edge that lands safely without crashing into the stumps. A lot of those tonight. Instead, four runs. He’s able to access third man twice to finish the over, which is worth seven. 250 up in the process.
Yep: 'Since the 2015 World Cup, nobody has a higher strike rate against spinners than Hardik Pandya (50+ runs). #INDvAUS'
41st over: India 243-4 (Pandya 55, Pandey 12)
Agar pushes a couple through before throwing them up. Best available plan at this stage, mixing it up to try and force something. He can’t, other than one inside edge. Three singles added. 1-for-71 the final figures of the spinner. He was better than that though. “I can feel a hat-trick coming on!” says Clarke. He was having such a good night on the mic, too.
40th over: India 240-4 (Pandya 53, Pandey 11)
NCN’s final over here, in the last of the four-men-out power play. Whatever we’re calling that in 2017. And he’s done it well, mixing up lengths, lines and speeds. But both batsmen play calmly, pushing five runs to sweepers. India need 54 from the final ten, Australia have one over left from Agar, then it’ll be up to Richarson, Stoinis and Cummins. The latter to get first crack, I’d expect. This isn’t going to the 50th over anyway, as Clarke rightly says on TV.
39th over: India 235-4 (Pandya 50, Pandey 10)
Massive! Again! Pandya loves taking on Agar, by my count four times he’s taken him over the rope. He’ll be gutted, the spinner, having won the error the last ball of his previous over. Long on has been the destination of each six, this again deep into the crowd. 29 runs have been added in three overs now. Pandya 50 from 45 balls with a single to square leg. Should be matchwinning.
38th over: India 227-4 (Pandya 43, Pandey 9)
Ten more runs to go with the 11 from the previous over. That cuts deep after the dropepd catch. Pandey’s turn this time, flicking NCN off the hip then taking him down the ground with ideal timing. This could be over in a hurry from here.
37th over: India 217-4 (Pandya 42, Pandey 0)
Pretty good commentary from Clarke. “Will Pandya take on Agar again down the ground?” Next ball: over long-on for six! From the crease when contact is made, just a lovely swing. All muscle. Four more when Agar offers up a half-tracker. Can see what he is trying to do, darting through the gate, but Pandya is too quick and too good. Dropped! Is that the game? Smith! Pandya gets a big edge, sliced away over cover. Smith running back does just about everything right to get into position, but can only get a hand to it in the end. Fantastic from Agar to throw it up. Smith got there in time, but seemed to lose it. Either way, that was, surely the moment. The captain knows it too.
36th over: India 206-4 (Pandya 31, Pandey 0)
Pandey joins to man who replaced him up the list. Wonderful from Richardson, just short of a length with a couple of cutters, then full at the stumps. One run and a wicket from the over. He’s bowled superbly in this spell.
Two wickets in two overs! It is the new man Jadhav, edging Richardson with an attempted cut. No footwork there. A tiny little nick that has now really got Australia back in the game. But India, of course, have depth. And Dhoni.
35th over: India 205-3 (Pandya 30, Jadhav 2)
Jadhav next, so he stays at number five. Sure that discussion will continue to generate plenty of energy. Off the mark with an inside edge! Close call. Fantastic from Agar.
Kohli has holed out! Around the wicket, takes on Agar down the ground but fails to make the desired contact, Finch does the rest with a composed take about 15m in from the rope. Where did that come from?! Previous ball was declared dead when a rag came out of Agar’s pocket, the run not able to be taken. Maybe some frustration as a result of that? Well then. They have dried up the runs and got their man. Do they have enough runs to bowl out India in time from here?
34th over: India 202-2 (Kohli 28, Pandya 29)
Richardson given another twist. And in keeping with the theme of the last little period, he’s tight. To the extent that a mid up nearly comes from the final ball of the over, Pandya trying to turn one into two but sent back by his skipper. Four from it. Still a fair bit of concert about Agar’s hand. He’s been off then on then off. Now, it seems, about to return to the attack.
33rd over: India 198-2 (Kohli 26, Pandya 27)
Stonis’ handy spell continues. Kohli picks up a couple through the gap at cover. A trio of singles round out the over. Five from it. Under 100 the required runs now. When will Kohli decide to suck the life of it as a contest? These chases normally conclude on his terms.
32nd over: India 193-2 (Kohli 22, Pandya 26)
I think we can call this a proper little comeback from Australia. Well, maybe not if they don’t find a wicket from it, but two singles here makes 13 from the last four overs. NCN did well to keep Pandya quiet. Kohli retains the strike with another single to third man. To be fair, they only need 5.6 an over to win from here, so they can afford to chill out. They can do that now at their second drinks break.
