India wins series 4-1 after a seven-wicket win the final ODI against Australia in Nagpur with Rohit Sharma scoring 125 runs.
Rohit Sharma could not reach his 14th ODI century in the Bangalore ODI but there was no stopping him in Nagpur. The opener took 15 balls for his first run but forgot to the three-figure mark in 81 more balls and that too with a six. Virat Kohli, who was his partner when he was run-out in Bangalore, was his partner in Nagpur too but to congratulate him. Rohit’s ton and his century partnerships with Ajinkya Rahane and captain Kohli ensured a comfortable win for India the 5th ODI against Australia in Nagpur.
The seven-wicket in Nagpur was beautifully set up first by the bowlers who strangled Australia to 242/7 and then the fluent century for India’s vice-captain. He shared a 124-run stand with Rahane and 103-run stand with Kohli which eliminated Australia from the game. The result means that India wins the series 4-1 and consolidate their position at the top of the ICC ODI Rankings.
During his innings of 125 runs, Rohit also completed 6000 ODI runs, making him only the eighth Indian cricketer to do so. His innings complied of five sixes and 12 fours. The Nagpur pitch was on the slower side but Rohit and Rahane looked made batting look easy. After a slow start, both dealt in boundaries and once the spinners came on, they rotated the strike.
Australia bowlers bowled at the stumps early in the innings but then resorted to the short stuff. Rohit and Rahane probably were waiting for this and hammered them for boundaries. They shared a 124-run stand for the opening wicket before Rahane was dismissed by Nathan Coulter-Nile.
He shuffled too much across the stumps and was hit on the pads and was adjudged LBW. He reviewed the decision but the ball was hitting the leg-stump on umpire’s call. He was dismissed for 61, his fourth consecutive half-century in the series.
Australia began on a similar note as David Warner and Aaron Finch added 60 runs with 10 boundaries in the first 10 overs. India had brought back the bowling pair of Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Jasprit Bumrah for this match after they were not part of the playing XI in Bangalore ODI, a match which India lost. But, both proved ineffective in the first powerplay.
But soon, Hardik Pandya picked up the wicket of Finch before Axar Patel picked up two wickets including the wicket of Warner. Kedar Jadhav then removed Steve Smith.
Travis Head and Marcus Stoinis took Australia from 118/4 to 205/4 before Head was yorked by Axar. That once again pushed Australia back. Bumrah showed his class again as India restricted Australia to 242/9.
Online Source The Indian Express