3rd ODI, as it happened: Hardik Pandya is man-of-the-match again as India win series 3-0

The venue is Indore as Australia look to avoid a series defeat in a must-win match. They have not won in their last 12 ODIs away from home while India have been on a roll with 8 wins on the trot.

As it turned out, India made it 9 wins on the trot and the series has been wrapped up in Indore.

AS IT HAPPENED:

Post-match: First time India have beaten Australia in the first 3 ODIs of a bilateral series. Ruthless performance and they are now the top-ranked ODI side in the world. That’s it from us for tonight. Thanks for joining in.

Steve Smith: ‘We set it up nicely till the 37-38th over, India executed their plans perfectly in the end, we didn’t. Credit to India bowlers’

Virat Kohli: ‘Outstanding bowling to restrict them, thought it was a 330-340 pitch. Pandya is a great asset for Indian cricket. It was Ravi bhai’s call to promote him to No. 4, to target the spinner.’

Man of the match: Hardik Pandya, again! ‘Happy with my performance, would like to finish off the win next time’ he says.

Some statistics from India’s win:

That’s it! Manish Pandey seals the win, India seal the series with a five-wicket win. How many of you though the series will be over by the 3rd ODI?

WICKET: Take a bow, Pandya! A fine innings comes to an end as he walks off (pretty upset with himself for not finishing off) for 78 off 76 balls. The Indore crowd gets to watch Dhoni bat, though. Just 9 needed for India.

18 runs in an over! Pandey plays a couple of tennis shots, gets a couple of boundaries. Pandya then plays the most audacious ramp shot over the keeper followed by a on drive for four. 4-4-1-4-4-1 in that over. Stoinis can only smile. 11 runs required from 30 balls

50-run partnership between Pandya and Pandey. India back to cruising again. Pandya impressing not just with his six-hitting, but some neat looking drives too. Need 29 runs with 6 wickets and 36 balls remaining.

Excellent cricket from Pandya: 250 comes up for India and Pandya (since that dropped catch) has toned down his aggression a tad bit. Rotating well, running hard. A slice of luck with an inside edge off Cummins missing leg-stump and racing for a boundary but overall, India still in control. 44 runs required from 48 balls.

FIFTY FOR PANDYA! India’s latest No. 4 makes the most of his promotion. Gets there with a single after yet another big six off Agar’s bowling. He’s the man of the moment for India these days. A few singles off the 40th over and India go into the final stretch with 54 runs required from 60 balls.

It’s all happening out there: Hardik Pandya, sensing that India are under pressure, takes on Ashton Agar. First a big six over midwicket and then a four through the same region. Agar, to his credit, continues to toss it up and gets him to play a poor shot – Smith drops a skier, running backwards. Poor attempt it must be said, by the captain. Pandey hits a couple of boundaries in the next over by Coulter-Nile. 67 runs required from 12 overs

WICKET! Now then, has this match turned? Kedar Jadhav gone for 2, throws away yet another chance. Cuts a Richardson short-ball that’s too close to him and edges it to the ‘keeper. Pandey walks out with 88 needed from 88. Nervy times for India.

WICKET! Well, well ,well. How often do we see that in a run-chase? Virat Kohli plays a needless big shot and loses his wicket. Agar gets the big fish. After 35 overs, India 205/3.

Fifty partnership, 200 team total: It’s a cruise for India in Indore. The occasional boundary but mostly just sensible rotation of strike by Kohli and Pandya. After 34 overs, India 202/2.

After 31 overs, India 191/2: If you thought, those two wickets would derail India’s chase, then you thought wrong. Both Kohli and Pandya going about this with a measured ease. Kohli played one of the most pleasing shots of the day when he drove Cummins past mid-off. Just look at the balance...

Pandya is teeing off in Indore: Hardik gets a promotion and joins his captain in the middle in a surprise move and he has made his intentions clear already. Two sixes already in the 16 balls he has faced, both of Agar’s bowling and both over long on. After 27 overs, India 172/2.

WICKET! One brings two for Australia. Ajinkya Rahane goes back for a well-made 70, given LBW off Cummins. The ball nipped back just a bit from good length. And hits him on the knee roll, Rahane doesn’t bother reviewing. Looked plumb. But a great innings from Rahane nonetheless. Done enough to keep his place? After 24 overs, INDIA: 148/2

WICKET, FINALLY: Australia have something to celebrate after a long time. Rohit, who has pulling majestically all evening, gets a top-edge this time and it’s taken at deep midwicket. A brilliant, boundary-filled innings comes to an end on 71. Good news for Aussies: They have a wicket. Bad news? Chasemaster Kohli is out in the middle.

After 20 overs, India 132/0: Smiles all-around for India. Boundaries keep flowing from Rohit, Rahane. Smith brings back Coulter-Nile and he goes for runs too. Rahane finding the gaps at will now. Smith looking a bit helpless, especially given his Ashton Agar has gone back to the pavilion with an injured finger.

