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29 March 2024

6th ODI India vs Australia: Kohli steers India to thrilling win

Published
By Cricket Correspondent with Agencies

A scintillating unbeaten century by Virat Kohli who smashed 115 off just 66 balls with 18 fours and a six steered India to series-levelling six-wicket victory against Australia at Nagpur on Wednesday night.

After Australia had rattled up a mammoth 350-4 thanks to centuries from Shane Watson (102) and George Bailey (156) after being put into bat, India reached the target with three balls to spare.

Openers Rohit Sharma (79) and Shikhar Dhawan (100) laid the foundation for victory with a partnership of 178 in 29.3 overs as India replied with 351-4 in 49.3 overs.

Sharma stroked seven boundaries and three sixes while Dhawan's ton was studded with 11 fours.

Just like he had done in Jaipur, it was Kohli who almost singlehandedly steered India to another memorable with his scintillating stroke play.

There was minor wobble when Johnson removed Raina and Yuvraj in one over but skipper Dhoni ensured victory with an unbeaten 25.

Johnson claimed two for 72 and Faulkner one for 73.

Earlier, Australia powered by belligerent centuries from George Bailey (156) and Shane Watson (102) reached 350 for 6 in 50 overs after being put into bat.

India, needing to win the match to the level the seven-match series, will be chasing a formidable target of 351 after a pretty ordinary effort on the field.

Watson and Bailey took the match away from Australia with an enterprising 168-run stand for the third wicket.

Watson who got a reprieve on 25 after being caught off no-ball from Jadeja, blasted 13 fours and three sixes during his 94-ball 102.

Bailey complemented his partner perfectly opening out during the latter half of the innings with his third fifty coming off just 25 balls.

His 114-ball 156 which was studded with 13 fours and six boundaries is the highest score by an Australian captain in ODIs.

Voges remained unbeaten on 44 hitting five boundaries.

Ashwin and Jadeja claimed two wickets apiece.

Australia plundered a total of 39 boundaries and nine sixes during their innings.

INDIA ININGS

Dhoni smashes the second ball from Faulkner which is a full to the cover boundary and seals victory with a couple as India overhaul the target of 351 with three balls to spare.

Kohli smashes another boundary as India need six of the last over to be bowled by Faulkner. Ind 345-4 in 49 overs.

Kohli swats the first ball of the 49th from Watson to the long on boundary.

India need 20 form 12 balls with Watson to bowl the 49th over and Kohli on strike.

Kohli steers Faulkner to third man for his third boundary in the over from Faulkner to reach his 17th ODI century in just 62 balls. Ind 331-4 in 48 overs.

India need 35 from 18 balls.

Kohli slams the first ball for a boundary over extra cover. Ind 316-4 in 47 overs.

India need 42 from 24 balls with Johnson bowling the 47th.

Faulkner spoils a good over for Australia by bowling a low full toss which is despatched to fence by Dhoni. Ind 307-4 in 46 overs.

Johnson bowls a tight over. India need 48 from 30 balls. Ind 303-4 in 45 overs.

India need 51 from 36 balls after Kohli glances Watson to the fine leg fence. Ind 300-4 in 44 overs.

India need 60 from 42 balls with six wickets in hand with Kohli and Dhoni in the middle.

Johnson has struck a double blow within the space of four balls removing Raina and then knocking Yuvraj's stumps for a duck. Ind 290-4 in 42.5 overs.

Yuvraj Singh b Johnson 0 (3b 0x4 0x6)

Raina gloves a short ball from Johnson to be caught behind. Ind 290-3 in 42.2 overs.

Suresh Raina c Haddin b Johnson 16 (15b 2x4 0x6)

India need 62 from 48 balls with Johnson bowling the 43rd over.

Raina lofts Watson over his head for a boundary to bring up the 50 partnership off just 34 balls. Ind 289-2 in 42 overs.

