3rd ODI India vs Australia: Faulkner powers Australia to thrilling win

A sensational 29-ball unbeaten knock of 64 by James Faulkner helped Australa beat India by four wickets and three balls to spare in the third one-day international.

Faulkner turned the match on its head by blasting six sixes and two boundaries almost overshadowing the brilliant unbeaten 139 by Indian skipper MS Dhoni as Australia took a 2-1 lead in the series

Chasing a formidable target of 304, Australia stuttered in their chase despite getting a solid start stumbling to 88-3 after openersHughes and Finch posted 68 in 12.2 overs.

Their innings never gathered momentum being pegged back by the Indian spinners in particular Jadeja who had figures of 10-0-31-1.

Australia scored just 26 between overs 10 and 20 with Watson being unfortunate to be given leg before although the ball appeared to be sliding down.

Bailey (43) revived the innings briefly with a 83-run stand with Voges who kept alive Australia's hopes after they slumped to 213 for six in the 42nd over with Maxwell being run out and Haddin holing out in the deep.

Faulkner, who went for 21 in the last over of the Indian innings, changed the tide of the match blasting four sixes and a boundary in the 48th over bowled by Sharma which went for 30.

It reduced the equation from 44 off 18 balls to a gettable 14 off 12.

Ashwin bowled good 49th over conceding just five runs.

Nine was required off the last over. Voges took a single off the first while Faulkner got a couple off the next.

With six needed for victory, Faulkner secured it in style hammering a full toss from Vinay into the crowd.

Voges remained unbeaten 76 off 88 balls stroking seven boundaries with their unbroken seventh wicket stand yielding 91 runs.

Vinay claimed two for 50 while Ishant had figures of 8-1-63-1. Ashwin went for 58 in nine over, Yuvraj 20 in three and Kohli 18 in one over.

Earlier, India powered by a brilliant unbeaten 139 off 122 balls from skipper MS Dhoni recovered from 154 for six to post 303 for nine after being put into bat.

Battling an ankle injury and later hit on the thumb, Dhoni bided his time before unleashing his range of shots as India got 101 in the last 10 overs.

His incredible knock was studded with five sixes and 12 fours having come into the middle when the Indian innings was in tatters 76 for four after 13 overs.

Johnson caused the damage removing Raina and Yuvraj in successive balls after openers Dhawan and Sharma fell to short deliveries.

Kohli began repairing the damage with a fluent knock of 68 which contained nine boundaries 72 runs for the fifth wicket with Dhoni.

India slumped to 154-6 after Kohli and Jadeja fell in quick succession.

Ashwin played a useful hand adding 76 runs for the seventh wicket with Dhoni went onto complete his ninth ODI century.

Having been let off by his opposite number Bailey on 105, blasted 21 off the last over to take India past 300 and setting a record for the highest individual score at Mohali in ODIs.

Johnson had the best figures of four for 46 while Doherty bowled a good spell before Dhoni spoiled his figures to finish with none for 45.

AUSTRALIA INNINGS

Faulkner blasts a full toss from Vinay for a six as Australia win a thriller by four wickets with three balls to spare in Mohali.

Vinay to bowl the last over with Voges on strike.

Ashwin bowls a good over. Australia need nine from the last over. Aus 295-6 in 49 overs.

Ishant goes for 30 runs as Faulkner clobbers four sixes and a boundary to complete his second ODI fifty. Aus 290-6 in 48 overs.

Faulkner has the first two balls from Ishant for a boundary and a massive six over long-on in the 48th over.

Voges gets a boundary off Ashwing but Australia still need 44 from three overs. Aus 260-6 in 47 overs.

Vinay goes for 14 as Faulkner and Voges get a boundary apiece. Aus 252-6 need 52 from four overs.

Australia are 237 for six with five overs to go.

Faulkner clubs a six off Bhuvneshwar over midwicket. Aus 230-6 in 44 overs.

