Shubman Gill and Shreyas Iyer struck superlative hundreds while the bowlers chipped in with wickets at regular intervals as India clinched the three-match ODI series against Australia with a thumping 99-run win in Indore. In a rain-reduced game, Australia could manage just 217 in pursuit of a DLS target of 317.
The highlight of India’s innings was the 200-run stand for the second wicket between Iyer and Gill. The duo joined forces with the score reading 16 for 1. At that stage of the innings, Josh Hazlewood was finding a hint of uneven bounce, and had just dismissed Ruturaj Gaikwad. However, that was the only brief period when Australia seemed to be ahead in the game.
Iyer counter-attacked with a flurry of shots and Gill followed in his footsteps. You name a shot and the duo played it – pulls, lofts, drives, whips and hoicks. Even a short rain break couldn’t stem the run flow. Ultimately, in the 31st over, Sean Abbott seemed to break the stand by pouching a caught-and-bowled chance.
The third umpire, though, ruled that Abbott wasn’t in complete control of the catch as Iyer made his way back to the crease. Abbott still got his reward as in the same over as Iyer holed out to the fielder at midwicket. Incidentally, Iyer now averages over 58 in 11 ODIs at the No. 3 slot. A few overs later, Gill was sent back to the hut by Cameron Green.
All that did was bring Suryakumar (72 off 37 balls) to the crease. He was at his swashbuckling best as he brought out his 360-degree strokeplay – landing the scoop, flick, lofts and the pick-up shot in a single over bowled by Green. All of those ended up in the stands. In the slog overs, Abbott also came in for severe punishment. The only two Australian bowlers who escaped the harshest punishment were Hazlewood and Adam Zampa – the duo finished with figures of 1 for 62 and 1 for 67.
Australia had a disastrous start as Prasidh Krishna nipped out both Matthew Short and Steven Smith in his opening over with a bit of movement. He also hit the deck hard in his opening spell. Unfortunately for Prasidh, he came in for some severe punishment later on in the innings. When Australia were 56 for 2, rain once again stopped play. When play resumed, the visitors needed to score at almost 11 an over.
Australia tried to take the ultra-aggressive route but they were done in by Ashwin’s carrom ball. He dismissed the trio of David Warner (53 off 39), Josh Inglis and Marnus Labuschagne in quick succession. Interestingly, Warner tried to bat right-handed against Ashwin. In the 15th over, Warner, batting right-handed, tried to bring out the reverse-hit and was adjudged LBW. Replays later indicated he had managed an inside edge, but Warner didn’t opt for the review.
The wickets continued to tumble. At one stage, Australia were in all kinds of trouble at 140 for 8. But Sean Abbott used the long handle to great effect and smashed a quick-fire 54 off 36 balls. Prasidh and Ravindra Jadeja, in particular, were hit to all parts of the ground. India also offered Hazlewood a couple of chances. Eventually, Mohammed Shami and Jadeja provided the finishing touches by removing Hazlewood and Abbott in the 28th and 29th overs respectively.