India sets new record while beating Australia in the third cricket ODI

After losing the first two games of the series, India claimed a thrilling victory over Australia by 13 runs at Canberra’s Manuka Oval. Not only a morale boost to the fans, but the men in blue have become the first visiting squad to have scored 300-plus runs in every match in an ODI series down under.

India's Virat Kohli, left, celebrates with teammates after defeating Australia in their one day international cricket match at Manuka Oval(AP Photo/Mark Baker) Source: AP

Manuka Oval looked different to Sydney Cricket Ground – in many ways.

The crowd was almost one-fifth the size of the SCG gallery. With four replacements in the Indian side and three in the Aussies – including debutants in each –  the teams looked different and fresh.

Above all, Indian bowlers, led by paceman Jasprit Bumrah, had regained their much-needed momentum and killer spirit which were absent in the first two outings.

Despite some magical fireworks by Glen Maxwell towards the end of the game, India clinched a 13-run victory and avoided a complete whitewash in the three-match series.

Chasing India’s 302, the Australian team could score only 289 in 49.3 overs.

Playing with 300s

A series which saw the return of crowds to the galleries after COVID-19 restrictions, it was nothing short of an entertainer.

It recorded the second-highest aggregate runs in a three-match ODI series, with 2,000 runs scored by both teams.

The India-England ODI series in 2017 still holds the record with 2,090 runs.

However, Team India achieved another feat, too, in the series. They've become the only visiting squad to score more than 300 runs in every match of an ODI series played in Australia.

An Indian fan reacts during the third ODI cricket match between Australia and India at Manuka Oval, Canberra,. (AAP Image/Lukas Coch) Source: AAP

The Indian scores were 308, 338 and 302. While Australia outperformed them in the first two matches by scoring 374 and 389, they failed to reach the mark falling short by 11 runs.

It's not the first time the Indian team has been scoring such huge totals down under. In the five-match ODI series in 2016 which saw stellar performances from Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma, India had scored four 300-plus totals, but missing out only in Melbourne.

Maxwell magic, but Bumrah smiled

It was a day on which switch-hit was the hot topic of discussion. Former Australian legend Ian Chappel had called for banning this unconventional batting style.

Former players and experts in the commentary box were debating it as well: if a bowler cannot switch his arm, how can a batter do it?

However, the master of switch-hits Glen Maxwell responded to it with his bat hitting a massive 100-metre long switch-hit six off Kuldeep Yadav’s 10^th over.

Australia's Glenn Maxwell bats against India during their one day international cricket match at Manuka Oval in Canberra, Australia (AP Photo/Mark Baker) Source: AP

That did not take Australia home, though. Chasing a target of 303 runs, Maxwell’s lightning 59 off 38 and captain Aaron Finch’s steady 75 was not enough to match the brilliant 150-run partnership by the Indian allrounders Hardik Pandya and Ravindra Jadeja earlier in the match.

Jasprit Bumrah castled Maxwell with a perfect yorker in the 45^thover, ensuring that the tail end would not last for long.

And, it didn’t. The last three wickets fell for 21 runs leaving them short by 13 runs.

Bumrah came back to form with a figure of 2/43 in 9.3 overs, while debutant T Natrajan claimed two wickets in his quota of 10 overs. Playing his first match in the series Shardul Thakur also was impressive taking three wickets for just 51 runs.

Steadying the ship

Winning the toss and batting first, India did not have a dream start.

Shubman Gill, who replaced Mayank Aggarwal as the opener, scored an impressive 33 and Kohli was as impressive as ever with another half-century – scoring 63 before falling to Josh Hazlewood for the third time in the series.  

Still, India was five down in the 32^nd over, with just 152 runs on board.

Then came the rescue operation, with a 150 run partnership of Hardik Pandya and Ravindra Jadeja.

Hardik Pandya of India (left) and Ravindra Jadeja of India celebrate their partnership (AAP Image/Lukas Coch) Source: AAP

Pandya is in the form of his life, scoring another mesmerising innings. He was unbeaten at 92 from just 76 balls. Jadeja scored 66 off 50 – again unbeaten.

More than just a win, this outing at Canberra gave more confidence to the Indian team running into the T20 series on Friday and test series later in the month.

“Even though we lost the series, this win was important for us,” Virat Kohli said after the match.