India need 69 from 54 balls with Watson bowling the 42nd over.

Kohli smashes Johnson for three consecutive boundaries through midwicket and edging past the keeper. India 282-2 in 41 overs.

India need 84 from the 60 balls with eight wickets in hand while Australia got 99 in the last 10 overs.

Raina gets his first boundary cracking Faulkner on the offside. Ind 267-2 in 40 overs.

Kohli smashes a 27th ODI half century off off just 31 balls with flick to square leg off Faulkner. Ind 255-2 in 38 overs.

Faulkner castles Dhawan to end his superb knock. Ind 234-2 in 36 overs.

Shikhar Dhawan b Faulkner 100 (102b 11x4 0x6)

Dhawan squeezes out an attempted yorker from Faulkner to move to 96. Ind 227-1 in 35 overs.

Kohli is turning it on clobbering a six and two boundaries off Doherty who goes for 17. Ind 209-1 in 33 overs.

Kohli gets another boundary through the covers this time off Finch. Ind 192-1 in 32 overs.

Kohli gets into his stride quickly whipping Maxwell through the covers for a boundary. Ind 187-1 in 31 overs.

Rohit holes out in the deep to Faulkner as he perishes attempting to change gears. Ind 178-1 in 29.3 overs.   

Rohit Sharma c Faulkner b Finch 79 (89b 7x4 3x6)

Rohit is on fire slamming a couple of sixes off Maxwell. Ind 177-0 in 29 overs.

Rohit hits the first six of the innings smashing Finch over long on. Ind 162-0 in 28 overs.

Rohit completes his century with a boundary to fine off Johnson who has gone for 42 in five overs. Ind 142-0 in 24 overs.

Johnson goes for 14 with Dhawan cracking three boundaries. Ind 129-0 in 22 overs.

Dhawan paddles Doherty to backward square and then cuts to point for a couple of boundaries. Ind 111-0 in 20 overs.

Dhawan hits the first boundary off Doherty picking the gap at backward square leg. Ind 98-0 in 18 overs.

Dhawan hits his second fifty against Australia cracking Watson for a boundary. Ind 92-0 in 16 overs.

Dhawan clips Watson to the midwicket fence. Ind 82-0 in 15 overs.

Dhawan gets another boundary cutting Faulkner to the third man fence. Ind 64-0 in 11 overs.

McKay goes for 14 with Rohit cracking consecutive boundaries and Dhawan one through fine leg. Ind 56-0 in 10 overs.

Rohit lofts Johnson over extra cover for a boundary. Ind 26-0 in 5 overs.

Dhawan gets his first boundary flicking Johnson to midwicket. Ind 17-0 in 3 overs.

India off to a flying start with Rohit driving the first ball from Johnson through the covers for a boundary. Ind 5-0 in 1 over.

AUSTRALIA INNINGS

Jadeja finally picks up his 100th wicket with Johnson holing out to Dhawan. Aus 346-6 in 49.4 overs.

Mitchell Johnson c Dhawan b Jadeja 0 (1b 0x4 0x6)

Jadeja has overstepped while picking up a wicket for the second time as Voges survives.

Bailey fails to clear the man in the deep in the final over from Jadeja. Aus 344-5 in 49.2 overs.

George Bailey c Kohli b Jadeja 156 (114b 13x4 6x6)

Bailey passes the 150-mark in style cutting Mishra through the covers for another boundary. His third fifty came in just 25 balls. Aus 335-4 in 48 overs.

Bailey has made the highest score by an Australian captain in ODIs surpassing the 125 made by Ricky Ponting against West Indies.

Bailey has clubbed a full toss from Shami over long-on followed by a boundary. Aus 323-4 in 47 overs.

Bailey smashes a towering six off Jadeja to bring up the 300 of the innings. Aus 309-4 in 46 overs.

Bailey is finding the gaps at will getting a couple of boundaries off Shami. Aus 296-4 in 45 overs.

