Usman Khawaja and Aaron Finch starred with the bat as Australia posted 313 in the third ODI against India in Ranchi.
Aaron Finch finally regained his form and forged a century-plus stand with Usman Khawaja in the do-or-die game. India’s decision to bowl first backfired completely as Finch and Khawaja looked determined to put up a strong show. The duo started cautiously, collecting 52 runs from the first ten overs to give the kind of start Australia would have needed after the unimpressive batting shows in the first two ODIs.
As the game wore on, the duo found their rhythm and started playing the big shots. Finch targeted part-time spinner Kedar Jadhav to collect some quick runs and the move paid off. In the first over, Jadhav conceded 13 runs before Finch hit him for two six and a four in his second over and the seventeenth over of the innings. Australia reached the 100-run mark while Finch scored a much-needed fifty in that very over. Two overs later, Khawaja reached his fifty too as Australia raced away to 124 for no loss at the end of the 20th over.
Credits: CA
India threw everything at the duo but nothing worked. The breakthrough finally came in the 32nd over when Kuldeep Yadav trapped Finch for 93, thus ending the 193-run stand.
With the platform set for a huge score, Australia promoted Glenn Maxwell to number three and he started off well. He hit a flurry of boundaries to set the tone before Khawaja reached his maiden ton off 107 deliveries. He, however, soon departed after scoring 104, falling to Mohammed Shami.
India then heaved a sigh of relief when Maxwell was run out for 47 in the 42nd over. The knock came off 31 balls and was studded with three fours and three sixes. Kuldeep Yadav then dismissed Shaun Marsh andPeter Handscomb inside an over to give India a chance to put a brake on the scoring rate. Marcus Stoinis and Alex Carey then steadied the ship, sharing an unbeaten partnership of 50 runs to take Australia to over 300.
Here is how Twitter reacted to the innings:
313 is a good score anyday but Australia are about 20 short of where they could have been. 127 from the last 20 overs with 10 wickets in hand. This is marginally above par, I think.
— Harsha Bhogle (@bhogleharsha) March 8, 2019
Dhoni in Ranchi 🔥 pic.twitter.com/aydxeOcVYM
— Sagar (@sagarcasm) March 8, 2019
MS Dhoni is the second best deadliest combination of Wicket-Keeping and brain, first one is of course Kumar Sangakkara.🙏#INDvAUS
— Sunil- The cricketer (@1sInto2s) March 8, 2019
when he sees the performance of Indian players wearing Army style caps.#INDvAUS pic.twitter.com/UBHF80LaY0
— Sunil- The cricketer (@1sInto2s) March 8, 2019
Hawkeye having a few rum and cokes by the pool pre-game? 😂 https://t.co/Akcb37Cpsm
— Jimmy Neesham (@JimmyNeesh) March 8, 2019
Finch LBW. Are we just gonna ignore the fact that ball tracking had it pitching in a totally different place to reality?
I saw it pitching middle, maybe even middle and off. Ball tracking had it pitching on leg.
Still out but pretty weird. #INDvsAUS
— Jimmy Neesham (@JimmyNeesh) March 8, 2019
Virat Kohli * sneezed *
Commentators: Whoa! MS Dhoni suggested him to sneeze
— Sunil- The cricketer (@1sInto2s) March 8, 2019
When it comes to direct throws to effect run-outs, Jadeja is the best Indian fielders I have seen after Yuvraj Singh… Here are my all-time top 5 (Among the ones I have seen) –
1) Ponting
2) Jonty Rhodes
3) Gibbs
4) Dilshan
5) YuvrajWhich ones would you choose? #INDvAUS
— Navneet Mundhra (@navneet_mundhra) March 8, 2019
What an arm Jaddu, what a Run out, Masterclass Singh Dhoni !! #IndvAus pic.twitter.com/3sJgqZCP8w
— Monica (@monicas004) March 8, 2019
Breakthru finally, but Aus nudging 200 and likely to finish around 340-350 unless remaining batsmen squander this start. Will makw for a daunting run chase
— Cricketwallah (@cricketwallah) March 8, 2019
Another facet of Vijay Shankar is his fielding. Moves real quick, Covers a lot of ground and super safe pair of hands … #Indvaus
— Jatin Sapru (@jatinsapru) March 8, 2019
"Aaron Finch is under pressure."
"Aaron Finch is mentally gone."
"Aaron Finch shouldn't make Australia's World Cup squad."
Aaron Finch scores 93 off 99 in a 193-run opening stand.
Captain's knock. #INDvAUS pic.twitter.com/DoJonDsDqn
— bet365_aus (@bet365_aus) March 8, 2019
When Virat Kohli asks Kedar Jadhav to bowl another over when Finch is on strike !
Kedar Jadhav be like : pic.twitter.com/dHeHKszmuH
— Vandit Khanna (@Vandit_Khanna) March 8, 2019
Kedar Jadhav is that bowler jo right-arm over the wicket bol ke, around the wicket daal deta hai.. pic.twitter.com/i98b8258If
— N I T I N (@theNitinWalke) March 5, 2019
This is so cool: the Indian players are wearing Army caps in the Ranchi ODI to express solidarity with Indian Jawans #INDvAUS
— Vikrant Gupta (@vikrantgupta73) March 8, 2019
MS Dhoni Pavilion End. 💙💙
What a player, what a man!
Legendary. #INDvAUS pic.twitter.com/hPpE2y9Iy9— Hazardous (@hazardddftw) March 8, 2019
Team India is sporting camouflage caps today as mark of tribute to the martyrs of Pulwama terror attack and the armed forces. Team India will donate entire match fees of Ranchi ODI.
Great initiative by Lt Colonel MS Dhoni. Kudos to Team India. 🙏🇮🇳 #INDvsAUS #INDvAUS pic.twitter.com/wqkMXDelsz
— Sir Jadeja fan (@SirJadeja) March 8, 2019
Khawaja dropped early Dhawan, India getting their comeuppance with the opening pair giving Australia a hefty start
— Cricketwallah (@cricketwallah) March 8, 2019
#INDvAUS
“Caps?”
Kohli: Tribute to armed forces
“ok, so what’s the plan against Australia today?”
Kohli: I am not supposed to tell you— DR. GILL (@ikpsgill1) March 8, 2019
