Update: MS Dhoni had the chance to finish the match with his trademark six, which was the demand at the Holkar stadium too, but the professional that Dhoni is, he doesn’t give into the emotion. Pulls it square leg to tie the score and it is Pandey, who squeezes out a yorker on the onside to hit the winning run, to claim victory by 5 wickets. With that, India have taken the unassailable lead of 3-0 with three wins up front. Virat and Co win the series with 2 more ODIs to play. Preview: After overpowering Australia in the opening two games, a dominant India will aim to pocket the five-match One Day International (ODI) series when they face the Kangaroos in the third game at the Holkar Stadium in Indore on Sunday. On a 10-match overseas losing streak, the Steve Smith-led side will have their task cut out and face a must-win situation to have a chance at the trophy. On the other hand, India are currently on an eight-match winning run, and hold an upper hand at Indore, where the men-in-blue have a 100 percent winning record (won all four of their matches so far). [caption id=“attachment_4052139” align=“alignleft” width=“380”] India captain Virat Kohli (L) and Australia captain Steve Smith (R). AFP[/caption] Surprisingly the credit of No.1-ranked India’s success in the ongoing series goes more to the bowlers, who have managed to defend scores of 164 (revised target in 21 overs) and 252 in the first two matches. India’s new-found spin-twins Kuldeep Yadav and Yuzvendra Chahal have racked up 10 wickets together in the series so far and will once again be skipper Virat Kohli’s go-to men in the middle overs. Australia have found it hard to solve the mystery around chinaman Kuldeep, who on Thursday became the first Indian spinner to score a hat-trick in 50 overs cricket. Not only the spinners, the pace duo of Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Jasprit Bumrah have also been impressive at both the start and the death overs. Coming in as first change, India have got the perfect all-round option in Pandya, who also has done his part with the ball. India’s only area of concern is the middle order batting, where Kedar Jadhav and Manish Pandey have failed to fire and the onus once again falls on the likes of Kohli, who blasted a 107-ball 92 in the second game at the Eden Gardens along side the other half centurion Ajinkya Rahane. Rahane’s opening partner Rohit Sharma is also due for runs but the saving grace has been the brilliant form of the lower middle order comprising stumper Mahendra Singh Dhoni and Hardik Pandya. On the other hand, Australia will need to pull up their socks in the batting department, which lacked a spark in the first two matches. The over-dependence on Smith and opener David Warner has also been a cause of worry for the tourists. Australia can, however, draw a lot of positives from the performance of their fast bowlers – Nathan Coulter-Nile and Pat Cummins. But the form of leg-spinner Adam Zampa, who has managed to pick just two wickets so far, will hurt the Aussies. Squads: India: Virat Kohli (Captain), Rohit Sharma, Lokesh Rahul, Manish Pandey, Kedar Jadhav, Ajinkya Rahane, Mahendra Singh Dhoni (WK), Hardik Pandya, Ravindra Jadeja, Kuldeep Yadav, Yuzvendra Chahal, Jasprit Bumrah, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Umesh Yadav, Mohammed Shami. Australia: David Warner, Steven Smith (Captain), Ashton Agar, Hilton Cartwright, Nathan Coulter-Nile, Glenn Maxwell, James Faulkner, Matthew Wade (WK), Pat Cummins, Travis Head, Marcus Stoinis, Adam Zampa, Kane Richardson, Peter Handscomb, Aaron Finch. With inputs from IANS
Highlights India vs Australia, cricket result, 3rd ODI at Indore: Hosts win by 5 wickets, clinch series 3-0
MS Dhoni had the chance to finish the match with his trademark six, which was the demand at the Holkar stadium too, but the professional that Dhoni is, he doesn’t give into the emotion. Pulls it square leg to tie the score and it is Pandey, who squeezes out a yorker on the onside to hit the winning run, to claim victory by 5 wickets. With that, India have taken the unassailable lead of 3-0 with three wins up front. Virat and Co win the series with 2 more ODIs to play.
 "Highlights India vs Australia, cricket result, 3rd ODI at Indore: Hosts win by 5 wickets, clinch series 3-0")
Australia’s innings can be divided into two halves – The first dominated by Australia’s top 3 – Warner, Finch and Smith – all got runs, but once Smith, the last of the top 3 fell, the innings faltered. When the foundation for a launch was laid, the team ran out of steam i.e. the second wherein the credit must be given to India’s death bowling that puncutred Australia’s innings. At one stage 350+ seemed a reasonable bet but it was soon turned into a pipedream as the Aussies finished seven short of 300. And on a belter of a track, everyone knew, including themselves, that they were 40 runs short.
Still 293 meant the visitors had something in the bank to play with, but any target would start to look small if Rohit Sharma is in some mood and today he was. Forging a solid 139-run opening stand with the ever-reliable Rahane, who scored his 2nd consecutive fifty of the series, set the platform for the middle order.