Bailey clobbers his fourth six while Voges gets a boundary off Mishra. Aus 285-4 in 44 overs.

Raina goes for 13 with Bailey hammering a boundary and a massive six. Aus 272-4 in 43 overs.

Bailey completes his second ODI century. Aus 255-4 in 41 overs.

Bailey cracks three consecutive boundaries on either side of the wicket to move to 96. Aus 247-4 in 39 overs.

Bailey survives a confident appeal for leg before off Ashwin and surpasses 400 runs in the series.

Bailey caresses Bhuvneshwar past point for a lovely boundary. Aus 230-4 in 37 overs.

Bhuvneshwar takes a good catch on the boundary as Maxwell departs after hammering a couple of reverse swept boundaries off Ashwin. Aus 224-4 in 36 overs.

Glenn Maxwell c Kumar b Ashwin 9 (6b 2x4 0x6)

Australia have promoted Maxwell because the Batting Powerplay is in progress.

The third wicket partnership between Watson and Bailey yielded 168 in 23.3 overs.

Watson's magnificent knock comes to an end with Shami bowling him through the gate after being hits for three boundaries. Aus 213-3 in 34.4 overs.

Shane Watson b Mohammed Shami 102 (94b 13x4 3x6)

Watson completes his ninth ODI century in style smashing three consecutive boundaries off Shami.

Watson has smashes consecutive boundaries off Mishra to bring up the 200 in 33.2 overs with the fourth fifty coming off 34 balls.

Watson has punched Kohli through the covers for a boundary. Aus 188-2 in 32 overs.

Bailey seems unstoppable slamming another boundary to long-on off Kohli which nearly cleared the fence.

Bailey spoils a good Mishra over by rocking back and slamming him over midwicket for a six. Aus 178-2 in 31 overs.

Another good over for Australia as Bailey smashes a couple of boundaries off Jadeja. 170-2 in 30 overs.

Bailey has now scored the most runs by any captain in a ODI bilateral series having aggregated over 350.

Bailey completes his 12th ODI half century with a single. Aus 159-2 in 29 overs.

Australia's third fifty has come in just 31 balls. Aus 154-2 in 28 overs.

Watson clobbers another boundary off Ashwin to bring up the 100 partnership for the third wicket with Bailey.

The last four overs have yielded 49 runs for Australia as Watson and Bailey change gears. Aus 143-2 in 27 overs.

Watson is turning it on smashing Mishra for his third six while Bailey completes the over with a boundary. Aus 138-2 in 26 overs.

Watson is on fire blasting Jadeja for a six. Aus 124-2 in 25 overs.

Watson completes his 31st ODI half century having slammed another boundary off Jadeja with a late cut earlier.

Watson smashes a full toss from Mishra over midwicket for a six. Aus 112-2 in 24 overs.

Bailey has decided to attack Ashwin using his feet and blasting a boundary and six off consecutive balls.

It bring up the 50 partnership for the third wicket with Watson and also the 100 of the innings. Aus 101-2 in 23 overs.

Mishra is causing all sorts of problems for Watson despite being lofted for a boundary over extra cover.

Bailey gets his first boundary slamming the first ball from Ashwin after the drinks interval past backward point. Aus 78-2 in 19 overs.

Mishra playing his first ODI in India bowls a good first over.

Watson (25) gets a reprieve after being caught off a huge no-ball by left-arm spinner Jadeja. Aus 70-2 in 16.3 overs.

Watson is lucky to get a boundary off Ashwin via an inside edge to fine leg. Aus 66-2 iin 16 overs.

Watson cracks a boundary off Jadeja. Aus 59-2 in 15 overs.

Ashwin strikes with his first delivery bowling Finch who gave the charge and missed the line completely. Aus 45-2 in 11.1 overs.

Aaron Finch b Ashwin 20 (28b 3x4 0x6)

Jadeja into the attack after 10 overs with Australia 44-1.

