source image
A statement century from Shreyas Iyer, a fifth ODI ton in the calendar year for Shubman Gill, a 37-ball 72 from Suryakumar Yadav and a three-wicket haul for R Ashwin gave India a crushing 99-run (DLS adjusted) win over Australia in Indore to clinch the ODI series 2-0.
The India batters pumped 31 fours and 18 sixes in all to post 399 for 5 on a batting-friendly surface, but Australia didn't enjoy the same run. They were hurt by Prasidh Krishna - who had replaced the rested Jasprit Bumrah in the XI - first and, after a second rain delay to the game, they came undone at the hands of the spinners, 217 all out in a contest where the gulf was massive.
In the afternoon, a partnership of 200 in only 164 balls for the second wicket between Iyer and Gill asserted India's dominance for the first 30 overs of the innings. In the last 20, KL Rahul (52), Suryakumar and Ishan Kishan (31) put in the finishing touches to leave Australia chasing a record target.
Iyer, who was run out for 3 in Mohali, started with five fours in his first 14 balls, and just before the first-innings rain break, Gill too found his rhythm. They brought up a fifty stand in 29 balls and by the tenth over had taken India to 80 for 1. Even after the field spread out, the pair powered on, with Gill especially dominant down the ground.
That helped him accelerate from a score of 9 in 19 balls to a half-century in just 37. Like Gill, Iyer too reached his fifty with a six, getting there in 41 balls. With small boundaries and a flat pitch on offer, they went at 7.8 per over between overs 11 to 20 to take India to 158 for 1. It was only for a brief period while getting to their respective centuries did they slow down at all.
A cramping Iyer reached his third ODI century in the 30th over of the innings and the whole stadium was up on their feet to celebrate the occasion. He was handed a second life when Sean Abbott failed to take a catch cleanly off his own bowling, but departed soon after for a 90-ball 105. Two overs later, Gill completed his sixth ODI century, and while trying to clobber Cameron Green for a six down the ground, he too was out for a 97-ball 104.
Both Rahul and Kishan, Nos. 4 and 5, started their innings with sixes to get off the mark. Rahul then hammered two more - including one that flew over the highest stand near deep midwicket. The 33-ball partnership of 59 was the perfect follow-up to the twin centuries with Kishan then falling to Adam Zampa for 31.
For most of the first innings, 400 was a realistic target, especially with the wickets in hand, but Australia slowed the game for a few overs in the final powerplay. India were 311 for 4 in 43 overs with the run rate going the wrong way.
Suryakumar, though, ensured that was but a temporary blip. He hit Green for four sixes in four balls in the 44th over which cost 26 runs. At the other end, Rahul fell for 52 off 38 but Suryakumar had found his range. He toyed with Abbott in a 17-run 47th over to reach his second fifty of the series in 24 balls.
Australia had a forgettable bowling day, even if they didn't do much wrong, which is how you know you're playing in Indore. This ground is merciless on the bowlers and it was on display again as debutant Spencer Johnson conceded 61 in eight overs while Abbott was hit for 91 in 10. Green's 2 for 103 made him the fourth Australian bowler to concede triple digits in ODIs.
Prasidh provided the early jolt in the chase with his dismissals of Matthew Short (9) and Steven Smith (0) off consecutive balls, leaving David Warner and Marnus Labuschagne to rebuild. As they were motoring along, a second rain break came and shrunk the innings to 33 overs. The DLS-adjusted target - 317 - looked even more daunting.
When play resumed, Ashwin came on and unleashed his bag of tricks. One variation had a right-handed Warner lbw. Another had Labuschagne seeing his stumps pegged back. And a third one was too good for Josh Inglis and his attempted sweep.
With the pitch offering massive turn - in contrast to afternoon conditions - and Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja getting the ball to spit across the batters, it seemed like the end was near. When Carey was bowled by Jadeja and Green was run out in lazy fashion, all that was left was consolation runs.
When play resumed, Ashwin came on and unleashed his bag of tricks. One variation had a right-handed Warner lbw. Another had Labuschagne seeing his stumps pegged back. And a third one was too good for Josh Inglis and his attempted sweep.
With the pitch offering massive turn - in contrast to afternoon conditions - and Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja getting the ball to spit across the batters, it seemed like the end was near. When Carey was bowled by Jadeja and Green was run out in lazy fashion, all that was left was consolation runs.
That's what Abbott offered with his 36-ball 54 from No. 9. From 140 for 8, his boundary-laden innings dragged Australia past 200, with Josh Hazlewood giving useful support. Abbott thumped Ashwin for a six to reach his fifty in 29 balls, and even though it never threatened the result, his blitz of four fours and five sixes provided something positive for Australia before they slumped to their fifth ODI defeat in a row.
The only negative for India was their fielding. They struggled in dewy conditions late in the day and let the lower-order batters boost their score. Jadeja finished the game with a terrific turning ball that rattled Abbott's stumps in the 29th over, and finished with a three-for himself.
The teams now move to Rajkot with both sides set to field full-strength XIs in the final ODI. In that sense, this game provided the fringe players a final chance to impress, with some more successful than others.