31st over: India 191-2 (Kohli 21, Pandya 25)
Stoinis concedes four singles. So, that’s 11 in the last three. Or more relevance: Kohli nearly knocked over from the last ball. Inside edge that just about spills back onto the stumps. Not that you’d know from TV, Harsha more focussed on Rohit’s hitting from earlier.
30th over: India 187-2 (Kohli 19, Pandya 23)
NCN replaces Cummins. Why? Might need a rest. But if not, surely still the go-to while these two threaten to make the mathematics of who bowls when irrelevant over the next half-hour or so if not dismissed? No slight on Coulter-Nile, who does his bit: three from the over. Kohli retains the strike with a glide to third man. Easy peasy, innit?
29th over: India 184-2 (Kohli 17, Pandya 22)
Stoinis was taken to last time he had a crack, but makes sense for Smith to keep throwing it around, especially with Pandya enjoying Agar’s offerings so much. Does well too, four singles to the sweepers but nothing further. Big debate going on about Pandya being elevated to no. 4. Working pretty well so far here.
Cummins should just head home after this game. Keep him for the Ashes. No point playing out even the last two games of the series. #INDvsAUS
28th over: India 180-2 (Kohli 15, Pandya 20)
Cummins in no hurry to take Kohli on, making a tweak or two before charging in. Much as it was with Agar, a repeat of his previous over as well. Does everything right then Kohli takes him down the ground with an off-drive Sachin would be proud of. Outstanding execution with mid-off up. What a player.
27th over: India 172-2 (Kohli 9, Pandya 18)
Wow. Pandya has skills to take Australia down in a real hurry here. Second time he’s taken the first ball of an Agar over cow corner. This time he’s standing tall and proud when contact is made. Ten from it, the rest of the set milked to the sweepers. Perfect chasing.
26th over: India 162-2 (Kohli 7, Pandya 10)
Cummins to continue. The right call. He’s been the man most likely, got to back him in to try and run through India before these two get set in the slightest. BIG SHOUT for lbw, but turned down and no review. Handscomb cruicial there waving off the referral. That was against Pandya. When Kohli gets his chance he doesn’t miss out, to the last ball of the over flicking with class to the rope. The captain is away.
25th over: India 157-2 (Kohli 3, Pandya 9)
Agar launched by Pandya! The young man is away! First ball of the over, crashed into the crowd at midwicket with a fierce swing of the bat. Goodness me he’s got game this fella. Agar recovers, concedeing only singles thereafter. Nine from it, though.
24th over: India 148-2 (Kohli 2, Pandya 1)
Gee, how about the roar for Pandya? On that measure, he’s only behind Kohli and Dhoni for God-like status. That hasn’t taken long for the young all-rounder. Keeps the strike with a steer to third man.
Cummins is back and he’s done it! Both openers now gone and this game might be on again! It’s darted back at the right-hander, beating the bat and crashing into his front pad. Rahane misses the flick. Quick and straight, that’ll do it. No review. Two new batsmen at the crease with 146 still needed for the home side. Plenty will still need to break Australia’s way, but it isn’t yet game/series over. Not for nothing.
23rd over: India 145-1 (Rahane 68, Kohli 2)
Agar being sliced and diced by Murali Kartik on the telly. He’s back into the attack now. Weird criticism, saying that he liked him when he first played Test cricket. Anyway, he’s on now, and through the set for just four singles. Nice return considering he was off the field until not long ago with a dislocated finger. Australia have a window here to get back into the game. Won’t be open for long.
22nd over: India 141-1 (Rahane 66, Kohli 0)
Kohli yet to face as they crossed, Rahane adding to his boundary from before the wicket with a couple behind square. Huge roar for the captain, as always. They were showing highlights from India’s 2007 World T20 triumph earlier on the telly, it being ten years since that sliding doors (sorry) moment in our game. From it came the IPL and, well, everything that we consider normal about our game in 2017. Harsha got very excited when the shots of Dhoni taking his shirt off popped up.
There it is! The sub fielder Cartwright keeps his cool when under a big top edge at midwicket, completing the catch. Harder than it looks under the lights at this time of night. Rohit just lost his way a bit over the last few overs, so not entiely surprising that he’s fallen. Was an excellent innings, especially during the first power play.
21st over: India 134-0 (Rahane 59, Rohit 71)
Richo has fought back really well after Rohit literally popped him out of the stadium early on. A lesser lad would have fallen away badly from there. A couple of singles to sweepers on the posh side, nothing further.
20th over: India 132-0 (Rahane 58, Rohit 70)
NCN to Rahane. I wonder if NCN is connected to the NBN? Was anyone beyond 2013? Still pretty angry about this. He does ever so well to keep the Indian vice-captain down the business end for the duration of the over. But then, for reasons best explained by him, he tried to bounce him to finish. Didn’t work, this track flat as they come, Rahane smacking it through the onside for four more.