Watson gets cracking slashing Shami to the third man fence. Aus 44-1 in 10 overs.

Watson gets his first boundary clipping Bhuvneshwar to the midwicket fence. Aus 37-1 in 9 overs.

Shami comes back with a maiden over to new man Watson.

Aus 31-1 in 8 overs.Kohli at square leg takes a good catch to dismiss Hughes who had pulled Bhuvneshwar to midwicket fence in the previous ball. Aus 30-1 in 6.4 overs.

Phil Hughes c Kohli b Kumar 13 (22b 3x4 0x6)

Finch gets into his stride whipping Shami for threeconsecutive boundaries through midwicket and down the ground. Aus 25-0 in 6 overs.

Shami bowls a good over teasing Hughes with movement off the seam. Aus 11-0 in 4 overs.

Hughes off to a fine start cracking conseutive boundaries through cover and down the ground.

Hughes hits the first boundary driving Shami through the covers.

Hughes gets the first runs of the match clipping Bhuvneshwar for a single.

Mishra has predictably come in place of Ishant Sharma while Bhuvneshwar replaces Vinay Kumar.

PLAYING XI

India: Rohit Sharma, Shikhar Dhawan, Suresh Raina, Virat Kohli, Yuvraj Singh, MS Dhoni (captain), Ravindra Jadeja, Ravichandran Ashwin, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Amit Mishra, Mohammed Shami

Australia: Aaron Finch, Phil Hughes, Shane Watson, George Bailey (captain), Adam Voges, Glenn Maxwell, Brad Haddin, James Faulkner, Mitchell Johnson, Clint McKay, Xavier Doherty

India have won the toss and elected to bowl first.

India will be under intense pressure as they go into the do-or-die sixth cricket one-dayer against an upbeat Australia in Nagpur on Wednesday.

The visitors enjoy a 2-1 lead in the best-of-seven series after the successive wash-outs of the fourth and fifth games at Ranchi and Cuttack on October 23 and 26.

India have been let down by the poor form of some of their key bowlers at the death and will be aiming to turn around the fortunes at Jamtha stadium.

However, World champion India has been guaranteed the number-one spot in the ICC rankings with Australia having entered the series needing to win 6-1 or better to reclaim the number-one spot, which it last held in July 2012.

If Australia manages to win the final two ODIs, it will rise to 119 ratings points while India will finish on 120 ratings points, according to the ICC.

In sharp contrast, if India wins both matches, it will finish on 123 ratings points while Australia will slide to 114 ratings points – only three ahead of England and Sri Lanka.

Australians come here with the record of winning two seven-game series in the past.

"From our point of view this is the game we want to win. We don't want to save it for the last game on Sunday (at Bangalore). We want to wrap up with this game. Obviously from their (India's) point of view they need to win to stay alive and from that point pretty crucial for them," said Australian left arm spinner Xavier Doherty in the run-up to the crucial match at the stadium.

Doherty expected some turn from the wicket after the run-fest in this series of tall scores.

"I expected some spinning wickets as we got in the Test series here (earlier this year). Probably the last game it rained (in Ranchi) or it might have been spinning a bit. Looks like this wicket will spin a bit and spinners will play a bit more of a role," he said ahead of the clash.

Squads:

India: MS Dhoni (captain), Shikhar Dhawan, Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, Yuvraj Singh, Suresh Raina, Ambati Rayudu, Ravindra Jadeja, R Ashwin, Ishant Sharma, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, R Vinay Kumar, Amit Mishra, Jaydev Unadkat, Mohammed Shami.

Australia:
George Bailey (Captain), Nathan Coulter-Nile, Xavier Doherty, James Faulkner, Callum Ferguson, Aaron Finch, Brad Haddin, Moises Henriques, Phil Hughes, Mitchell Johnson, Glenn Maxwell, Clint McKay, Adam Voges, Shane Watson.