India level series thanks to Kohli, Dhawan
India levelled the ODI series against Australia at two-all on Wednesday, winning the sixth and penultimate match by six wickets in Nagpur thanks to brisk centuries from Shikhar Dhawan and Virat Kohli.
India levelled the ODI series against Australia at two-all on Wednesday, winning the sixth and penultimate match by six wickets in Nagpur thanks to brisk centuries from Shikhar Dhawan and Virat Kohli.
Australia recorded their fourth score over 300 in the series, reaching 350 for six thanks to skipper George Bailey and all-rounder Shane Watson's huge partnership. Both batsmen scored centuries as they put on 168 for the third wicket.
India then responded with huge stands of their own, with Dhawan putting on 178 with Rohit Sharma for the first wicket and Kohli involved in three half century stands as they cruised to victory with three balls to spare.
India won the toss and chose to field first, which initially looked like a solid decision. Phil Hughes was soon back in the hut after being well caught by Kohli off Bhuvneshwar Kumar for 13.
Aaron Finch managed to reach 20 before he was sent packing, bowled by Ravi Ashwin. This brought Watson and Bailey together and they set about dismantling the India attack, who did not help themselves with numerous full tosses and extras.
One of those extras cost a bunch of runs, when Watson was out with his score on 25. Ravi Jadeja had claimed the wicket but replays showed he had not ground his heel behind the line and it was a no-ball. He committed the same crime later on, reprieving Voges.
Watson scored his century off 93 balls, including 13 fours and three sixes, but was out soon afterwards for 102. Glenn Maxwell soon followed, out for nine, leaving Bailey and Voges to up the pace even further.
Bailey's century was his first of the series, but his consistent big half tons saw him become the leading ODI series scorer against India, and also the best ODI series captain, against anyone.
He was eventually out for 156 off 114 balls, including six sixes and 13 fours. He departed to Jadeja, leaving Voges to finish up the knock with a brisk 44 off 38 balls.
India's chase was again a repeat of earlier in the series when they easily chased 360 to win. Dhawan and Rohit made light work of the Aussie bowlers, who admittedly did not bowl well early on at all.
Rohit reached 79 off 89 balls before giving his wicket away, falling to part-timer Finch's full toss and caught by James Faulkner. This left Dhawan to continue to his century, which he scored off 101 balls and celebrated wildly before being dismissed a ball later.
Kohli's phenomenal century came off just 61 balls, and in the end he had recorded 115 not out off 66 deliveries, featuring 18 fours and one six. Dhoni was not out on 25 at the end, with only Suresh Raina and Yuvraj Singh failing to cash in.
The seventh and final ODI takes place in Bangalore on 2 November.
<b>India:</b> Rohit Sharma, Shikhar Dhawan, Suresh Raina, Virat Kohli, Yuvraj Singh, Mahendra Singh Dhoni, Ravindra Jadeja, Ravichandran Ashwin, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Amit Mishra, Mohammed Shami.
<b>Australia:</b> Aaron Finch, Phil Hughes, Shane Watson, George Bailey, Adam Voges, Glenn Maxwell, Brad Haddin, James Faulkner, Mitchell Johnson, Clint McKay, Xavier Doherty.
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