19th over: India 126-0 (Rahane 54, Rohit 69)
Richardson’s turn to try and create something from nothing. He doesn’t concede a boundary, so that’s commendable. Rohit tried to put him on the moon, but didn’t make enough contact, bouncing a metre of so from the rope. Outstanding work from Cummins making a nice stop at deep mid wicket. Very little reaction time after the ball bounced. A fine cricketer. Given he created the chance in the previous over, surprised he’s been taken off after just one over in his second spell, come to think of it.
18th over: India 121-0 (Rahane 51, Rohit 67)
On the other side, Moeen Ali has just pumped a 54-ball century. Couple overs left in England’s (big) I won’t be offended if you chuck that on instead, as India have this won. NCN also brought back, but it doesn’t matter now. Rahane takes him off the hip to the rope and moves to a half-century. Run a ball, piece of cake. 21st time to the mark in ODIs for him. Only one other single, to the West Australian’s credit.
WOOOOOW! No words for @MoeenAli– he brings up his century from 56 balls!
Just 12 balls for his second 50! https://t.co/Iokv5fMDtipic.twitter.com/lSOAoyx3qz
17th over: India 116-0 (Rahane 46, Rohit 67)
Well, it is Cummins that Smith is turning to for the wicket he so desparately requires. Makes no difference though! Bang, bang! Rohit just pumps the bowler back over his head, then pulls through midwicket to split the sweepers. He’s doing as he pleases here. This is sensational batting. INJURY! Agar was diving to save the second of the two but looks to have smacked a finger out of place. Uh oh. Straight off the field. If that’s his bowling hand, no way he’ll be able to continue. Send in the part-timers. DROPPED! Oh dear! Handscomb the man. It’s low and quick. He has to go with one hand. But still: the stand-in ‘keeper has put down Rohit Sharma! The chance created and not taken. Replacing Wade as a specialist stumper, that will be a talking point following this match, make no mistake about that. It ends an eventful over, and they’re directed by the umpires to grab grab a drink.
16th over: India 106-0 (Rahane 45, Rohit 58)
Marcus Stonis to replace Kane Richardson. The latter a South Australian. Wonder who he barracks for in the SANFL? A brilliant Grand Final in that competition earlier today, Sturt going back to back with a one-point win over Port Adelaide. Great stuff. Stonis does well too... until he doesn’t. Can’t drop short at his pace, Rahane punishing the mistake through midwicket again. Sounds crazy to say with just over a third of the runs collected, but we’re nearly at game over stage already. Let’s be honest with ourselves.
15th over: India 100-0 (Rahane 40, Rohit 57)
Short, no good. Agar gives Rohit a chance to swing his arms and he accepts. NCN nearly cuts off the cut with a big dive, but can’t get his hand on it. Clarke says the Indian grounds are so hard, when you dive it is like concrete. Explains why he takes a while to get up. Oh, more rubbish from Agar, second time he’s fell badly short in the over, pulled by Rahane to the midwicket rope. Keeps the strike with a clip to square leg and the 100 is up for the home side to end the 15th. Run rare required south of 5.6 an over now. Doing this easy.
FUN FACT: Australia have never taken a wicket in an ODI in India. #funfact
14th over: India 90-0 (Rahane 35, Rohit 52)
Rahane fond of responding to Rohit’s huge hitting with some lovely shots of his own. He punches the first ball of this new over from high in his stance. Cut off by the sweeper, but deserved a boundary. Rohit tries to heave over mid-on to a slower ball, and it is a miscue. Lucky it doesn’t go to hand at cover. Really doesn’t need to do that. Showing over to over that he can do a lot of damage without a lot of risk. Six from the Richardson over.
13th over: India 84-0 (Rahane 31, Rohit 50)
Just when I was finished writing about Agar’s useful start, keeping Rahane then Rohit cramped across five well-directed deliveries, Rohit smashes him over long on for six! In doing so the opener moves to 50 in 42 balls. Pretty much a half-volley, a clean swing through the ball. Wonderful strike. His fourth six along the way. If he’s still there at over 25 it may as well be game over. Who can Smith turn to? It has been Zampa over the last 18 months, but he isn’t in the XI tonight.
12th over: India 77-0 (Rahane 30, Rohit 44)
Richardson could have dropped his bundle after a poor start, but sticks with it here. Beats Rahane outside the off-stump, against the flow of play. Three singles, Rahane keeping the strike pulling along the carpet.
11th over: India 74-0 (Rahane 28, Rohit 43)
“If India bat 45 overs this is game over,” says Clarke as Agar enters the attack. The spinner will need to put on a clinic here to get his side back into it. Won’t happen in this first one, five of the six deliveries balls scored off without any risk. Perfect batting for the circumstances. Well set up for Kohli, too. Grinds them better than most/any.
