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| Hardik Pandya plays a shot during the third one-day international cricket match against Australia at the Holkar Stadium in Indore on September 24, 2017. (AFP) |
India defeated Australia by five wickets in the third ODI to take a series-clinching 3-0 lead in Indore on Sunday.
Chasing 294 runs to win, openers Ajinkya Rahane and Rohit Sharma gave India a fine start adding 139 runs for the first wicket.
Both openers fell in the space of 12 balls and Pandya walked in at No. 4 in place of Manish Pandey. He and Virat Kohli added 56 runs for the third-wicket before the Indian skipper perished for 28. Kedar Jadhav soon followed him back to the pavilion.
Pandya conitinued with his rampage as he notched up his ODI fifty. A commendable 72-ball 78 laced with five boundaries and four sixes took India to the brink of a series win. In the end it was Manish Pandey (36) and his single off the fifth delivery of the 48th over as the hosts clinched victory in Indore.
Earlier, India bounced back in the last 10 overs to restrict Australia to 293 for six.
Aaron Finch, who replaced young Hilton Cartright after recovering from a calf injury, made an instant impact with a classy 124 after skipper Steve Smith won the toss for the first time in the series and elected to bat.
Finch added 70 runs for the opening wicket with David Warner (42) and raised a 154-run partnership with Smith for the second wicket.
However, the hosts staged a remarkable comeback in the last 10 overs of the game after the fall of Finch, giving away just 59 runs and taking four wickets.
The stage was set for Australia to go for the kill, being placed 234 for two in 40 overs, but they lost Smith and Glenn Maxwell (5) in successive balls.
India climb to No. 1
With the victory, the Men in Blue not only maintained their unbeaten record on Indore track, but also they Virat Kohli-led side eqaulled India's longest winning streak in ODIs of nine matches. India have now eased past South Africa to claim the No.1 spot on the ICC ODI Team Rankings.
Meanwhile, Australia have now lost another game on the road - they have now not won one game in their last 13 away from home.
Team India will now face Australia at M Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bengaluru on September 28 for the fourth ODI match.
Brief Scores
Australia: 293 for six in 50 overs (Aaron Finch 124, Steve Smith 63; Jasprit Bumrah 2/52).
India: 294 for five in 47.5 overs (Hardik Pandya 78, Rohit Sharma 71, Ajinkya Rahane 70; Pat Cummins 2/54).
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