INDIA BEAT OZ, WIN SERIES 41
Opener Rohit Sharma smashed 125 to guide India to a 7wicket win against Australia in the fifth and final ODI in Nagpur on Sunday. Australia scored 242.
NAGPUR: Rohit Sharma and Ajinkya Rahane dashed any hopes of an Australian resurgence with their third consecutive century partnership in the ODI series to help India clinch the final game by seven wickets.
Rohit Sharma, the Indian vicecaptain, credited their outstanding show to the rapport built over years by playing together in the Mumbai circuit.
Rohit Sharma struck 125, his 14th ODI century, while Rahane scored 61, his fourth half-century in a row.
“We’ve played together a lot in Mumbai… we know each other’s game really well. We talk a lot in the middle about when we need to take risk and when we need not take risk,” Rohit said.
“These are the little things that really help in building a partnership.”
It has been a fantastic run for Rohit Sharma, who’s been in superb form since coming back from the serious thigh injury he suffered during the New Zealand ODI series last year.
“The team really depends on the start we give as openers. It’s really important and it adds to our success. I just go out and try and enjoy the moment. That is what I’ve been doing in the past few years, and in the future as well; it’s not going to change.”
“I just have to go out and assess the conditions and see what the opposition are and plan accordingly. We’ve finished the ODI series with Australia, and after the three T20s, New Zealand are coming. Their bowling dynamics are different. You will try and think about their bowling, what they do and what they don’t.”