India will be looking to their captain to guide this chase - here's a look at his approach in the last match. #INDvAUSpic.twitter.com/XoRVVYdXD3
10th over: India 68-0 (Rahane 26, Rohit 39)
Last over of the power play and they are not missing out! Rahane’s turn now, though. After watching Rohit explode, he’s into it with three boundaries in an over. The first is an ugly swipe, but it matters little with the field up. The second is clever, coming up to Stonis and clipping off the hip with fine leg up. Ideal timing. The third the best of the lot, finding a gap through backward point with a cut played with his knees bent to such an extent that he’s nearly on the ground when the contact is made. Just about the first ten overs. Can transfer into accumulation mode from an excellent base.
9th over: India 55-0 (Rahane 14, Rohit 38)
HUGE! Richardson has been PUT OUT OF THE GROUND. That sure is something. Rohit has charged and made room, the bowler obliging by dropping short. The swing is perfectly timed - he’s picked it and popped it literally out of the stadium at square leg! Not a small grandstand either. “I don’t hit my driver that far!,” says Clarke. “It must have gone 120 metres.” Joyous one-day batting. To be fair to Richardson, he fights back into the over with some well-directed changes of pace.
8th over: India 42-0 (Rahane 13, Rohit 30)
“It’s a sign of the times isn’t it,” Clarke says on the TV. Ten years ago 293 on the board would win 9/10 games, he says. Now? It’s just not enough. “They really needed 340.” He’s spot on, that hyperinflation in no small way starting during this corresponding series four years ago. Come to think about it, one of the first things I wrote about of this caper. There in one innings, Rohit his 16 sixes. Not so again this over though, Stonis into the attack and immediately putting the brakes on. Four from it via singles. Having a good series with the ball, he is. Has a big job tonight.
7th over: India 42-0 (Rahane 10, Rohit 29)
Richardson’s turn at the bowling crease. Good change. Oh and he’s nearly got Rohit! The book will read four runs, but that was a flay with less control off the front foot. At backward point Maxwell is diving to his left and got a hand to it - an excellent effort. Still, the runs keep flowing. And again! Richardson cannot drop short to this man right now. He rocks back and plunders to the midwicket rope. Only two men out in this power play, Rohit can help himself there. In total control here.
6th over: India 34-0 (Rahane 10, Rohit 21)
Rohit again, on that’s a better shot than the previous over, clipping with timing and class when NCN strays ever so slightly. Barely swung the bat. Gorgeous batting. And goes big again! Second over on the trot, swings through the line to a length delivery and lofts it over the long-off rope! Superb shot. A nice old dent being put into this. Australia urgently need to get rid of Rohit or this could get ugly on the evidence of the last couple of overs. 11 from the over.
5th over: India 23-0 (Rahane 10, Rohit 10)
BIG! Rohit has looked ropey so far, but not here, flogging a pull hook well into the crowd over square leg. That’ll help get the blood pumping for the opener. Watching the replay, he really got underneath it, getting it into the second tier of the stand! Cop that. Right from the over, both of them getting their teeth into this chase now.
4th over: India 15-0 (Rahane 9, Rohit 3)
Taken them three and a half overs of this power play, but India have their first boundary. It’s stand and deliver stuff from Rahane, who came down to meet the Coulter-Nile length delivery, slapping over cover. Singles then exchanged, Rohit’s less convincing off an inside edge. Leg bye to finish it.
3rd over: India 8-0 (Rahane 4, Rohit 2)
Cummins hitting the deck hard here, Rahane picking out the ring fielders on the off-side, playing from the crease. Hmm, some controversy mid-over. Smith was lobbing the ball to the fielder at mid-on when the ball was essentially dead. But it went over his head, Stonis not picking it up at all. The umpires consult and agree that the Indians can’t add runs in that situation. I’m not so sure about that. Anyway, it’s over. Rahane again scores off the final ball of the over, pushing to the onside. One from it.
2nd over: India 7-0 (Rahane 3, Rohit 2)
It is NCN starting off as well. Bit of hoop, Rohit edging to third man along the ground. Squared up, though. Much improved bowler, Coulter-Nile. Wouldn’t be surprised if he is a big part of the World Cup defence a couple of years from now. Handscomb getting nice and active early on with the gloves, prompting a chat on the telly about him replacing Wade. The latter’s international career must be hanging by the proverbial thread. Back to the here and now: after talking up the paid, the bowler sprays one down legside and the ‘keeper can’t glove it. Couple added. Rahane keeps the strike with a single. Steady.
