Second Win for Australia in Carlton Mid ODI Tri-Series: Aussies Defeat India by 4 Wickets
Stork’s wonderful performance and batmen’s cooperation helped Aussies defeat India by four wickets. Aussies successfully chased the target of 268 runs in 49 overs by losing six wickets. Finch, Steven Smith and Watson are the highest scorers.
Melbourne: Earlier India scored 267 runs by losing eight wickets in the first Innings. Team India opener Dhawan failed yet again and gave his wicket to Stork in the very first over. Test series heroes Rahane and Kohli also could not stand at the crease for long time. India won the toss and elected to bat first and at stage India was 59/3. Though batsmen at the other end were going to back to the pavilion, Rohit Sharma did not lose his concentration. Though it is a large stadium, he hit the ball to the boundary. Raina gave him good support. Rohit and Raina made a partnership of 126 runs. When the score was 185/3, Raina was out. Rohit scored his sixth century by facing 109 balls. Dhoni scored only 19 in 31 balls. In the last ten overs of the innings, Team India scored only 61 runs and lost 4 wickets.
Australia scored runs freely as Umesh and Shami failed to restrict Australian batsmen. Except for Bhuvneshwar, no Indian bowler could stop Australia from scoring runs. Finch made good partnerships with Watson and Smith. In 39.3 overs, Aussies was 216/2 and here the match took an interesting turn. Shami claimed the wicket of Smith and Umesh sent Finch to the pavilion. Maxwell and Bailey were also out which raised hopes for Team India’s victor. In the last two wickets, Aussies needed 15 runs. Bhuvneswar bowled the last over and Aussies batsmen scored the required 16 runs to win the match.
This is the second win for Australia in this tri series. This is the first match or India and it started the series with a defeat. India will play against England on January 20.
Dhoni, Team India captain said that the bowlers could effectively bowl with the new ball. Till 30th over, the match was with the Australia but after 35 overs, Aussies were under pressure. He added that top order batsmen must play more responsibly. Rohit’s batting is excellent.
