Chennai was the venue for the final ODI as India and Australia took to the field one last time this series. Rohit Sharma was looking to keep India’s proud record at home in bilateral series alive. The series stood at 1-1 as India won the 1st game and Australia won the 2nd game. India had been soundly beaten in the 2nd game as the visitors dominated with bat and ball.
The story as it happened –
MA Chidambaram stadium welcome Steve Smith and Rohit Sharma as a huge crowd came to watch the game. After nearly 4 years the stadium was witnessing an ODI game. The last time a game was played at Chennai, the West Indians had won by 8 wickets thanks centuries by Shai Hope and Shimron Hetmyer. Australia won the toss and chose to bat first on a hot day in Chennai.
Hardik Pandya shows his frustration on Shubman Gill –
Travis Head and Mitchell Marsh had given Australia yet another brisk start. The openers had gone after Mohammad Shami and Mohammad Siraj. Once Hardik Pandya came on to bowl.
Pandya’s shortish ball saw Travis Head pull the ball, only for Shubman Gill to make a meal of an easy catch. Gill dived forward only to see the ball pop out of this hands which did not impress Pandya who looked towards his Gujarat teammate in frustration.
— Guess Karo (@KuchNahiUkhada) March 22, 2023
Three wickets each for Hardik and Kuldeep –
After yet another breezy start to the innings, Australia were pegged back. Thanks to 3 wicket burst by Hardik Pandya which saw him dismiss the dangerous Travis Head. Steve Smith was out for a duck, Marsh lost his stumps for 47.
Kuldeep Yadav then joined in the party by dismissing David Warner and Marnus Labuschagne. The left arm wrist spinner then got the wicket of Alex Carey for 38 with a beauty. Carey got his runs in 47 balls with 2 fours and a six.
Australia bowled out for 269 –
Sean Abbott (26), Stoinis (25), Agar (17) and 10 runs each by Adam Zampa and Mitchell Starc pushed Australia to 269. Axar Patel picked 2 wickets, first getting Stoinis out before taking the wicket of big hitting Abbott.
Mohammad Siraj who has been expensive in the recent few games, also picked 2 wickets. Siraj had Agar caught by Axar before getting the last wicket of Starc caught by Ravindra Jadeja. Australia were bowled out for 269 with one over to play.