1st over: India 2-0 (Rahane 1, Rohit 1)
No risks to begin, Cummins on the spot well in the 140s kph. Rahane uses that pace to get off the mark down to third man. Rohit does likewise to keep the strike behind square to end the set.
Related: England v West Indies: third one-day international – live!
Righto. Players are out on the field. Big job ahead of Australia’s trio of quicks Pat Cummins, Nathan Coulter-Nile and Kane Richardson. Or, Cummo, NCN and Richo as I’ll probably end up referring to them at some stage. Rohit, Rahane and Virat ahead of them in the first instance. 293 the target. PLAY!
The defence.
“You know against India you have to take ten wickets.” The words of Aaron Finch, who did his bit with a punishing ton, but with the middle order unable to go on with it in the final ten overs - a crime in modern ODI cricket - that’s the reality for Australia now. There’s no way they will restrict India if they bat the distance; not on this track, not with the experience the hosts have chasing down anything. So wickets it must be.
What promised to be a fill-your-boots runfest turned into a surprisingly interesting Australian innings.
David Warner’s run-a-ball 42 set the tone early but it was Aaron Finch’s muscular 124 that did the damage. When Finch was in full flight it looked as though 350 was a gettable total but once he holed out to deep midwicket Australia slumped from 224-1 to 293-6 in 12 overs. Steve Smith looked set for more than his 63 while everyone else that followed struggled for timing.
50th over: Australia 293-6 (Stoinis 27, Agar 8)
Not the best final over from the otherwise excellent Bumrah. A couple of wides and a couple in Agar’s slot enable Australia to add a little gloss to the scoreboard.
49th over: Australia 281-6 (Stoinis 24, Agar 2)
Kumar’s final over full of well executed yorkers is spoiled by one delivery that slips out of his hand in his delivery stride. He’s fortunate to see it called a dead ball, not a no-ball and just five runs from the over sees Bhuvneshwar finish with 0-52 bowling with the new ball and then at the death on a very flat pitch.
What a catch! Pandey catches the ball on the ropes, lobs it back in, and steps back in to complete it https://t.co/4m8SkXeVuN#IndvAuspic.twitter.com/yTDhYsRA5m
48th over: Australia 276-6 (Stoinis 21, Agar 0)
Bumrah’s changes of pace are making him so difficult to score off. His slower ball is a floaty off-cutter but his quicker one is sharp and angled into the right-hander. He has 2-40 from his nine overs.
This is one of those catches that used to be ‘the best catch in the world’ and is now standard fare. Pandey takes Handscomb’s drive on the long-off boundary, overbalances but throws the ball up before he crosses the rope, returns to the field of play and completes the dismissal. Magical stuff.
47th over: Australia 272-5 (Stoinis 18, Handscomb 2)
Better for Australia courtesy of a couple of Kumar wides and a a remarkable straight driven four from Stoinis that was little more than the batsman digging out a yorker. Still frustrating at this stage to see Handscomb swing and miss at the final couple of deliveries.
46th over: Australia 263-5 (Stoinis 12, Handscomb 1)
Remember, Australia were cruising at 224-1 but since Finch holed out it’s been an ugly collapse.
With his stumping of Maxwell, @msdhoni now has 100 ODI stumpings for India, the most by any wicketkeeper for a country. #INDvAUSpic.twitter.com/VC1SyuCtWE
Brilliant from Bumrah. He returns to the attack with a dot ball, a leg-bye, then a slower ball off-cutter that is too good for Head’s mighty swipe.
The wheels falling off for Australia.
45th over: Australia 259-4 (Head 4, Stoinis 11)
Pace to see us home now with Bhuvneshwar Kumar returning to the attack for the first of his three remaining overs.
44th over: Australia 255-4 (Head 3, Stoinis 9)
Both these men are powerful hitters and can get the scoreboard moving at pace with little effort. And Stoinis does exactly that with what appeared to be a gentle push for six over long off. It was a decent over from Kuldeep though, with just that one hit beating the field.
43rd over: Australia 245-4 (Head 1, Stoinis 1)
Two new batsmen at the crease now and a likely 350ish has become a battle to make 300. Credit to India and their young spinners for hanging in when little was on offer.
The collapse continues with Maxwell’s ugly innings brought to a close. Chahal threw the ball wide of off stump, Maxwell - hatless it must be added - chased after it like a dog snapping its jaws at a treat, but he can’t reach far enough and Dhoni completes the formalities.
42nd over: Australia 243-3 (Maxwell 5, Head 0)
Kuldeep makes it spin at both ends and again he offers a line outside off stump that the batsmen find awkward getting away.
41st over: Australia 236-2 (Smith 60, Maxwell 3)
Chahal returns for his ninth over and he sends down a lovely over - again just two off it. The bowler tossing up his leggies outside off, making him an awkward prospect to slog.
