Adam Zampa (4/45) and Ashton Agar (2/41) bowled brilliantly to shock India at crucial junctures as Australia beat India by 21 runs in the third and final ODI here on Wednesday to clinch the three-match series 2-. 1 to your name.
The Indian batting again came under pressure from the Australian bowlers and were bundled out for 248 in 49.1 overs chasing the target on a slow Chepauk pitch. Even a half-century by Virat Kohli (54 runs, 72 balls, two fours, one six) could not save India from defeat. Australia came back after losing the first ODI by five wickets to win two consecutive ODIs. Zampa gave his best bowling performance against India.
Hardik Pandya’s brilliant opening spell and Kuldeep Yadav’s spin restricted the Australian batsmen but their tailenders helped them post a challenging total of 269 before being bundled out in 49 overs.
Skipper Rohit Sharma (30 runs) and Shubman Gill (37 runs) got off to a cautious start against Mitchell Starc. Both played carefully and added 65 runs in 56 balls for the first wicket in nine overs. But in the very next over, in an attempt to play a big shot off Sean Abbott, Rohit caught Starc at deep square leg.
Kohli was at the crease, but in no time, Zampa got Gill out lbw, which was rejected by the umpire. But Australia took a review in which he was out. Due to this both the openers had returned to the pavilion. Now the responsibility was on the shoulders of Kohli and Lokesh Rahul (32 runs, two fours, one six).
In the 18th over, Kohli hit Agar for a four over mid-wicket and then a six over long-off a ball later. Both the batsmen were not showing much aggression, both were taking one or two runs and taking the innings forward. Rahul hit Zampa for a boundary over the umpire’s head to complete the half-century partnership.
In the next 27th over, in an attempt to dominate a bit, Rahul hit a massive six on Stark and hit a four. Before he could continue his aggression, Zampa took his wicket in the next over. Rahul was out by giving a catch to Abbott in an attempt to play a big shot. In this way, the partnership of 69 runs in 93 balls was broken.
Akshar Patel was able to play only four balls when he was run out in a mistake. Kohli then took a single off the first ball of the 31st over and completed his 65th half-century in 61 balls with two fours and a six. However, could not add more runs again. Pandya (40 runs) tried to reduce the pressure by hitting Abbott for a six and then put on a 34-run partnership with Kohli by hitting a boundary in the middle.
India’s score was 185 for four in 35 overs. But Ashton Agar bowled Kohli first in the 36th over and then Suryakumar Yadav in the very next ball at zero. Suryakumar returned to the pavilion without opening the account for the third consecutive match. This made the score 185 runs for six wickets. Ravindra Jadeja (18 runs) became the fourth victim of Jampa. Then there was no hope left from the tail batsmen of India.
Earlier, Pandya (3/44 in 8 overs) dismissed the top-order batsmen, while Kuldeep dismissed Alex Carey on a helpful Chennai pitch, which was the ‘Ball of the Series’. Left-arm wrist spinner Kuldeep was bowled by Carey dodging a leg break delivery and the Indian bowler’s happiness knew no bounds.
Australia’s score was 138 for five but a 58-run partnership for the sixth wicket between Carey and Mark Stoinis (25) and a 42-run partnership for the eighth wicket between Sean Abbott (26) and Ashton Agar (17). The visiting team dominated. Then Mitchell Starc and Adam Zampa added a crucial 22 runs for the last wicket.
Australia won the toss and elected to bat after which Mitchell Marsh (47 off 47 balls) and Travis Head (33 off 31 balls) proved it right by adding 68 runs for the first wicket. But Pandya swung the tide completely in favor of the hosts by scalping three different deliveries in his first three overs.
David Warner (23 off 31 balls) and Marnus Labuschagne (28 off 45 balls) had to bear the brunt of their shot selection and both fell victim to Kuldeep’s balls. Alex Carey had added 38 runs in 46 balls, but he reached the pavilion by getting caught in the trap of India’s star spinner. Marsh, who played brilliant innings in the first two matches, continued the same rhythm and hit a series of fours (eight) in the first powerplay and hit a six. Head also scored runs on the occasions he got.
During this, Shubman Gill missed the chance to dismiss Head, but then on Pandya’s ‘back of the length’ ball, this batsman tried to make a strong shot at deep third man and Kuldeep did not make any mistake in catching this catch. Did. Steve Smith (0) continued his torrid run on what would probably be his last full series in India.
Pandya’s full length ball took the edge of his bat and reached the hands of KL Rahul behind the stumps. Pandya, after taking both the wickets on different balls, bowled Marsh on a ‘good length’ ball, who was trying to make a hat-trick of half-centuries in the series.
Warner came out to bat at number four, adding 40 runs with Labushen. He touched the bat on Kuldeep’s ball and gave an easy catch to Pandya at long-on. Labushen did not take any lesson from Warner’s mistake and he too got out playing a similar shot. After this the lower order helped Australia post a decent score.
