Finch, Smith power Australia to 293/6
MATCH ON Despite late rally by India, Aussies reap rewards of good start in mustwin tie
INDORE: Before the start of the match at the Holkar Stadium, David Warner had said on Saturday that Australia needed a different gameplan. “If you get off to a good start and the spinners come on, it is a different ball game,” Warner had said.
Australia heeded that advice as Aaron Finch’s eighth century provided the visitors with a great start at the top. Steve Smith’s 19th fifty complimented Finch’s ton well as Australia reached 293/6 against India in the third ODI at the Holkar Stadium on Sunday.
At one point, with Finch and Smith going strong, a total in excess of 330 looked possible. However, the dismissal of Finch and Smith at crucial intervals in the death overs helped India claw back into the contest as they gave away just 59 runs in the last 10 overs to limit the damage.
Finch, who had missed the first two ODIs in Chennai and Kolkata due to a calf strain, proved to be the difference and Australia were boosted when he passed the fitness Test in the morning. Australia chose to bat, with Smith making two changes. Finch replaced Hilton Cartwright while Peter Handscomb was selected as the wicketkeeper in place of Matthew Wade. Virat Kohli’s side remained unchanged.
On a flat deck, Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Jasprit Bumrah bowled with discipline as Australia started steadily. Finch broke the shackles with two boundaries off Bumrah and this boosted Warner as well.
For the first time in the series, Australia had strung a partnership in excess of 50 and a platform was laid. India broke the 70-run opening stand when Hardik Pandya castled Warner for 42 with an off-cutter that the left-hander played down the wrong line.
SMITH-FINCH STAND HURTS INDIA
Following Warner’s wicket, Australia did not allow the momentum to slip away. Finch notched up his fifty off 61 balls when he slammed Yuzvendra Chahal straight down the ground for a boundary. After reaching his milestone, the 30-year-old raised the tempo and regularly found the boundary. He breezed through to his eighth century and second against India when he swept Kuldeep Yadav for a boundary to fine leg.
Smith was untroubled by Kuldeep and Chahal as he main- tained a steady scoring rate. Smith and Finch put on 100 for the second wicket for the third time in succession as Australia looked set for a big total.
However, the 152-run stand was broken when Finch was caught at deep midwicket to depart for 124 while Smith miscued the lofted shot to be caught at long off. Despite going for runs, Kuldeep’s twin strikes gave India the opening.
Glenn Maxwell (5) struggled to time the ball and was sent back by Chahal for the third time in the series while Bumrah cleaned up Travis Head. Peter Handscomb (3) fell to a great catch from Manish Pandey. Australia managed 12 in the final over. But on this flat deck, this is still a good score.