40th over: Australia 234-2 (Smith 59, Maxwell 2)
Four overs of spin still to be bowled at some point, but not right now as Bumrah comes into the attack. He bowls four dot balls in a very tidy over too, conceding just two runs while Maxwell struggles to find his timing.
39th over: Australia 232-2 (Smith 58, Maxwell 1)
The wicket ball, by the way, was the fastest of Kuldeep’s spell, so it wasn’t just a tired batsman holing out, the bowler played his part in the dismissal. Reward for persistence.
Good to see Maxwell came in ahead of wicket-keeper Handscomb. Sets the tone. #INDvAUS
38th over: Australia 224-2 (Smith 51, Maxwell 0)
That was a super knock fro Aaron Finch, exactly the innings his captain was imploring his side to produce during the week.
Kuldeep continues his penance and he’s finally rewarded for it; Finch slapping a brutal slog sweep into the safe hands of deep midwicket.
37th over: Australia 221-1 (Finch 122, Smith 50)
Pandya’s figures haven’t been hammered too badly, which is a testament to his variety. Once again he sends down an over without conceding a boundary, which is no mean feat. There are enough singles in there for skipper Smith to reach his 50 though - his 19th in ODIs.
36th over: Australia 216-1 (Finch 120, Smith 47)
The final drinks break of the innings has been taken, so it’s all slog no grog from hereon in.
What in the name of baggy greens is this ODI? The mean match of a weird series and we’re given a belter on a ground I wouldn’t trust with a national match. Should I blame the curator or the players for not being extraordinary enough? Nevermind me. Just woke up, grumpy.
35th over: Australia 206-1 (Finch 113, Smith 45)
Pandya continues his role of cannon fodder and Australia bringing up the 200 in an over featuring a meaty swipe for four by Finch who is now in T20 mode. Poor bloke’s probably cream crackered and just wants an ice bath and a tall mango lassi.
34th over: Australia 197-1 (Finch 107, Smith 44)
Kuldeep continues and after Smith milks a single Finch sweeps hard for four to bring up his century! Terrific batting from the opener who came into the game after a calf strain, lacked timing for his first 40 or so runs and then shifted through the gears.
33rd over: Australia 186-1 (Finch 97, Smith 43)
Pandya back into the attack and he’s looked as likely as anyone today with his changes of pace and variety of slower balls. He concedes only three runs as the fatiguing Finch nears his century.
32nd over: Australia 183-1 (Finch 95, Smith 42)
Kuldeep backed in by his skipper despite Finch’s aggression and he delivers a tidy over in return.
31st over: Australia 180-1 (Finch 93, Smith 40)
A trademark wristy four from Smith sets up another good over for Australia off Chahal. This partnership now worth more than 100 and it’s come at a run-a-ball.
30th over: Australia 171-1 (Finch 91, Smith 34)
Australia have built an excellent platform out there and another straight six from Finch keeps the momentum going. Kuldeep beat Finch in the flight and the stump mic picked up an ‘Oh no” but so short are the boundaries it didn’t matter. The opener took no chances with the next delivery, muscling a straight drive all along the turf for four much safer runs.
29th over: Australia 160-1 (Finch 80, Smith 33)
Chahal the latest bowling change for India and three dot balls in a row suggest a big shot might be on its way - and it comes - a brutal pull from Finch from a delivery just a fraction short that scoots away for four.
28th over: Australia 153-1 (Finch 75, Smith 32)
Kuldeep wasn’t out of the attack for long and he almost gets Finch with a sweep that just lobs over short fine leg. Business as usual aside from that scare with the scoreboard ticking over nicely.
Aaron Finch is like some sort of super-Hilton Cartwright. Hard to think of higher praise than that. #INDvAUS
27th over: Australia 146-1 (Finch 73, Smith 27)
Kumar and Bumrah in tandem as Kohli turns to his strike bowlers to break the partnership. There’s nothing happening out there for seam or spin though with Australia steadily accumulating runs.
26th over: Australia 137-1 (Finch 66, Smith 25)
Bumrah back into the attack and just two runs come from the opener’s bowling.
25th over: Australia 135-1 (Finch 65, Smith 24)
Aaron Finch is feeling the heat out there, as you might expect from almost two hours of batting in searing heat containing plenty of quick singles.
24th over: Australia 130-1 (Finch 61, Smith 23)
Kuldeep Yadav doesn’t look like replicating his hat-trick heroics of the other day. Both batsmen are milking singles on the on-side at will, with Brad Hogg on commentary (no mean left-arm wrist spinner himself) suggesting Kuldeep’s line is too straight.
