India however won the series 2-1. At one stage the Indian’s were cruising along at 171 for 2, chasing a stiff target of 353 on a placid track
Rajkot: Australia managed to save their best for the last as Indian middle-order wilted under pressure by part-time off-spin of Glenn Maxwell, losing the third ODI by 66 runs here on Wednesday. India however won the series 2-1, a PTI report in The Tribune, Chandigarh says.
At one stage the Indian’s were cruising along at 171 for 2, chasing a stiff target of 353 on a placid track but the middle-order crumbled with Maxwell (4/40) getting crucial breakthroughs to restrict the hosts to 286 in 49.4 overs.
Skipper Rohit Sharma (81) and Virat Kohli (56 off 61 balls) struck fifties to provide the middle-order with a perfect platform in the big chase, but the rest floundered.
Earlier, Mitchell Marsh (96)was the highlight of Australia’s batting show with David Warner, Steve Smith and Marnus Labuschagne helping themselves to attacking half-centuries during a commanding performance to break a five-ODI losing streak.
The two teams will now play a couple of warm-up games before meeting again in 10 days’ time for the tournament-opener in Chennai on October 8.
While Marsh missed reaching triple figure by a whisker, Australia’s batsmen came good collectively in what was their last official ODI before the start of the World Cup.
During the chase, Rohit clobbered six sixes and five fours to race to 81 from 57 balls and recorded his ninth fifty against Australia and 53rd overall, while Kohli, who looked good for his 48th ODI ton had to settle for 66th half-century.
The two batsmen put on 70 for the second wicket and took India close to the 150-run mark by the 21st over.
Maxwell accounted for Washington Sundar (18) and then held onto a stunning reflex catch of Rohit, had Kohli mistime a pull-shot and fooled Shreyas Iyer (48) with a beauty to mark an impressive return after a six-month long injury layoff.
Josh Hazlewood took 2/42 and Cameron Green claimed 2/30 to provide ideal support for Maxwell.
Rohit began with two spectacular sixes off Mitchell Starc over cover and pulled Pat Cummins twice over midwicket with command to provide early impetus.
Rohit and Kohli went about their jobs unchallenged for the better part of their stand, but their association came to an abrupt end in the 21st over and despite the solid base set up by the preceding batsmen, India’s middle-order stuttered which allowed Australia to gain control. Of the game.
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