Aus v Ind 3rd ODI review: Poor game sense costs India yet another ODI

In a must-win encounter at the MCG India fought hard but lacked match awareness to pull off a much-needed win. Steven Smith won the toss and sent India in, keen not to change Australia’s winning chasing formula and once again his team didn’t disappoint. For India Rishi Dhawan and Gurkeerat Singh made their ODI debuts as R Ashwin and Manish Pandey were left out.

The Indian innings started with the wicket of Rohit Sharma who drove at a Kane Richardson delivery and edged behind to Matthew Wade, to leave India at 1 for 15 but Virat Kohli played the anchor role, this time, his 117 from 117 deliveries the key for India. Shikhar Dhawan, who got amongst the runs making a half-century, ended up using up too many balls that eventually hurt the team. His 68 off 91 deliveries wasn’t justified on a batting friendly pitch.

Dhawan struck nine fours in all and brought up his fifty from his 76th delivery, one ball after Kohli raised his half-century. His dismissal, though, was a case of bad judgment. With fine-leg and square-leg fielders on the boundary, he went too far across the off-side and tried to hit on the leg side and lost his leg stump to Hastings.

Kohli worked hard during his 119-run partnership with Dhawan and his 109-run stand with Rahane. Only 40 of Kohli’s runs came in boundaries, seven fours and two sixes, and he was constantly taking off for singles to rotate the strike and ensure things did not stagnate. His fifty came from 51 deliveries and his century from 105, and when he brought it up he leapt in celebration: it was his first ODI hundred against Australia in Australia.

Hastings was again the important man for Australia in the field. He finished with career-best figures of 4 for 58, his variations ensuring the India batsmen did not settle during his spells. MS Dhoni slapped a quick 23 from nine balls in the dying stages but also fell to Hastings, pulling a 140kph bouncer to deep midwicket.

Hastings had also got rid of Rahane for 50 from 55 deliveries, brilliantly caught on the deep midwicket boundary by a combination of Smith and Glenn Maxwell. Debutant Gurkeerat Singh was bowled for 8 by a James Faulkner slower ball, and it was left to fellow debutant Rishi Dhawan to steer the innings home along with Ravindra Jadeja. Again the Australian bowlers with variations were most effective, although new-ball man Kane Richardson was tight and picked up 1 for 48 from his ten. Scott Boland again struggled to contain and leaked 63 from nine as India finished on 295/6 at the end of 50 overs.

The Australian innings started positively with Aaron Finch and Shaun Marsh looking intent to keep the run-rate high. The Aussies raced to 47 at the end of the 7 over however soon lost the wicket of Finch to Umesh Yadav who bowled a beautiful out-swinging delivery. Gurkeerat, who had dropped the right-hander just prior to his dismissal, looked relieved.

Australia looked to be cruising around the 19th over mark. That’s when Jadeja found turn and struck twice to send Smith and Bailey back to the pavilion. The ball was turning and gripping but surprisingly Dhoni took him off after 6 overs. This proved a huge mistake as it gave a chance to the likes of Glenn Maxwell and Mitchell Marsh to breathe easy. Mann was also bowling slowly and turning the ball could have been given a chance to challenge Maxwell but was taken off the attack.

Maxwell made the most of this opportunity to bat and made a brilliant 96 off 83 that featured 8 fours and 3 sixes. He was the main reason for taking his team home in a tricky run chase. The left-handed Marsh was once again impressive in his 62 off 73.

Barinder Sran was poor in his spell of 0/63 from 8 while Yadav (2/68) looked impressive in parts but failed to bowl consistently. Ishant was impressive in his second spell as his two wickets that of Marsh and Wade gave India a hope after reducing the home side to 215/6.The two debutants bowled reasonably well, however, weren’t given a long spell. Rishi Dhawan’s 6 overs went for 33 while Mann gave 57 off his 5 overs. Overall, when there was a bit of pressure on the Aussies the bowlers started leaking runs and it became difficult for India to sustain the momentum with the ball.

Brief Scores:

India: 295/6 in 50 overs (V Kohli 117; J Hastings 4/58)

Australia:  296/7 in 48.5 overs (G Maxwell 96; R Jadeja 2/49)

Man of the match: Glenn Maxwell (Australia)

Dhoni and Smith’s reaction after Australia’s 3rd straight win – I felt 295 was a very good score: MS Dhoni