23rd over: Australia 126-1 (Finch 59, Smith 21)
Pandya relieves Chahal but he can’t stem the flow of runs with Smith making that exaggerated leg-side flick of his for four and Finch taking a giant step down the track and crunching a cover drive of the highest order.
@JPHowcroft morning jp
Great start by aus here
22nd over: Australia 117-1 (Finch 55, Smith 16)
Kuldeep Yadav comes on for Pandya and the faintest bottom edge from a tickled sweep earns Finch another boundary. Tough job now for India’s young pair of spinners on a flat pitch offering no assistance against two set batsmen.
21st over: Australia 110-1 (Finch 50, Smith 14)
Two boundaries from the over, brings up Finch’s 50.
20th over: Australia 102-1 (Finch 42, Smith 14)
Pandya earns the edge of Finch’s bat but there’s no slip and four runs is the result. It was an expansive drive from Finch who missed his timing by some distance. The Victorian hasn’t looked fluent so far but he’s accumulated 40 and rotated the strike nicely.
Would love see some counter attacking against the Indian spinners,small ground ,going over the top wouldn't be a bad option #INDvAUS
19th over: Australia 95-1 (Finch 36, Smith 13)
Chahal keeps pushing Finch onto the back foot but the batsman is watchful and not at risk of losing his wicket. Smith by contrast is immediately on the front foot, stepping down the wicket and driving well through midwicket for four.
18th over: Australia 90-1 (Finch 35, Smith 9)
Australia begin the over on 87, their danger number, if confirmation bias is to be believed. Although as far as sporting curses go it’s not a patch on Mayo’s in the GAA which continued into its 66th year last week.
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17th over: Australia 87-1 (Finch 33, Smith 8)
There’s that big shot from Finch - and he clears the long on fence with ease! That was the second delivery of Chahal’s over; the first was a nervy inside-edge into the on-side. The rest of the over safely dealt with.
16th over: Australia 79-1 (Finch 26, Smith 7)
Pandya again getting joy from his quick offbreaks, beating Finch this time but not snaring the outside edge. Finch just getting a little bogged down out there. He might need his skipper to nurse him away from a reckless shot or two.
When feet are aligned to leg slip
tough to get hips thru and drive to offstump
Hence you step in to @kennyloggins
#Dangerzone#INDvAUSpic.twitter.com/q9ajGSKlIg
15th over: Australia 76-1 (Finch 25, Smith 5)
Chahal is causing the two right-handers to study the ball right onto the face of the bat. Watchful over after the mayhem of the previous one.
That was close! #INDvAUSpic.twitter.com/c9TEyd8N0m
14th over: Australia 74-1 (Finch 24, Smith 4)
That was a ripping delivery from Pandya, a genuine fast offbreak. He ripper his fingers around that ball and it gripped on a length and beat the outside edge of a set batsman. He was coming from around the wicket too, so any away movement was going to feel accentuated. Top, top bowling.
Huge unexpected wicket for India!
Warner was moving through the gears and after punching a four through extra cover off Pandya, the bowler extracts his revenge, ripping one through Warner’s defences and sending the bails flying in the air.
13th over: Australia 66-0 (Warner 38, Finch 24)
Chahal’s second over has Warner moving up a gear. A reverse sweep first up fails to connect, but two from the next delivery precedes a clean straight six, the first maximum of the game. Finch tries the same shot but can only muscle the ball to long on. 11 from a productive over for Australia.
12th over: Australia 55-0 (Warner 28, Finch 23)
Hardik Pandya ensures pace continues at one end and he continues India’s policy of denying Finch and Warner any width, cramping them up whenever possible. Australia’s sharp running means the scoreboard continues to tick over.
11th over: Australia 52-0 (Warner 26, Finch 22)
The first bowling change sees leg-spinner Yuzvendra Chahal come into the attack. Warner does his best to get off strike first ball but in his haste invites his partner into run out territory with Kohli hitting directly. The third umpire shows Finch just making his ground.
Finch slides in to beat Kohli's direct hit and Australia are 50-0 off 10.1 overs on Sky Sports Cricket: https://t.co/SEGFqZb8iv#IndvAuspic.twitter.com/hUKTv73O2R
10th over: Australia 49-0 (Warner 24, Finch 22)
Bumrah will also be given a five-over spell and his fifth over is more impressive than Kumar’s, restricting Australia to pinched singles. One of those pinched singles turns out to be worth three runs though, courtesy of some sloppy backing up leading to a couple of handy overthrows.
9th over: Australia 43-0 (Warner 21, Finch 19)
That’s more like it! Back to back fours to welcome Kumar’s fifth over. The first was a tickle off his legs, the second a beautiful cover drive with textbook raised ftont elbow.
