Mohali: Captain MS Dhoni’s blistering unbeaten 139 went in vain as Australia came from behind to pull off a sensational four-wicket victory over India in the third one-dayer to take a 2-1 lead in the seven-match series here on Saturday.
Chasing a stiff target of 304, the Australians rode on James Faulkner’s brutal unbeaten 29-ball 64, which was studded with two fours and six sixes, to dramatically change the complexion of game and take his side home with three balls to spare.
Adam Voges made a valuable contribution of 76 not out from 88 balls, which was studded with seven fours.
A hugely costly over by out-of-form pacer Ishant Sharma, who gave 30 runs in the 48th turned the tide in Australia’s favour after the Indians seemed to be cruising.
It was a commendable show by the Australians and the Indians paid the price of the lack of quality death bowlers in a high-scoring match on a good batting track at the PCA Stadium.
Earlier, Dhoni produced a magnificent late onslaught as he rescued India from a precarious 76 for four at one stage to single-handedly take the score to 303 for 9 after the home side were asked to bat.
His unbeaten knock came from 121 balls with the help of 12 fours and five sixes. Virat Kohli was the other notable contributor with a 73-ball 68.
But it was not the day for the Indians as Faulkner hit four sixes and a four in the 48th over bowled by Ishant to turn the match on its head.
Ravichandran Ashwin bowled a very good penultimate over just giving away five runs as Australia needed nine runs from the final over.
Faulkner ended the match in style with a six in the third ball of the final over as Australia reached 304 for six to win the match to the disappointment of the capacity crowd.
The two sides now moved to Ranchi for the fourth ODI on October 23.
Australia made a solid start in their run chase with the openers Phil Hughes and Aaron Finch sharing 68 runs in 12.2 overs but seemed to have lost the plot after that.
Pacers Bhuvneshwar Kumar, R Vinay Kumar and Ishant bowled a tight line and length that squeezed the runs and built pressure on the Australians who were reduced to 88 for three in the 20th over.
Captain George Bailey (43) and Voges then stitched a 83-run stand for the fourth wicket before Australia were dealt a blow in the 37th over as they lost two wickets in the same over. Bailey and Glenn Maxwell (3) departed in the space of five balls to leave the visiting side at 174 for five.
Four balls later, Shikhar Dhawan came up with a gem of a fielding effort as his direct throw led to the run out of Maxwell who was involved in a mixed-up with Voges.
Haddin (24) was out ion the 42nd over and Australia seemed to be heading towards a defeat with the asking rate having shot up 10 an over before Faulkner and Voges saw took them home.
Earlier, Dhoni led from the front by smashing an unbeaten 139 as India recovered from a poor start.
The Indian captain was seen as having some sort of discomfort initially after he apparently twisted his ankle in the 14th over while turning for a second run when he was yet to faced a ball. He limped for some time early in his innings but played a blinder with a late onslaught.
Dhoni rescued India after early jitters as he played a responsible and sensible innings that came off just 121 balls, including 12 fours and five sixes.
The skipper also shared two significant partnerships – putting on 72 for the fifth wicket with Virat Kohli (68) before joining hands with Ravichandran Ashwin (28) to put up 76 runs for the seventh wicket. (PTI)
SCORECARD
India:
R Sharma c Finch b Watson 11
S Dhawan c Haddin b McKay 8
V Kohli c Haddin b Maxwell 68
S Raina c Watson b Johnson 17
Yuvraj c Haddin b Johnson 0
MS Dhoni not out 139
R Jadeja c Haddin b Johnson 2
R Ashwin c Haddin b Johnson 28
B Kumar c Bailey b Faulkner 10
RV Kumar run out 0
Ishant not out 0
Extras: (lb-13, w-7) 20
Total: (9 wkts; 50 overs) 303
FOW: 1-14, 2-37, 3-76, 4-76, 5-148, 6-154, 7-230, 8-267, 9-299
Bowling: Johnson 10-1-46-4, McKay 10-0-49-1, Watson 8-0-74-1, Faulkner 10-0-65-1, Doherty 10-0-45-0, Voges 1-0-3-0, Maxwell 1-0-8-1
Australia:
P Hughes c Dhoni b V Kumar 22
A Finch lbw b Ishant 38
S Watson lbw b Jadeja 11
G Bailey lbw b Vinay 43
A Voges not out 76
G Maxwell run out 3
B Haddin c Jadeja b Kumar 24
J Faulkner not out 64
Extras: (lb-14, w-9) 23
Total: (6 wkts; 49.3 overs) 304
FOW: 1-68, 2-82, 3-88, 4-171, 5-174, 6-213
Bowling: Kumar 10-1-50-1, V Kumar 8.3-0-50-2, Ishant 8-1-63-1, Jadeja 10-0-31-1, Yuvraj 3-0-20-0, Ashwin 9-0-58-0, Kohli 1-0-