Manish Pandey just playing his 4th One Day International (ODI) won India match with a brilliant century. He came when India were struggling at 134/2 after India lost two inform batsman got out in quick succession and India already down in the series 4-0, it was lot of pressure on him but he made sure he is there till the end and scoring a match winning hundred. He along with Dhawan and Sharma helped India become first team to chase above 300 against Australia in Australia.
Manish Pandey helps India to record chase
India began their chase of to a brilliant fashion. Continuing from Canberra Shikhar Dhawan started to play his shots from the ball one. He struck Australian bowlers all-round the park. He along with Man of the series Rohit Sharma struck an opening stand of 123 in only 18.2 overs. Hastings the hero from the last match for Australia again struck twice in quick succession getting both the from batsman Dhawan and Kohli. Dhawan socred a quick fire 78 of 56 balls striking 3 Sixes and 7 Fours before being caught brilliantly by flying Shaun Marsh. Rohit Sharma the mainstay of India’s batting was joined by Pandey. They both took India to a comfortable position as they managed 97 runs in 87 balls. Rohit Sharma missed his third ton of the series; he was caught behind by Hastings for 99.
Dhoni with lot of expectations on him to finish the game for team India didn’t play innings of his style. He was not able to rotate the strike. He struggled for his 34 of 42 balls before striking a match winning six of Mitchell Marsh in the last over. Young Pandey made sure he was there in the middle till the end. Pandey struck a boundary to bring up his Maiden ODI century of just 80 balls. He finished the innings for team India by striking the winning runs of M Marsh. Pandey grabbed the opportunity which Gurkeerat and Rishi Dhawan could not do in Canberra. Josh Hastings was certainly the pick of the bowlers picking 3/61 in his quota of 10 overs.
Earlier in the day centuries by David Warner and Mitchell Marsh helped Australia reach a huge total of 330. India struck early with Ishant Sharma getting Aaron Finch LBW of just 6 runs. India pick of the bowler Jaspreet Bumrah playing his First ODI picked up the price wicket of Steve Smith in 12th over and left Australia struggling at 64 or 2. Rishi Dhawan also picked up his First wicket getting in-form batsman Bailey out for 6 and Shaun Marsh was soon to follow him and for the first time in the series Australia lost 4 wickets inside first half of the innings. Mitchell Marsh joined David Warner and both struck a partnership 118 runs. David Warner scored his 5th ODI ton scoring 122 of 113 balls before Ishant Shamra got better of him. Mitchell Marsh continued striking the ball and showed why he is one of the best strikers of the cricket ball. He scored 102 of just 84 balls. India bowled excellent last two overs Ishant Shamra and Jaspreet Bumrah only gave away 7 runs in the last two overs.
Brief Score: India – 4 for 331 (Pandey 104*, Rohit 99, Dhawan 78, Hastings 3-61) beat Australia – 7 for 330 (Warner 122, Mitchell Marsh 102*, Bumrah 2-40, Ishant 2-60) by six wickets.
Tags: Australia, India, Manish Pandey, Shikhar Dhawan