The boundaries have dried up for Australia who are 221-6 in 43 overs.

Australia's hopes of pulling an improbable victory are slipping away. Aus 216-6 in 42 overs.

Haddin perishes holing out in the deep to Jadeja. Aus 213-6 in 41.1 overs.

Brad Haddin c Jadeja b Kumar 24 (16b 2x4 1x6)

Australia are 214-5 needing 91 from 54 balls.

Australia need 96 off the last 10 overs with five wickets in hand.

Kohli goes for 18 with Haddin hammering a six and consecutive boundaries. Aus 208-5 in 40 overs.

Haddin hits a massive six sending a long hop from Kohli into the crowd at midwicket.

Voges completes his fourth ODI fifty off 63 balls but Australia need their batsmen to fire if they are to make a match of it. Aus 190-5 in 39 overs.

Australia have failed to benefit from the Batting Powerplay scoring 28 for the loss of two wickets.

Voges decides to attack pulling Ishant for a boundary to midwicket. Aus 183-5 in 38 overs.

Australia have crashed to 174-5 with the dangerous Maxwell being run out by a direct hit from Dhawan backing up for a single and being sent back. Aus 174-5 in 37 overs.

Glenn Maxwell run out 3 (3b 0x4 0x6)

Vinay has struck a crucial blow in the first over after the drinks break trappling Bailey leg before with a delivery which kept low. Aus 171-4 in 36.2 overs.

George Bailey lbw b Vinay Kumar 43 (60b 4x4 1x6)

Jadeja completes an excellent spell returning figures of 10-0-31-1.

Voges cracks Jadeja through the covers for a boundary in his final over. Aus 171-3 in 36 overs.

Voges gets a boundary pulling Vinay to midwicket. Aus 165-3 in 35 overs.

Australia have decided to take the Batting Powerplay in the 34th over.

Voges cuts Ashwin past short third man for another boundary as Australia are slowly breaking the shackles. Aus 155-3 in 33 overs.

Bailey cuts Ashwin to third man fence for another boundary. Aus 143-3 in 31 overs.

Bailey hits the first six of the innings clubbing Ashwin over midwicket. Aus 135-3 in 29 overs.

Good over for Australia with Voges getting another boundary. Aus 125-3 in 27 overs.

Voges breaks the shackles finding the gap on the off by cracking Yuvraj through point.

Bailey pulls Yuvraj to the fine leg fence to bring up the 100 of the innings in the 23rd over. Aus 100-3 in 23 overs.

Australia have scored just 26 runs in the last 10 overs for the loss of three wickets. Aus 90-3 in 20 overs.

Jadeja strikes in his second over trapping Watson leg before though replays suggested it was going down leg. Aus 88-2 in 19.1 overs.

Shane Watson lbw b Jadeja 11 (17b 1x4 0x6)

Bailey flicks Ishant on the leg side for a one-bounce boundary. Aus 88-2 in 19 overs.

Ishant strikes in the third ball after the drinks interval trapping Finch leg before. Aus 82-2 in 16.3 overs.

Aaron Finch lbw b Ishant Sharma 38 (44b 6x4 0x6)

Watson gets his first boundary slamming Bhuvneshwar to square leg. Aus 75-1 in 14 overs.

India finally get a breakthrough as Hughes edges Vinay to be caught behind. Aus 68-1 in 12.2 overs.

Phil Hughes c Dhoni b Vinay Kumar 22 (40b 4x4 0x6)

Finch survives after Kohli takes a diving catch off Vinay after the ball apparently bounced off his shoulder. Aus 67-0 in 11 overs.

Hughes pulls a short ball from Ishant to the midwicket fence. Aus 64-0 in 10 overs.

Finch survives a confident appeal for leg before after having edged the previous delivery from Bhuvneshwar to third man fence. Aus 60-0 in 9 overs.

Australia are doing it smartly with Finch and Hughes picking up boundaries off Ishant. Aus 48-0 in 8 overs.

