Sharldul Thakur of India celebrates taking the wicket of Ashton Agar during game three of the one-day international series against India at Manuka Oval in Canberra. Photograph: Ryan Pierse/Getty Images
Sharldul Thakur of India celebrates taking the wicket of Ashton Agar during game three of the one-day international series against India at Manuka Oval in Canberra. Photograph: Ryan Pierse/Getty Images
When India limped to 152-5 in a dead rubber featuring two much-changed sides, this ODI had little to mark it out as a potential classic. But Hardik Pandya (92) and Ravi Jadeja (66) regrouped, then launched a ferocious assault at the death to power India to something approaching par on a good batting track with more pace than previously seen this series.
In reply Australia lost wickets early and at regular intervals, but while Finch (75) and then Maxwell (59) were around the chase always looked achievable. Maxwell in particular batted in the outrageous manner to which we have become accustomed, smacking three sixes in his 38-ball knock, including one preposterous 100m switch-hit.
The game was effectively decided in the 45th over when Kohli called on strike weapon Jasprit Bumrah earlier than he would have preferred, and his star pace bowler delivered, sending down a yorker that landed at the base of Maxwell’s leg stump. From there the tail was not up to the task and India wrapped things up in the final over. All five Indian bowlers took wickets, but Bumrah’s 2/43 and impressive rhythm was of most note heading into the Test series.
Thanks for joining us again tonight, we’ll see you again here soon.
Hazlewood digs out an excellent Bumrah yorker to begin the final over. Zampa then completely misses a well disguised slower bouncer. Then he misses a yorker and he’s pinned plumb in front. DRS cannot save him. That was comprehensive.
49th over: Australia 288-9 (Zampa 4, Hazlewood 6) Zampa tries to play about three shots to Thakur’s first delivery but none of them succeed in putting bat on ball. A single brings Hazlewood on strike and after nailing a handsome square drive he only just makes his ground returning for a second. Both batsmen then work singles to round off another positive over for India.
48th over: Australia 282-9 (Zampa 2, Hazlewood 2) Excellent over from Natarajan at the death, mixing up yorkers, slower balls and bouncers to earn a wicket and concede just four singles.
WICKET! Agar c Kuldeep b Natarajan 28 (Australia 278-9)
Two in two balls for India! Agar gave himself room and drilled a nice looking shot towards extra cover, but he couldn’t clear the fielder and Kuldeep holds onto the head height catch.
WICKET! Abbott c Rahul b Thakur 3 (Australia 278-8)
Thakur is handed the ball, not Bumrah, and he and Kohli take an age to set a field every delivery. The match is really grinding at a slow pace now as we tick beyond 10pm. India really need to address this.
The first ball is a slower variation that Abbott chips away for a single. The second is a wild wide full toss that Agar can only glide to third-man for one. Two more singles follow before there’s a huge appeal for LBW as Abbott is pinned by a yorker. No wicket, no review, but no run either.
Then there’s a wicket. Slower bouncer, Abbott pulls, get’s there much too early and gloves a simple catch over his shoulder for KL Rahul. India are delirious.
46th over: Australia 274-7 (Agar 26, Abbott 2) Agar drills the first delivery of Natarajan’s over for one, but he’s mindful of his dodgy calf and doesn’t attempt a second. Abbott then does well to keep out a yorker that tails back into the right-hander, but it’s the first of three dots in a row with the pressure rising around Manuka Oval. Abbott responds by giving himself room and stepping down the track, drilling Natarajan straight. It should be two, but again Agar’s limp restricts it to one. They do pinch a second to close the over.
45th over: Australia 270-7 (Agar 23, Abbott 1) 33 off 30 required. This has been a splendidly topsy-turvy night with momentum swings at regular intervals.
Kohli has to call on Bumrah to change the momentum, but Australia are happy to deal in singles against the strike bowler, who doesn’t help himself with a couple of wides. BOSH! That’s the change of momentum, and then some. After four nothing deliveries Bumrah nails the yorker, hammering the base of leg stump, evading Maxwell’s attempted slog. Massive, massive moment in this contest.
44th over: Australia 264-6 (Maxwell 58, Agar 21) There’s a delay to the 44th over while Agar receives some strapping to a calf injury. He hobbled a little between the wickets in the previous over, and any impediment to his running will not be ideal as the chase tightens. Or it may just encourage Maxwell simply to hit more sixes.