Fifty for Rahane! Second consecutive half century for the Mumbaikar as he makes the most of the chances he’s got in Dhawan’s absence. Gets to the landmark with a delicate leg-glance. Earlier in the 17th over, Handscomb (not a proper ‘keeper, mind you) dropped Rohit Sharma. Nothing going Australia’s way. After 18 overs, India 121/0:

After 15 overs, India 100/0: 8 runs in the first 3 overs, 92 in the next 12. Rohit and Rahane might have already put this match beyond Australia with some terrific batting. Rohit reaches his fifty in the 13th over with a six over long on, off just 42 balls. Rahane is dealing in boundaries at the other end.

After 10 overs, India 67/0: Rahane doesn’t want to be left behind. Three fours in the 10th over from Stoinis. Starts with a clumsy hoick towards midwicket but follows that up with two classy strokes – over fine leg and backward point. This could end in a hurry for Australia.

Rohit Sharma has sent the ball outdoor in Indore! WHAT A MASSIVE SIX. 103 meters is what they say but we think it’s gone much farther. Steps down the track and sends it over fine leg, over the stands and outside the stadium. New ball, please! After 9 overs, India 55/0.

Some reaction to that Rohit Sharma six:

After 7 overs, India 42/0: Rohit Sharma has teed off in Indore. Starting from that six off Cummins, his run reads like this: 6 0 0 1 0 4 0 0 6 1 0 4 0 0 4 0. That second six was a sight to behold – lofted off-drive against a fast bowler with minimum of fuss. Then in the 7th over, he cuts Richardson hard and it flies a little wide of Maxwell who gets a hand but it would be very harsh to call that a drop.

After 5 overs, India 23/0: Steady from Rohit, busy start by Rahane as India set the platform. The shot of the match perhaps from Rohit in that fifth over – Cummins runs in hard, bowls a cross-seam bouncer and the Indian opener pounces on it, sending a pull shot into the second tier. 8 runs from the first 3 overs as Rahane and Rohit take their time to read the pitch.

India’s chase underway, with Rohit Sharma and Ajinkya Rahane out in the middle. Rohit will want to get his touch back and this is an ideal wicket for him. Australia will want Cummins and Coulter-Nile to deliver early wickets.

End of the innings. After 50 overs, Australia 293/6: Aussies stumble their way to what feels like a below par score on a good batting wicket. It looked like they will reach 340 with ease but the last 10 overs yield just 59 runs and they falls short of even 300. Finch’s wicket, in hindsight, was massive. Kuldeep, Chahal struck at crucial times to remove Finch, Smith and Maxwell and then Bhuvi and Bumrah, especially, were brilliant in the final six overs.

Some reaction:

WICKET! Sensational from Manish Pandey at the boundary line. Handscomb hits it high and Pandey catches it first time, loses balance, throws it up in the air just in time, steps back in from the boundary line and made it look ridiculously easy. Bumrah strikes again. After 48 overs, 276/6.

WICKET! Bumrah strikes this time and it’s a slower one that has completely deceived Travis Head, who is clean bowled (and Sanjay Manjrekar makes a terrible ‘clean’ pun on air referring to the Clean India campaign) Australia have lost their way. After 46 overs, Australia 263/5

Double-blow for Australia! First Smith and then Maxwell as Kuldeep and Chahal strike for Kohli at a crucial time yet again. Smith tries to clear long off but doesn’t pick Kuldeep’s googly and ends up slicing it, Bumrah takes a smart catch at the boundary. Very next over, first ball, Maxwell does a Maxwell – dances down the track in a hurry, Chahal throws it wide, Dhoni does the rest in a flash. After 43 overs, Australia 245/4

After 40 overs, Australia 234 for 2: With 10 overs left. Big-hitting Maxwell & a well-set Smith in the middle. 350 on the cards?

WICKET! And India badly needed that breakthrough. Finch could have gone on to score a daddy hundred, as it turns out he falls for a 125-ball 124. Kuldeep Yadav, as he often does, gets a wicket when things are not going in his favour. Kedar Jadhav takes the catch under the shade of the stands at deep midwicket. After 38 overs, Australia 224/2

Fifty for Smith: Has had an ordinary series so far, but in a must-win match Steve Smith finds form. Australia will want him to double it however. 150 runs of the partnership up as well.

CENTURY! Now that’s how you comeback into the playing XI after an injury. Finch sweeps fine and gets to his 8th ODI century with a boundary. Celebrates getting to the milestone with a massive six over long on. Looking very, very dangerous now as he tees off. Pandya struggling for line and length now, as the heat and the Aussie batsmen begin to take their toll on India. 9 runs (a boundary and a couple of wides) in that over and the drinks break comes at the perfect time for India. After 35 overs, Australia 205/1

After 31 overs, Australia 179/1: Finch has taken off! This time Kuldeep faces the wrath of the Aussie opener. With spinners bowling in tandem, no signs of a wicket for India. Kuldeep flights one up, Finch lofts it inside out and then utters ‘oh no’ thinking he mishit it but it clears long-off easily. Follows that up with a brutal hit down the ground for four. Smith then dances down and hits Chahal over the midwicket for four. Not much seems to be working for Kohli today on a batting paradise. The partnership has gone past 100.

