Rajkot: Having already lost the first two ODIs and the series against Team India, Australia were desperate for a good result ahead of their World Cup opener against the same opponents in 9 days’ time. And the men in yellow did get a consolation 66-run win in the final ODI here on Wednesday evening.
Chasing a formidable target of 353, India stayed in the hunt for about 35 overs, thanks to skipper Rohit Sharma’s smashing 81 off 57 balls (5×4, 6×6). Rohit was backed up by Virat Kohli (56 off 61) and Shreyas Iyer (48 off 43).
But once KL Rahul and Suryakumar Yadav fell in the space of 9 balls, the lower order was left with too many to get in too few balls.
Allrounder Glenn Maxwell, returning to the team after a long lay-off, more than compensated for a low score (5) with a fine spell of off-spin which fetched him 4/40 in 10 overs and he Man-of-the-Match award.
Earlier, Australia got off to a rollicking start as David Warner (56 off 34, 6×4, 4×6) and Mitchell Marsh (96 off 84, 13×4, 3×6) took the Indian pacers including Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Siraj to the cleaners.
Steve Smith (74 off 61) and Labuschagne (72 off 58) maintained the great momentum as Australia looked set for a total of 400.
Indian bowlers, however, picked up a few wickets to restrict Australia to 352/7. But that proved to be enough for the visitors.
Brief Scores: Australia 352/7 in 50 overs (Mitchell Marsh 96, Steve Smith 74, Marnus Labuschagne 72, David Warner 56; Jasprit Bumrah 3/81, Kuldeep Yadav 2/48).
India 286 all out in 49.4 overs (Rohit Sharma 81, Virat Kohli 56, Shreyas Iyer 48; Glenn Maxwell 4/40, Josh Hazlewood 2/42).
Result: Australia won by 66 runs.
Series Result: India won 2-1.
Man of the Match: Glenn Maxwell.
Man of the Series: Shubman Gill.