Hughes punches Ishant through the covers for another sweetly timed boundary as Australia make steady start. Aus 35-0 in 6 overs.

Finch smashes Bhuvneshwar straight down the ground. Aus 29-0 in 5 overs.

Hughes gets his first boundary driving Vinay through the covers.

Finch hits the first boundary of the innings cracking Bhuvneshwar past point. Ind 5-0 in 1 over.

INDIA INNINGS

Vinay Kumar is run out in the penultimate ball but Dhoni who hammers consecutive sixes off Faulkner finishes the innings with a boundary as 21 runs come of the last over to take India past 300.

R Vinay Kumar run out 0 (1b 0x4 0x6)

Faulkner's first ball of the final over is despatched to midwicket.

Dhoni slams a boundary off Watson after being dropped the previous ball followed by a towering as 15 runs comes of the 19th over. Ind 282-8.

Bailey drops a skier from Dhoni on 105 with India 267-8.

India lose their eighth wicket. Ind 267-8 in 47.5 overs

Bhuveshwar Kumar c Bailey b Faulkner 10 (18b 1x4 0x6)

Dhoni hammers consecutive boundaries off Faulkner to complete his ninth ODI century and second against Australia.

Bhuvneshwar slams a slower balls from McKay over mid-off for a boundary. Ind 256-7 in 47 overs.

Faulkner bowls a good over conceding only a single. Ind 247-7 in 46 overs.

Johnson finishes his spell with excellent figures of 10-1-46-4. Ind 246-7 in 45 overs.

Dhoni finishes off a big over for India by glancing Watson to the fine leg to move to 90. Ind 244-7 in 44 overs.

Dhoni smashes his second six sending Watson sailing over long-off.

Ashwin departs after playing a useful hand adding 76 runs for the seventh wicket with Dhoni. Ind 231-7 in 43 overs.

Haddin takes a good low catch as Ashwin walks after edging behind off Johnson who claims his fourth wicket. Ind 229-7 in 42.3 overs.

Ravichandran Ashwin c Haddin b Johnson 28 (35b 3x4 0x6)

Ashwin guides a short ball from Watson to the fine leg fence as India get 12 runs in the over. Ind 227-7 in 42 overs.

Dhoni is taking on Watson pulling a short ball finding the gap at the midwicket.

Dhoni slams the first six of the match off Doherty in his final over following up with a boundary. Ind 215-6 in 41 overs.

The 50 partnership between Dhoni and Ashwin for the seventh wicket comes off just 53 balls.

India get 30 without loss in the Batting Powerplay. Ind 198-6 in 39 overs.

Dhoni hits his 49th ODI half century and fifth against Australia by flicking Faulkner to square leg and then slashing the next to the third man fence. Ind 190-6 in 37 overs.

Ashwin swings Faulkner to the fine leg fence. Ind 174-6 in 35 overs.

Dhoni has taken the Batting Powerplay in the 35th over.

Dhoni slices a full toss from Johnson to the third man boundary. Ind 168-6 in 34 overs.

Ashwin slams the first ball from Johnson to third man for a boundary. Ind 161-6 in 32 overs.

Johnson strikes again as Jadeja fends a rising delivery with Haddin taking a good catch on the leg side. India 154-6 in 31-3 overs as drinks are taken.

Ravindra Jadeja c Haddin b Johnson 2 (4b 0x4 0x6)

Johnson is back into the attack having figures of 6-1-27-2 in his previous spell with India in a spot of bother.

Maxwell strikes after being hit for a boundary as Kohli edges the next ball to Haddin after having 72 runs for the fifth wicket with Dhoni. Ind 148-5 in 29.4 overs.

Virat Kohli c Haddin b Maxwell 68 (73b 9x4 0x6)

Kohli decides to change gears skipping down the track and clears Watson at mid off for a boundary off Doherty. Ind 136-4 in 27 overs.