All was not hunky-dory for the home side as there were a few hiccups on the way, but a ‘surprise promotion’ of Hardik Pandya (decision taken by coach Ravi Shastri, revealed India’s captain Kohli in the post-match presentation) worked very well, as India went on to win by 5 wickets and clinch series 3-0.
Feel for Finch, who marked a commendable comeback to notch a fablous century and still ended on the wrong side, can be a bit painful.
With two more games to go, it isn’t like there is nothing to play for. These two advasaries hate to give eachother an inch, so expect some good cricket as it was the case today – an entertaining contest, fought well by both sides with India coming out on top.
We had fun bringing you all the coverage, we hope you had a fun ride too. We will continue with the coverage as the caravan moves to Bangalore for the 4th ODI on Thursday, until then we thank you for you company and wish you well. See ya!
Watch our Firstpost correspondent Amit Banerjee interact with fans after India’s series clinching win at Indore.
A commanding win, another series in the bag and now, no 1 on the ICC rankings. This is seriously good cricket by India
— Harsha Bhogle (@bhogleharsha) September 24, 2017
Most consecutive wins for India in ODIs:
9 – July 6, 2017 to September 24, 2017* (Captain – Virat Kohli)
9 – Novemeber 14, 2008 to February 05, 2009 (Captain – MS Dhoni)
After 47.5 overs,India 294/5 ( Manish Pandey 36 , MS Dhoni (W) 3)
MS Dhoni had the chance to finish the match with his trademark six, which was the demand at the Holkar stadium too, but the professional that Dhoni is, he doesn’t give into the emotion. Pulls it square leg to tie the score and it is Pandey, who squeezes out a yorker on the onside to hit the winning run, to claim victory by 5 wickets. With that, India have taken the unassailable lead of 3-0 with three wins up front. Virat and Co win the series with 2 more ODIs to play.
After 47 overs,India 287/5 ( Manish Pandey 30 , MS Dhoni (W) 2)
Glenn Maxwell gets the ball. Has it got any tricks up his sleeves? Well not really, Dhoni is happy to defend and block as cool as ever. Manish wants get over the line quickly.
After 46 overs,India 285/5 ( Manish Pandey 29 , MS Dhoni (W) 1)
Cummins has bowled out his 10 overs and he has bowled and heart out! MS Dhoni joins Pandey in the middle and the crowd goes nuts! India need 9 more, will we see a Dhoni six to finish things off is the biggest question around India at this moment.
OUT! Pandya wants to club everything out of the park, gets the toe-end of the bat unfortunately ends up hitting straight to mid on. End of another belligerent innings and a match winning one
c Richardson b Cummins 78 (72)
After 45 overs,India 283/4 ( Hardik Pandya 78 , Manish Pandey 29)
Well, Australia have tried them to rattle with the words with short ball with pace and spin but nothing seems to have bothered Hardik as he trudges along**. India need 11 runs to clinch the series**
After 44 overs,India 265/4 ( Hardik Pandya 69 , Manish Pandey 20)
The four of the first ball put the pressure on Cummins straightaway. With four singles along with it. 8 runs come off the over. India need 29 more
After 43 overs,India 257/4 ( Hardik Pandya 63 , Manish Pandey 18)
50-run partnership for the 5th wicket! What a time to bring the stand by two players that are an integral part of the future plans of Indian cricket. Stoinis’ over goes for 7 runs.
After 42 overs,India 250/4 ( Hardik Pandya 62 , Manish Pandey 12)
Pat Cummins will bowl the 42nd over he has run in hard and bent his back, couple of dot balls to start with and then the unfortune four and a double and single takes 7 out of the over. 44 off 48 balls. Should be breeze!
After 41 overs,India 243/4 ( Hardik Pandya 55 , Manish Pandey 12)
Agar to bowl his 10th over. He hasn’t had the best of the days but still has Kohli’s wicket to his name! Ends with 71 runs of the over. Pandya and Pandey don’t take try anything silly in his final over
After 40 overs,India 240/4 ( Hardik Pandya 53 , Manish Pandey 11)
Coulter-Nile to continue into his last over! These two have played out the over safely picking 5 runs off it. Pandya shuffles across on the 4th ball and it was full but gets the bat in time to dig it out for a couple of runs otherwise he could have been heading to the pavilion. Coulter-Nile finished with 58 against his name with Jadhav’s wicket.
After 39 overs,India 235/4 ( Hardik Pandya 50 , Manish Pandey 10)
Pandey is providing good company to Pandya, he needs someone who keeps the scoreboard ticking and these two have ensured that the asking run-rate doesn’t go over run-a-ball and that is some maturity shown by both the batsmen.
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