Guwahati: Australia kept themselves alive in the five-match ODI series against Australia here on Tuesday as they beat India by five wickets thanks to Glenn Maxwell show and Matthew Wade's brisk hitting in the end.
Chasing a huge target of 223, Australia got off to a flier as openers gathered 47 runs from 4.2 overs for the first wicket. However, the Australian side lost three wickets in quick succession reducing the scoreboard to 68/3. The wickets kept tumbling from the other end but Glenn Maxwell took it upon himself to play a scintillating knock and keep Australia alive in the contest. Maxwell wreaked havoc with the willow scoring unbeaten 104 runs while Matthew Wade also switched gears at the back end knocking unbeaten 28 runs from 16 balls. In the end, Maxwell's aggression and Wade's supporting hand helped Australia ensure a five-wicket victory over the hosts.
With an aim to secure a series win over Austalia in the ongoing five-match bilateral T20I series, India took on the visitors in the third game with a 2-0 lead to their name. Winning the toss, Australia chose to bowl first and the decision by skipper Matthew Wade was proved frutiful by the duo of Jason Behrendorff and Kane Richardson who provided a couple of blows early in the innings. Yashasvi Jaiswal and Ishan Kishan were dismissed in single digits and the hosts were reduced to 24/2 as a result. However, Suryakumar Yadav joined forces with Ruturaj Gaikwad with third wicket forming a 57-run partnership. The former was dismissed on 39 but Ruturaj kept extending his stay at the crease and smashed his maiden hundred in the shortest format of the game.
Rinku Singh played second fiddle to the Indian opener as he stitched a 141-run partnership along with Ruturaj for the fourth wicket. Ruturaj was the star of the show as he played a knock of 123 runs from 57 balls which helped the team steady the ship after two early wickets and post 222/3 on the scoreboard from their allotted quota at Barsapara Cricket Stadium. Kane Richardson, Jason Behrendorff, Aaron Hardie picked a single wicket each.
Read More