After 27 overs, Australia 146/1: Finch and Smith have crossed the 50-mark in their partnership and the opener is now opening up. Kohli goes to Bhuvi and Bumrah for a brekthrough, but it’s not forthcoming. Finch picks up Bhuvi’s knuckle ball and sends it soaring over long off for his second six.

After 21 overs, Australia 102/1: Chahal has continued to be expensive after Warner’s departure. Finch has reached his 50 and is looking well set for a big score. Gets to the milestone with a big hit over long on for four – authoritative shot. Chahal has conceded 36 in his 6 overs. Pandya has looked the most likely wicket-taker so far, using his cutters very well.

After 16 overs, Australia 79/1: Warner walking back for 42 must feel like a big bonus for India, he could have single-handedly changed the game on this flat wicket. Finch and captain Steve Smith in the middle now. Smith starts off with a signature flick. Chahal has started on the expensive side, and will now breathe easy bowling to two right handers. Drinks in Indore (the first official one anyway, as Harsha Bhogle points out)

OUT! Completely against the run of play, Hardik Pandya provides India the breakthrough. What a ball, too. Pandya rolls his fingers over, from around the wicket and it grips the surface and goes along the line, hitting the top of middle stump. Warner was looking dangerous, starting to find the boundaries and even clearing it once against Chahal in the previous over. After 14 overs, Australia 74/1.

After 10 overs, Australia 49/0: The gears have been shifted in Indore. After a tentative start, Finch and Warner are up and running with a flurry of boundaries – three in that 3-over spell as the powerplay ends. Warner with two in Bhuvi overs, back-to-back. The Australians are trying to pinch singles and there have been a couple of close calls, a direct-hit could have had Warner.

After 7 overs, Australia 26/0: Couple of quite overs from Bumrah and Bhuvi, with Finch hogging the strike. Just one run conceded by the duo in their overs.

5th over: Aus 23/0

Bhuvi coming around the wicket to Warner and finds it a little difficult to keep his line. Slips one down the legside and the left-hander helps himself to a four in the fine-leg region. Pitch looks very good for batting and perhaps Bhuvi and Kohli don’t want to give Warner any room to free his arms.

4th over: Aus 17/0

A quick single for Warner, a swing and a miss for Finch and then an outside edge for four. Anything but easy for the visitors. The shot off the fifth ball though showed how good the pitch is for batting. A little bit of width from Bumrah and Finch just punched it to the boundary. He made it look easy. First big over off the game, 10 runs off it.

3rd over: Aus 7/0

Another good over from Bhuvi. There are two ways to pile on pressure on the batting side – one is to get wickets and the other is to give nothing away. Soon, the pressure of the scoreboard will force the Australian batsmen to do something.

2nd over: Aus 6/0

Bumrah, from the other end, also giving nothing away. The average first innings score at this ground is 331 – so at some point, you can be sure, the batsmen will start to go for their shots. Their isn’t a lot of bounce in the wicket either. For now, Australia haven’t lost a wicket.

1st over: Aus 3/0

Bhuvneshwar not getting too much swing but still doing enough to plant a doubt in Warner’s mind. He has developed into a wonderful thinking bowler and that allows him to make an impact even when the conditions aren’t helpful.

Australia win the toss

Australia have won the toss for the first time in the series and have elected to bat first. Two changes for Australia - Aaron Finch replaces Hilton Cartwright, Peter Handscomb replaces Matthew Wade. India are unchanged

Virat Kohli is confident that his wrist spinners will have an impact today as well.

“The groundsmen have told me it plays even better under lights,” said Kohli, who clearly doesn’t look worried.

Stats: India have won all their 5 matches at Holkar Stadium in Indore - 4 ODIs and 1 Test. The hosts are also on an eight-game winning streak. Their record is 9 – which they have done just once before. Australia hold the all-time record with 21 consecutive wins.

Australia XI: Warner, Finch, Smith (c), Head, Handscomb (wk), Maxwell, Stoinis, Agar, Cummins, Coulter-Nile, Richardson

India XI: Rahane, Rohit, Kohli (c), Manish, Dhoni (wk), Jadhav, Hardik, Bhuvneshwar, Kuldeep, Chahal, Bumrah

And the PJ

The pitch

Three in a row?

Kuldeep Yadav’s first hat-trick and a fluent 92 by Virat Kohli helped India cruise to a 50-run win over Australia in the second one-day international in Kolkata but will the third ODI in Indore be any different?

Australian skipper Steve Smith had some pretty harsh words for his batsmen after the defeat:

“We’ve had a lot of collapses and we need to stop,” he said. “It’s a hard one to put my finger on but whatever it is, it needs to change. We need to make better decisions when we’re under pressure and start playing the game properly. It’s not good enough.”

Will these words be enough to spur his team into action or will India’s wrist spinners continue to wreak havoc?