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Glenn Maxwell could not replicate the power-hitting he practiced in the nets but became Australia’s unlikely hero with the ball as the visitors beat India by 66 runs in the third ODI. Skipper Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli scored half-centuries whereas Shreyas Iyer and KL Rahul got starts but it could not take India close to the mammoth target of 353.
Earlier on a batting friendly but challenging conditions Pat Cummins won the toss and opted to bat first. David Warner and Mitchell Marsh put India's new-ball bowlers under pressure from the start. Warner reached his half-century from just 32 balls. Prasidh Krishan broke the partnership as Warner departed for a 34-ball 56. Marsh reached his half-century in the 17th over from 45 deliveries.
Marsh took on Jasprit Bumrah and hit him for three consecutive fours and a six in the 23rd over. Meanwhile, Smith reached his 30th ODI half-century from 43 balls. Kuldeep Yadav broke the partnership. Marsh was deceived by the googly and missed his century. He scored 96 runs from 84 balls including 13 fours and three sixes. Struggling with heat, Smith got help from support staff but had a lapse in concentration when he played across the line and got dismissed lbw by Mohammed Siraj. Smith scored 74 runs from 61 balls.
Bumrah came back into the attack and dismissed Alex Carey, and Maxwell cheaply. Kuldeep got the wicket of Cameron Green for a single-digit score in the 43rd over. Marnus Labuschagne led the charge from the other end and reached his half-century from 43 balls. In the penultimate over, Bumrah ended Labuschagne's stay at the crease. He scored 72 runs from 58 balls including nine fours. Australia posted 352/7 on the board.
Surprising everyone, Washington Sundar walked out to open the innings alongside Rohit. The skipper took the attacking approach from the start. Rohit did the bulk of the scoring in the first powerplay overs. Sundar hit his first six in the ninth over of the innings. Rohit got to his half-century and got a reprieve as well. He took just 31 deliveries to reach the fifty-run mark. Maxwell was introduced into the attack and he got the breakthrough in form Sundar who scored 18 runs from 30 balls.
Rohit and Virat Kohli dominated the proceedings. Maxwell was brought back into the attack and he pulled off an outstanding reflex catch to dismiss the opener. He scored 81 runs from 57 balls including five fours and six sixes. Kohli got to his 66th ODI half-century from 56 balls. Maxwell continued his brilliant run with the ball. Kohli went for the pull shot but miscued it to Smith at mid-wicket. He scored 56 runs from 61 balls including five fours and one six.
Iyer and Rahul were looking to string a partnership together but Rahul was outsmarted by Mitchell Starc's slower ball. He scored 26 runs from 30 balls. Suryakumar Yadav could not come to India's rescue and became Josh Hazlewood's victim for a single-digit score. Maxwell ended India's hopes of a comeback with the wicket of Iyer next over. He got bowled after scoring 48 runs from 43 balls including one four and two sixes.
Kuldeep failed to make a mark with the bat again and got bowled by Hazlewood. Jadeja tried to revive the run chase but did not have support from the other end. He scored 35 runs from 36 balls and was dismissed by Tanveer Sangha. India got bowled out for 286 with three balls left in the innings, losing the match by 66 runs.
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