The 50-run partnership between Kohli and Dhoni for the fifth wicket comes off 73 balls. Ind 130-4 in 26 overs.

Kohli completes his 26th ODI half century and fourth in a row by cracking Doherty for a couple. Ind 123-4 in 25 overs.

Kohli gets a much-needed boundary after almost nine overs glancing Watson to fine leg. Ind 117-4 in 24 overs.

Kohli and Dhoni are looking to rebuild the innings without taking much risks with plenty to play for. Ind 103-4 in 21 overs.

Spin introduced as Doherty comes into the attack and concedes just three runs. Ind 89-4 in 17 overs.

The Indian captain opens his account driving a widish delivery from Johnson through the covers. Ind 83-4 in 15 overs.

Dhoni is back in action after receiving treatment. India 77-4 in 14 overs.

Dhoni is in trouble hobbling around after scampering for a single and is being treated on the field as the drinks interval is taken. Ind 77-4 in 13.2 overs.

Double strike by Johnson as Yuvraj hangs his bat out to another short ball to be caught behind for golden duck. Ind 76-4 13 overs.

Yuvraj Singh c Haddin b Johnson 0 (1b 0x4 0x6)

Johnson scalps Raina with a short ball with the left-hander just dabbing at it to be caught by Watson at slip.Ind 76-3 in 12.5 overs.

Suresh Raina c Watson b Johnson 17 (19b 2x4 0x6)

Raina gets cracking whipping Johnson who drifts onto his pads to the midwicket fence.

Johnson bowls a good over as Raina struggle against the bouncy deliveries. Ind 63-2 in 11 overs.

Kohli is on song hitting another glorious cover drive off McKay for a boundary as India steady after the early losses. Ind 60-2 in 10 overs.

Raina also gets into his stride punching Watson through the covers. Ind 55-2 in 9 overs.

Kohli counter attacks pulling a short ball from Watson to long on and flicking the next one to midwicket fence to bring up the 50 of the innings.

Kohli is unfazed by the dismissals continuing from where he left off in Jaipur showing sublime touch to get another boundary off McKay with a classic off drive. Ind 41-2 in 8 overs.

Watson strikes as Rohit miscues a bouncer with Finch running a back to pocket the skier. Ind 37-2 in 7 overs.

Rohit Sharma c Finch b Watson 11 (22b 2x4 0x6)

Rohit slams McKaly over the infield on the off for another boundary. Ind 35-1 in 6 overs.

Kohli opens his account with consecutive boundaries off Johnson virtually jabbing him through cover and third man. Ind 29-1 in 5 overs.

Rohit opens his accont with a streaky boundary off McKay which goes past the keep off an inside edge. Ind 21-1 in 4 overs.

McKay strikes in his first over as Dhawan nicks one behind after having struck two boundaries. Ind 14-1 in 2 overs.

Shikhar Dhawan c Haddin b McKay 8 (6b 2x4 0x6)

Dhawan hits the first boundary of the match pushing McKay past mid-off followed by a flick to midwicket fence. Ind 14-0 in 2 overs.

Australian skipper George Bailey has won the toss for the third time in a row and opted to bowl against India in the third one-day international at Punjab Cricket Association Stadium, Mohali, Chandigarh on Saturday.

The seven-match series is level 1-1 with Australia winning the first ODI in Pune by 72 runs while India won the second in Jaipur by nine wickets.

Both teams are unchanged.

PLAYING XI

India: Rohit Sharma, Shikhar Dhawan, Suresh Raina, Virat Kohli, Yuvraj Singh, MS Dhoni (captain), Ravindra Jadeja, Ravichandran Ashwin, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, R Vinay Kumar, Ishant Sharma
 
Australia: Aaron Finch, Phil Hughes, Shane Watson, George Bailey (captain), Adam Voges, Glenn Maxwell, Brad Haddin, James Faulkner, Mitchell Johnson, Clint McKay, Xavier Doherty

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