8th over: Australia 35-0 (Warner 13, Finch 19)
Australia still not imposing themselves on this contest with any force. Warner almost runs himself into trouble with a quick single and then a Finch lofted drive comes off the inside half of his bat and reaches the fine-leg boundary rather than long on. It may well be this pitch is more two-paced that we expected and it deserves due care and attention. Still, India will be happy with the run-rate so far.
7th over: Australia 26-0 (Warner 11, Finch 12)
Australia’s openers still keeping their powder dry, respecting anything sent down on a decent line and length. On a surface this good and a ground this small, time getting in at the crease like this cannot be wasted. This pair need to cash in.
6th over: Australia 24-0 (Warner 10, Finch 11)
There’s no swing, no seam movement, and just the odd delivery keeping low out there, otherwise it is a road. Which makes Bumrah’s ability to beat Finch’s outside edge especially impressive. Just one from the over.
5th over: Australia 23-0 (Warner 10, Finch 10)
Australia getting into their work now after a watchful start. Warner works his first boundary after Kumar strays onto his pads.
That's the first time in 12 matches Steve Smith has called a toss correctly. 4 x IPL, 3 x CT, 2 x Tests in B'desh & first two #INDvAUS ODIs
4th over: Australia 17-0 (Warner 4, Finch 10)
Bumrah continues and he offers the first big scoring opportunity to Finch but the opener swings and misses at a long hop outside off stump. Bumrah readjusts superbly and forces a thick edge that squirts away for the first four of the day. Cricket, eh? Good ball goes for four, rank one gets a play-and-miss ‘ooh’ from the field.
Virender Sehwag registered his highest ODI score at the Holkar Stadium, Indore. #INDvAUSpic.twitter.com/7YF7XGqODJ
3rd over: Australia 7-0 (Warner 3, Finch 2)
Kumar continues to Warner and beats him with one that keeps surprisingly low. It forces a change of approach from the bowler, sending him around the wicket with the field changing accordingly - no slips but two catchers in front of square on either side of the wicket. Not a lot happening thereafter, straight bowling, straigh batting.
Shortest boundary at Indore 51 metres. Isn't that less than regulation?
2nd over: Australia 6-0 (Warner 2, Finch 2)
Jasprit Bumrah with his own new ball, sending it down with his right arm, over the wicket. He’s straight to Finch, who gets off strike with a single, and targeting Warner’s outside edge, which he beats with the third delivery of the over.
1st over: Australia 3-0 (Warner 1, Finch 1)
Bhuvneshwar Kumar opens the bowling for India, over the wicket, shaping the ball into the left-handed Warner. It’s the one that goes the other way that did for Warner in Kolkata and it almost accounts for him again, fencing at one outside his off stump that flies just wide of the diving gully. Warner was on the walk to Kumar, attempting to negate the swing.
The two sides are out for the national anthems. Indore has turned out in force here at the Holkar Cricket Stadium, the joint is rocking.
It is an unforgiving venue for the players. The glare on the field is like a spotlight being shone from the heavens. If you were a fast bowler and your captain fielded first after winning the toss you’d give him a very filthy look indeed.
The best batting pitch of the series is what has been presented by the Holkar Cricket Stadium curator. “An absolute belter” according to Michael Clarke.
Faced with such a flat deck Australia will be delighted to have won the toss and not be sentenced to fielding once again in the burning heat and stifling humidity.
What is going to be a safe total on this pitch for the third ODI? #INDvAUSpic.twitter.com/mjyyaZGDGH
India are unchanged:
IND XI: A Rahane, RG Sharma, V Kohli, M Pandey, K Jadhav, MS Dhoni, H Pandya, B Kumar, K Yadav, J Bumrah, Y Chahal
Big selection news for Australia with two changes: Aaron Finch and Peter Handscomb come in for Hilton Cartwright and Matthew Wade. And yes, that does mean Handscomb will take the gloves. Could this be a glimpse into the future of Australia cricket?
Australia XI: Warner, Finch, Smith (c), Head, Handscomb (wk), Maxwell, Stoinis, Agar, Cummins, Coulter-Nile, Richardson #INDvAUS
Scoring runs has not been easy for Australia this series so far but they will have a golden opportunity to put that right today in Indore.
Australia win the toss and will bat first #INDvAUSpic.twitter.com/YvzlWppAWz
Evening all, and welcome to live OBO coverage of Australia’s third ODI of what is quite literally a bilateral series with India. We’re in Indore for this one, a place where Australia must win to keep alive their hopes of winning this five-match revenue raising exercise.
I’m later than usual to the keyboard today, so that’s enough preamble for now. I’m sure there’ll be more ambling as we go through the 50 overs.
Jonathan will be here shortly. In the meantime, have a read of where Steve Smith believes Australia must improve.
Related: 'Not good enough': Australia must arrest trend of batting collapses, says Smith
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