India captain MS Dhoni’s ninth One-Day International (ODI) hundred went in vain as a 91-run partnership by Australia’s James Faulkner and Adam Voges delivered a four-wicket win over the hosts in the third ODI yesterday.
Batting first, the hosts had stuttered to 154 for six in the 32nd over of the match. However, Dhoni found an able partner in Ravichandran Ashwin at this stage and added 76 runs for the seventh wicket to pose a daunting a total of 303 runs. The final two overs saw Dhoni at his belligerent best as he ended the innings at 139 not out off 121 balls, the stunning knock including 12 fours and five sixes.
Virat Kohli continued his rich vein of form by scoring 68 runs, while for the tourists Mitchell Johnson recorded figures of four for 46 in 10 overs, troubling batsmen with his pace and steep bounce on a lively wicket.
In response, the Australians were down and out needing 44 runs off the last three overs. However, all-rounder Faulkner took apart Ishant Shamra as he smashed four sixes in the 48th over of the innings. Continuing his assault, he claimed victory for his team with a six off Vinay Kumar in the last over of the match.
Man-of-the-match Faulkner was ably supported by Voges, who scored an unbeaten 76 in an unfinished sixth-wicket stand of 91 runs.
“Faulkner’s hitting was as good as I have seen,” said Australia captain George Bailey, according to ESPNcricinfo. “Three hundred is always imposing, but we were quietly confident when we came off the field. There is no easy game.”
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