a repeating After Mitchell Marsh and Steve Smith established Australia’s position with the bat in the third ODI, Glenn Maxwell destroyed India to bowl Australia to a 66-run victory.
India got off to a quick start in their chase after Marsh (96) and Smith (74) helped Australia set up for a total of 6-352. Washington Sundar and the dynamic Rohit Sharma put up 74 for the first wicket in only 10 overs.
It appeared as though India would continue to humiliate Australia for the third consecutive game, but Maxwell had other plans as he dismissed some of India’s top players.
He first removed the stumbling Sundar, but India’s run rate increased when Virat Kohli joined Sharma at the crease. Prior to Maxwell striking again, the pair punished the bowling of Pat Cummins and Mitchell Stark, shocking even Maxwell.
Sharma, who had smashed his 50 off just 31 balls, whacked one straight back at Maxwell, who managed to catch the quick shot in his right hand while gazing in disbelief at his accomplishment.
India appeared to be in control of the match until the crucial catch. Before Maxwell was able to get one past the gate and clean-bowl Shreyas Iyer for 48, Kohli was the next victim when he skied one deep to Smith. Before Cummins, Starc, Cameron Green, Tanveer Singha, and Josh Hazlewood grabbed wickets and bowled India out for 286 runs, Maxwell finished with his best ODI bowling stats of 4-40.
The outcome was irrelevant because India had already won the series, but the fact that Maxwell and Starc were back in the lineup suggested that Australia might still be a major force at the World Cup. The Australian captain, Cummins, praised the duo, saying, “It was a great first hit out, they both haven’t played a lot over the last couple of months.”
“Maxxy [took] four for, and Starcy looked like he was in great rhythm.”
Maxwell himself downplayed the effort but claimed he felt rested going into the event, which Australia had an unprecedented five victories in.
Maxwell stated, “I feel like I’ve gone into the World Cup nice and fresh.
It’s good to contribute, but I believe we would have made more changes if Mitch Marsh had been present.
The top order of the visitors, which included half-centuries from David Warner (56) and Marnus Labuschagne (72) in the first innings, had earlier set the stage for success.
Before again squandering a promising start with poor shot selection, Warner launched Mohammed Siraj for his fourth six to raise a rip-roaring half-century from just 32 balls before gloving an off-balance, attempted scoop off seamer Prasidh Krishna to wicketkeeper KL Rahul.
The serene Saurashtra Cricket Association Stadium deck was in stark contrast to the severe weather as Marsh and Smith batted well to add 137 for the second wicket.
When Marsh’s innings was about to end, he was physically exhausted, slumped over on his haunches, and in need of drink after every over. With his second ODI century in reach, he bunted a Kuldeep Yadav misfire to Prasidh at cover.
A worn-out Smith was sitting in a plastic chair that had been brought out to the center, wearing ice packs on his head and the back of his neck while Marsh stepped carefully off the ground.
Despite this, Cummins thought the World Cup preparations were promising.
When asked who will begin the batting for the team, Cummins responded, “Potentially Trav Head won’t be ready for the start of the tournament.”
“However, I believe Marsh and Davey started off today in a really risky manner.
If I were starting the bowling against them, I would be somewhat concerned.
Before Jasprit Bumrah, a pace ace, dismissed Alex Carey (11) and Maxwell (5), who was participating in his first international match in over six months, the former was trapped leg-before by Siraj.
Australia escaped being bowled out for the sixth straight ODI thanks to Labuschagne’s resourceful innings, which also provided selectors with food for thought.
The majority of the winnings for India were split between Bumrah (3-81) and Kuldeep (2-48), who both made their series debuts.