The Australian cricket team won the third and final one-day international (ODI) series against India by a score of 2-1 on Wednesday, March 22nd, at Chepauk Stadium in Chennai. The Australian team was outstanding in this three-game series in India. Australia are the new No.1 team in the ODIs overtaking India after a series win over them. This will boost Aussies’ confidence especially when the ODI World Cup is very near.
Chasing 270 on a tricky pitch, India were all out for 248 in 49.1 overs as Australia regained control of the series after losing the first ODI by five wickets. The series loss shows that the Indian team is far from ready for the World Cup.
The final 15 overs of the match were a letdown, with Australian spinners Adam Zampa (4/45) and Ashton Agar (2/41 in 10 overs) taking six Indian wickets and conceding only 86 runs between them. The Chepauk track became increasingly difficult to hit big strokes after the 35th over of the Indian innings.
Zampa bowled a couple of googlies to force Hardik Pandya (40 off 40 balls) and Ravindra Jadeja (1 off 33 balls) hit against the turn, which aided the spinner to bag some wickets to his spell. It was Zampa’s best figures against India, and he was unquestionably Australia’s hero.
With a quickfire start, Hardik Pandya gearred up in momentum, but he soon witnessed his partner Kohli, who’s attempt at a loft ended up at long off, giving Agar his first wicket. India was put in a difficult situation after losing 39/4 in 43 balls. In the same over, the spinner solidified his advantage by dismissing nervous Suryakumar Yadav for a third consecutive golden duck after the batter missed a skidder.
Ashton Agar: It was nice. Lovely to finish the series on a high. It is a tough place to come and play, it was a hot day and to finish with a win was beautiful. It was a nice way to start (referring to his first ball), there was obviously plenty in the pitch for me and as soon as the first ball did that, it was a great indication on how I had to go about for the rest of the innings, put the ball in the right place and let the pitch do the rest. Mitch (Marsh) came back and said 250 would be a good total out there, he said it was starting to get slow and it was taking more turn. Gill and Rohit started nicely but it got harder and harder. It is always fun bowling with Zampa, we are great mates and we had a pretty good time out there.