When the over begins Natarajan is millimetres away from the perfect yorker, but it’s still not good enough to deny Maxwell ANOTHER WILD SIX flicked with the angle way over midwicket. He follows that up with a calm, precise drive wide of mid-off for four. A single brings Agar on strike and the right-left partnership causes problems with Natarajan’s line. First Agar is able to free his hands and cut for four, then after he rotates strike there’s a massive wide.
Suddenly Australia are in the box seat. The run-rate is down to around 6.5rpo with just six overs remaining.
43rd over: Australia 246-6 (Maxwell 46, Agar 16) Agar cuts a couple to start Kuldeep’s final over, then drills a single to bring Maxwell to the crease. Everyone’s delighted he did because Maxwell has just switch-hit a 100m six off a left-arm wrist spinner. Don’t ask me how. That was wild. More smart singles complete avery good over for Australia.
If Maxwell is still batting in the 50th over Australia win, right?
42nd over: Australia 234-6 (Maxwell 38, Agar 12) Another pivotal moment with Bumrah recalled for his eighth over. Again Agar does his job and gets off strike first ball, inviting Maxwell to do his thing. He doesn’t capitalise though, drilling a dot back to the bowler in his follow through then missing out on a leg-stump full toss. A dot and a single to Agar are then backed up by a change-up bouncer that Maxwell allows to pass through. Decent couple of overs for India.
41st over: Australia 230-6 (Maxwell 37, Agar 10) Big over in the context of the match with Kuldeep being invited to bowl with Maxwell on fire. The wrist spinner starts with a single to Agar, then three dots to Maxy, the pressure rising with each scoreless moment. Eventually the ball beats the infield but it’s straight to the offside sweeper. An Agar single completes a superb over for India.
40th over: Australia 227-6 (Maxwell 36, Agar 8) Natarajan is back into the attack and it’s a big over for Australia.
Maxwell launches at the debutant immediately, but can only pick out the legside sweeper. Agar smartly gets off strike and Kohli takes an age to set his field. When play restarts Maxwell manipulates his wrists to steer the ball through point for three, then Agar goes one better with a toe-end to fine-leg after Natarajan nails a perfect yorker that really deserved so much better. Maxwell rounds it all off with a beautiful delicate guide through third-man for another boundary.
India have showed more attacking intent today than Australia today. Their execution of shots has also been better than the hosts.
Attacking shot percentage: India - 55% Aus - 50%
False shot percentage: India - 11% Australia - 25%#AUSvIND
39th over: Australia 213-6 (Maxwell 28, Agar 2) Thakur hustles his way towards Agar and a probing line and length sets up four dot balls to start the over. A single brings Maxwell on strike and he’s happy to milk one to retain strike.
WICKET! Carey run out (Kohli) 38 (Australia 210-6)
Calamity for Australia! Just as this partnership looked set to guide them home Carey is run out in horrible fashion. After watching Maxwell smash Jadeja for four his partner was eager to get him back on strike but tried too hard, setting off after the ball struck his pad, only to be sent back. Kohli was on the scene in a flash and lobbed the ball to Rahul to complete the dismissal.
37th over: Australia 205-5 (Carey 38, Maxwell 22) Thakur, who has impressed so far, replaces Bumrah, but he is not impressed with some sloppy Kuldeep fielding that turned one into three. Maxwell has his eye in now, working the angles around Manuka Oval, sizing up the right ball to attack. Dot balls are now a rarity.
36th over: Australia 197-5 (Carey 34, Maxwell 19) Australia execute two glorious strokes for singles before Maxwell hammers Jadeja miles over cow corner with a muscular slog sweep for six. Jadeja drags the follow-up down and Maxwell goes again! That’s on the roof! Oh boy, that was MASSIVE! He rocked back and absolutely smashed the leather off the Kookaburra. He tries to go three in a row, but Jadeja holds it back and finds some turn, beating the outside edge. The same series of events occurs to finish off the over. Maxwellball is well and truly upon us.
35th over: Australia 183-5 (Carey 33, Maxwell 6) Bumrah gets a second over in his spell, his seventh overall, but it goes for seven, over half of them courtesy of a Carey pull.
