Picture : BCCI / Twitter
Australia kept their ODI series hopes alive when they beat India by 32 runs in high scoring encounter in Ranchi. It was the third match of the five match ODI series. India leads the series though 2-1.
Indian skipper Virat Kohli won the toss and asked Australia to bat first. Skipper Aaron Finch desperate to get some form, finally came good. Striking fine aggressive 93 . It came off 99 balls. He featured in a superb opening wicket stand with Usman Khawaja putting on 193 for the first wicket . Khawaja hit his maiden ODI hundred 104 ( 113 balls) . Glenn Maxwell hit 47 , Marcus Stoinis 31 not out as Aussies scored an impressive 313 for 5 in their allotted 50 overs.
Indian bowlers had to struggle and the figures said it all. Mohammed Shami 1/ 52 ( 10 overs), Jasprit Bumrah 0/53 ( 10 overs), Ravindra Jadeja 0 / 64 ( 10 overs), Kuldeep Yadav 3/ 64 ( 10 overs) Vijay Shankar 0/ 44 ( 8 overs)
In reply India got off to a dismal start. Shikhar Dhawan flopped again scoring ( 1), Rohit Sharma fell for (14) , Ambati Rayudu ( 2) Mahendra Singh Dhoni playing in his home ground scored ( 26), Kedar Jadhav ( 26), Vijay Shankar ( 32) .
Indian innings would have collapsed had not skipper Virat Kohli played yet another masterly knock. Kohli in sublime form hit his 41st ODI hundred. Unfortunately he did not get support from others. Kohli fell for superb 123 off 95 balls. Rest did not have much to offer as India folded up at 281 in 48. 2 overs.
Australian bowlers held their nerves and came up with a good effort . Pat Cummins was sharp 3 / 37 ( 8. 2 overs), Jhye Richardson 3/ 37 ( 9 overs) Adam Zampa though bit expensive bagged 3/ 70 ( 10 overs)
