India vs Australia 2017: Steve Smith Calls Indian Duo 'The Best Death Bowlers'

Australia skipper Steve Smith has hailed India’s pace duo Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Jasprit Bumrah, calling them the ‘two of the best death bowlers’ after the duo choked the visitors in the death overs of the third One-Day International on Sunday (September 24).

At 224 for 2 in the 38th over, Australia were looking destined to post well above 300. However, Aaron Finch’s dismissal on 124 opened the floodgates before Bhuvneshwar and Bumrah tightened the noose to restrict the world champions to 293 for 6. The duo conceded just 38 runs in the last 6 overs which prompted the Australian skipper to heap praise on them.

“I think Bumrah and Bhuvi are probably two of the best death bowlers going around, particularly when the wicket sort of slows up a little bit. We still need to find a way. We set a template really well. The first 38 overs were magnificent. We set it up and we just weren’t to execute it in the back end,” Smith said at the post-match conference.

“We keep talking to each other, discussing what the wicket is doing and what kind of deliveries we should be bowling. They are outstanding – they bowl equally well at the start and at the death. It’s amazing to have guys like that. It gives me the confidence to go all out and express myself,” he added.

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Meanwhile, India defeated the world champions by 5 wickets to win the third ODI and go 3-0 in the five-match series. Batting first, Australia rode on Aaron Finch‘s century and skipper Steve Smith’s fifty, to post their highest total in the series, 293 for 6 but India chased down the total with more than two overs remaining. Hardik Pandya starred with the bat for the hosts, scoring 78 while Rohit Sharma (71) and Ajinkya Rahane (70) also made major contributions.

The fourth game of the series is in Bangalore on Thursday with the final encounter in Nagpur on Sunday, 1 October.

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