Australia vs India - 3rd ODI

Right then, that caps off a fantastic ODI series between these two cricketing giants. It was a high-scoring humdinger series throughout, with the last match being a bit of an exception to that. But then, it was a nail-biting contest right till the end. And the close contests mean that we wait with bated breath for the T20Is between these two. The 1st of the 3-match T20Is begins at Canberra on Friday, 4th December 2020 at 0810 GMT (1910 Local). We hope to see you then, until then, take care and stay safe. 

Australian skipper, Aaron Finch, says that the way they fought was good. Feels they lost a wicket more and credits Hardik and Jadeja for their innings. Finch says the selection experiment went well and feels Green showed he is ready for international cricket. Tells it was a good day in terms of experimentation. Finch jokes that having two spinners helped them finish the innings early unlike the first two games. Tells that having two spinners has been their recipe in T20s. Tells it is good when top order starts off well and that allows Maxwell to do his job down the order. Tells Starc has a niggly back but hopes to have him fit for the T20I series.

Virat Kohli, the VICTORIOUS INDIAN CAPTAIN, says that his side was basically put under the pump in the first half of their batting and in the second half of India's bowling. But his side did well during both those occasions. Says that one needs to give it their everything, be it with the bat or with the ball. Adds that this pitch was good. It was helping the bowlers much more. Feels that any total is not easy to chase down. Adds that Jasprit Bumrah is someone who wants to keep taking on new challenges. Wants to continue this momentum going forward. States that he would have liked to go on for long, with the bat but that he unfortunately departed. But also adds that Jadeja and Pandya continued after that. States that in Australia one has to play tough cricket.

Steven Smith is the MAN OF THE SERIES. He says that all the back-to-back games were pretty close. States that they were unfortunate to have fallen short tonight but is happy that they played a good game of cricket. States that it is a bit different from the SCG, the playing conditions. Hopes to continue to play well in the coming days as well. Smith hopes there can be a day off before the 1st T20I begins in 48 hours. Chuckles as he says so.

For his tremendous unbeaten 92 off 76 balls, Hardik Pandya is named the Player of the Match. Pandya says he will be fine to play the T20s. Hardik says he has been working hard to make sure that he got to play for his country and is happy to do that. Tells Natarajan is quite a story and is an inspiration for young guys and credits the bowlers. Tells one needs to stay on their toes while playing against Australia. Adds that there is an extra edge while playing against Australia. Jokes that Jadeja can keep the tag of a Rockstar as he, that is Hardik Pandya, is a father now.  

Stay tuned for the presentation. As we hear from the skippers and find the Player of the Match and Player of the Series. 

Earlier in the day, India after opting to bat, scored 302. It looked like the hosts would struggle to get 270 but a superb unbeaten 150-run stand between Pandya and Jadeja changed the tide of the game. Hardik finishing with 92 off just 76 while Jadeja scoring 66 off 50. Skipper Kohli's vital 63 was also important. It looked like India were 15-20 short but in the end it was enough for the tourists to avoid a whitewash. Australia's new look bowling attack started off well but were left clueless by Pandya and Jadeja's power hitting, earlier on.

A very good bowling performance by the new look Indian bowling line-up. The hosts struggled to get wickets in the first two games but that was not the case today. The visitors kept picking wickets at crucial intervals and were also finally able to get a wicket in Powerplay 1! Jadeja and Kuldeep got one wicket each. Debutant, Natarajan, was a bit on the expensive side as he was taken to the cleaners in one over by Maxwell but showed his mettle and finished with 2 wickets. Bumrah looked like his old self and picked the crucial wicket of Maxwell. Finishing with 2! The star with the ball though was undoubtedly Shardul Thakur. Going just a touch over 5 rpo and finishing with 3 wickets including that of Steven Smith.

Chasing 303, unlike the first two ODIs, Australia did not get off to a good start. They lost Marnus Labuschagne and Steven Smith early on. Skipper Finch thuogh continued his impressive form and steadied the ship with Moises Henriques. Both the batters though perished in quick succession. Green too could not convert his start. At 158/5, Australia looked down and out. Maxwell though with his blistering 59 off just 38 balls reignited the Aussie hope. Once Maxwell departed, the Australian lower order crumbled and fell short.

A nail-biting contest and in the end it is India who have held their nerves and avoided a white wash. A crucial win for India before the start of the T20I series as the Men in Blue have begun the Canberra leg of the white ball series with a morale boosting win. Brilliant win for the Men in Blue and they have a lot of positives to take from this. 

There is a review for the LBW. Australia have taken it. Let's see if Zampa can get it reversed in his favour. Nothing on the Hotspot, neither on the Snicko. THREE REDS ON THE BALL TRACKER!

Last over coming up then. 15 runs needed off it. Jasprit Bumrah to bowl the same. The hosts have their task cut out then.

Josh Hazlewood is the last man in for Australia.

Who will walk out to bat now? Adam Zampa.

Shardul Thakur is back. 2 overs remaining for him.

Who's in now? It is Sean Abbott. He can bat as well though.