34th over: Australia 176-5 (Carey 28, Maxwell 5) Jadeja back into the attack after the final drinks break. Manuka Oval is in full darkness now, and it looks pretty chilly out there. Four classic Jadeja-over deliveries work in India’s favour, but then Carey gives himself room and lofts a sweetly-timed drive straight back over the bowler’s head. That was controlled and elegant.
33rd over: Australia 168-5 (Carey 22, Maxwell 3) Attacking move from Kohli with Bumrah recalled to the attack. Maxwell begins by getting himself off strike, and from a safe distance he can watch Carey almost chop on to his stumps. A very harsh wide precedes a couple of very sharp bouncers, the first of which Maxwell pulls for one, the second catches Carey on his glove and the ball loops over Rahul and away to safety. Australia have enjoyed plenty of good fortune in their chase so far. Bumrah has looked more like his old self after a slow start to his tour.
32nd over: Australia 162-5 (Carey 19, Maxwell 1) Natarajanrecovers from an early wide to find an unhittable line and length to keep Carey pinned to his crease. He almost snags a wicket from his seventh delivery of the over, deceiving Australia’s keeper with a lovely slower cutter. The run-rate is creeping up towards 8rpo.
WICKET! Green c Jadeja b Kuldeep 21 (Australia 158-5)
Green gives himself room and carves Kuldeep through the covers for four. then he steps right across his stumps and paddles an inventive two. He’s batting with plenty of intent and confidence on debut. And now he’s out. Sorry. He tries to slog sweep a hittable delivery but he picks out Jadeja running in from the square leg boundary.
30th over: Australia 151-4 (Green 15, Carey 16) Natarajan is back for his second spell after taking a wicket with his opening burst in ODI cricket. And he almost makes it two! Carey drives off a length over mid-off and the leaping Kohli gets his fingertips to it, but he can’t hold on, and the ball scuttles away to the rope. Tough chance. Green, who is playing without fear, then swings like a rusty gate in a strong breeze, but connects only with fresh air.
India’s Virat Kohli leaps spectacularly but puts down Carey. Photograph: Mark Baker/AP
After 25.3 overs, both teams had the same score 👀#AUSvIND
29th over: Australia 145-4 (Green 14, Carey 11) After patting away a couple of dots, Carey slog sweeps Kuldeep for a much-needed four to kickstart his time in the middle. He tries again a couple of balls later but is lucky to see a loopy top-edge land safely behind the keeper.
28th over: Australia 139-4 (Green 14, Carey 5) Jadeja continues his speedy overs of left-arm finger spin while Australia are focussed on building another partnership.
27th over: Australia 137-4 (Green 13, Carey 4) Kuldeep returns and it’s an over of cat-and-mouse with the loopy left-arm wrist spin against the industrious left-arm batting of Carey. The run-rate is well above 7 now for Australia, but they need to consolidate for a period.
26th over: Australia 133-4 (Green 12, Carey 1) That is a hammer blow for Australia and exposes a long lower-middle order. But Green takes up the fight immediately, driving Jadeja for six high over the sightscreen. That was quite the statement from the debutant.
WICKET! Finch c Dhawan b Jadeja 75 (Australia 123-4)
Could that be the decisive moment in this contest? After Green nudges Jadeja away for a single, Aaron Finch holes out to long on. The ball was in the slot to hit but Finch doesn’t get everything on it and Dhawan completes the catch running to his left.
25th over: Australia 122-3 (Finch 75, Green 3) After Thakur troubles the debutant, Green does well to rotate the strike and get Finch in the firing line. The skipper nurdles a hard-run couple then fails to capitalise on a rare loose delivery, slapping a cut straight to point.
“Hardly news,” emails Mark Lytle, talking my language, “but the TV commentary on FoxSports Australia, led by Warne and chums is worse than ever. Excruciating, blokeish drivel, with Isha Guha often talked over. Kohli was talked up as nailed on for a ton once he passed 10, which is just tedious fanboy stuff anyone can say. Can’t help but think they lack material. How about an analyst who can contribute usefully? Also, ‘bantz’ in the first innings included: “What was your first car?” and something or other about childhood potato chips that Shane says we need to bring back. Ugh. How on earth will this appeal to anyone bar old blokes who *already* like cricket? Dreck.” Testify!
24th over: Australia 119-3 (Finch 73, Green 1) Jadeja is racing through his over to Green and the noise around the bat has lifted a notch as India try to apply the squeeze. Just one run added to the scoreboard and the tourists are lively.
