Australia saved their best for the last as Indian middle-order wilted under pressure exerted 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. India were cruising along at 171 for 2, chasing a stiff target of 353 on a placid track but the middle-order crumbled in chase with Maxwell (4/40) getting crucial breakthroughs to restrict the hosts to 286 in 49.4 overs. (Scorecard | Highlights | Asian Games Live | Cricket News)
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 to hand Au༒stralia the advantage.
Earlier, Mitchell Marsh (96) headlined Australia's best batting show with David Warner, Steve Smith and Ma🐈rnus Labuschagne helping tꦬhemselves to attacking half-centuries during a commanding performance to break a five-ODI losing streak.
The two teams will no💛w play a couple of warm-up games before meeting again in 10 days' time for the tournameꦗnt-opener in Chennai on October 8.
While Marsh missed reaching triple figure by a whisker, Australia's batters came good collecti🌃vely in what was their last official ODI beforeᩚᩚᩚᩚᩚᩚᩚᩚᩚ𒀱ᩚᩚᩚ the start of the World Cup.
Warner had himself to blame for his dismissal after a fiery ༒56 off 34 balls (6x4s, 4🧸x6s), but he set the tone for Australia early on.
Smith also put brakes on his poor run of scores 🔯to make a rapid 74 and towards the end, Labuschagne upped the ante with his 58-ball knock to help Australia post their challenging sco🌌re.
Labuschagne also became🎉 Australia's top r🦹un-getter in the ongoing calendar year.
During the chase, Rohit clobbꦯered 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 batters put on 70 for the second wicket and 🍬took India close to the 150-run mark by the 21st over, but after Rohit and Kohli were dismissed, the others fumbled collectively.
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 Gre🌳en claimed 2/30 to provide idea🥂l support for Maxwell.
Rohit began with two spect𓂃acular sixes off Mitchell Starc over co💜ver and pulled Pat Cummins twice over midwicket with command to provide early impetus.
The I🌜ndia captain, coming off a two-game break, hit the straps immediately whꦇich also made up for the dot balls his first-wicket partner Washington Sundar consumed.
The makeshift ope💟ner Washington Sundar pulled Hazlewood for his first four and smacked Cummins for a six — reminiscent of his famous six from the♊ 2020-21 Australia tour — but perished for 18 off 30 balls.
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 ov🍌er when Maxwell, taking an evasive action on a powerful shot from the India skipper, ended up catching the ball one-handed.
Maxwell continued to make inroads as this ti🎀me he got the key wicket of Kohli, who, looking to clear Steve Smith at midwicket, got a top edge, which was collected by the fielder running behind.
Despite a set platform🌼 to take the mantle, India’s middle-order stuttered which allowed Australia to grab control.
KL Rahul added 52 runs with Iyer for the fourth wicket but fell to Starc after a 30ಌ-ball 26 and Suryakumar Yadav (8) pulled one shℱort from Hazlewood to Maxwell.
Maxwell꧙ then cleaned up Iyer for a 43-ball 48 (1x4s, 2x6s) and🌠 Hazlewood had Kuldeep Yadav chop one onto his wickets.
Ravindra Jadeja scored 35 from 36 balls (3x4s, 1x6s) but had no batting partner left to try avoid🍨ing the inevitable🌸.
