Player of the Match
Player of the Match

9.18pm Not many ODI chases have been as clinical and as convincing as that this year. Chasing 294, India got a fine start via fifties from Ajinkya Rahane and Rohit Sharma, and that was it really. Australia just did not have the depth or personnel to challenge India's strong batting thereon. India did stutter, but they now have nine wins on the bounce, consistency that has earned them the tag of the best team in the world in this format. Australia were well short, 350 may have been a par score but as soon as they struggled in the second half of their innings, India took the momentum and confidence of having to chase less into the second innings. No recovery from there. Australia have now lost another game on the road - they have now not won one game in their last 13 away from home.

Presentation time.

Steven Smith: "We set it up beautifully, the first 37-38 overs. Put in ourselves a good position. Indian bowlers executed well, we executed poorly. We needed 330 plus, Hardik was magnificent in end there. Finchy played magnificently, the wicket slowed up a little bit for both teams. The ball came on for the first 35 overs in both innings, but the slowed up, when it did for us, we weren't good enough."

Virat Kohli: "Steve mentioned the first 35 overs was good from their end, we knew when we get 2-3 wickets with their lower middle order, we could pull things back. It was a 330-340 wicket. Coming back from difficult situations has been a feature of this team. Wristspinners need to be backed, they won't always get grip from the wicket, but they possess the ability to get wickets. They were 35-40 runs short. I'm really, really satisfied with the win. He's (Pandya) a star, has the ability with the ball, bat and the field. We need a guy like that, we've been missing an explosive allrounder, great asset for Indian cricket, The idea behind his promotion was Ravi bhai, to attack the spinner. We might try few players now, but mindset remains the same. Journey stops only after the fifth game."

Hardik Pandya is the Man of the Match: "Feels pretty good, would like to finish the game next time. I don't need to be surprised, important to back myself, saw it as an opportunity. I wanted to target the left-arm spinner, when I got a few sixes, I knew I could take some time. I try to contribute everywhere I can, I want to get better."

47.5
1
Richardson to Pandey, 1 run, a french cut to finish. A yorker on leg, skewed between his legs for a run to square leg. And India now become the No. 1 ODI team in the world and finish off this series as quickly as possible.
47.4
1
Richardson to Dhoni, 1 run, short on off, pulled down to fine leg. Dhoni does what Dhoni does. Onto you

"We want six" is the chant

47.3
1
Richardson to Pandey, 1 run, a low full toss, whipped away to deep square leg. The crowd is happy with just one.
47.2
0
Richardson to Pandey, no run, short of a length outside off, pulled to midwicket
47.1
4
Richardson to Pandey, FOUR, that's a boundary. Full and wide from Richardson, Pandey clears his front leg and nails his lofted drive over the bowler. Stunning timing and power

Richardson

END OF OVER:
47 | 2 Runs | IND: 287/5 (7 runs required from 18 balls, RR: 6.10, RRR: 2.33)

  • MS Dhoni2 (5b)
  • Manish Pandey30 (28b)
  • Glenn Maxwell1-0-2-0
  • Pat Cummins10-0-54-2
46.6
0
Maxwell to Dhoni, no run, driven away with the spin to midwicket. Two off the over, but not good enough for Australia
46.5
0
Maxwell to Dhoni, no run, whipped away to square leg again, nice and calm, soaking in the chants
46.4
0
Maxwell to Dhoni, no run, on the pads, worked to square leg.
46.3
1
Maxwell to Pandey, 1 run, flat and straight, nudged down to fine leg
46.2
0
Maxwell to Pandey, no run, 83 kph, full and wide outside off, driven to mid-off

SKD: "Of course, the wicket had to fall. How can a chase be completed successfully and MSD not be at the crease!!"

46.1
1
Maxwell to Dhoni, 1 run, full around off, driven to long-on. The crowd goes silent

Maxwell. Seven in the circle

END OF OVER:
46 | 2 Runs 1 Wkt | IND: 285/5 (9 runs required from 24 balls, RR: 6.19, RRR: 2.25)

  • MS Dhoni1 (1b)
  • Manish Pandey29 (26b)
  • Pat Cummins10-0-54-2
  • Marcus Stoinis8-0-61-0
45.6
1
Cummins to Dhoni, 1 run, on the pads, flicked through square leg for a run

The game is done, but the crowd goes wild anyway, MS Dhoni

45.5
W
Cummins to Pandya, OUT, 146 kph, full on leg. Pandya mis-times one. Clears his front leg, intends to go over mid-on but mis-times the ball right to mid-on. Fine knock from Pandya

HH Pandya c Richardson b Cummins 78 (98m 72b 5x4 4x6) SR: 108.33

45.5
1w
Cummins to Pandya, 1 wide, strays down leg for a wide. 140 kph

AUS in IND 2017-18 News

Pandya's fourth

4

No. of fifties for Pandya in ODIs, including the one in this match. All have come this year and all at strike rate of over 100.

After a while

2014

Last time India had a century opening partnership in ODIs at home, before this match. Dhawan and Rahane had shared 231 runs v SL in Cuttack then. This is India's 6th such stand this year.

Low finish

69

Runs for which Australia lost 5 wickets after being 224/1 in the 38th over, which started with Finch's dismissal.

Fantastic Finch

3

No. of centuries for Finch outside Australia out of his 8, including today's. This is also his first century in 14 innings in Asia.

Solid start

7

No. of consecutive ODIs without a 50+ opening stand for Australia since Warner and Head added 284 v Pak at Adelaide. Warner & Finch added 70 in this match.

Unbeaten

5-0

India's win-loss record at Holkar Stadium in Indore, before today's game. They have won all their 4 ODIs and 1 Test played at the venue.