3rd ODI Live: Ashton Agar breaks Rohit Sharma-KL Rahul opening stand

LIVE SCORECARD | LIVE BLOG | Target for India – 287

50 for Rohit Sharma!

What a blistering knock this has been from Rohit so far in this run chase. He has looked fearless against the Aussie bowlers. Gets to his 44th ODI fifty off just 56 balls. India will need Rohit to hang on in the middle and convert this start into a big one.
IND 79/1

12.3 overs: LBW review from Australia! Ashton Agar hits the front pad of KL Rahul and he thinks it has turned enough. Original decision from the umpire is not out. Agar is right on the money as ball tracking confirms that it was pitching in line and hitting the middle stump. Rahul is in disbelief as he walks back for 19. Virat Kohli comes into bat at no.3. IND 69/1

End of 10th over: Josh Hazlewood bowls his first maiden of the match. He is looking the standout bowler in this Australia line up so far. IND 61/0

End of 9th over: A terrific over for India as Rohit Sharma and KL Rahul collect 13 runs from it including 3 fours. Australia’s premier bowler Pat Cummins has had an off day so far. IND 61/0

50 up for India!
Thick outside edge off Rohit Sharma’s bat and the ball flies to the third man fence. Cummins looks disheartened. India raise 50 in 8.1 overs.
Rohit Sharma 36*
KL Rahul 10*

End of 6th over: A terrific start from Josh Hazlewood. Just a run from his first over. Pat Cummins to continue from the other end. IND 39/0

4.6 overs: SIX! Bang! Pat Cummins slides onto the pads. Rohit flicks the ball effortlessly and the ball sails over the deep fence. India have had a terrific start to this run chase. Change in bowling for Australia as Josh Hazlewood comes into the attack, replacing Mitchell Starc. IND 38/0

3.4 overs: SIX! First of the India innings. Rohit Sharma is looking threatening. Once again short and wide outside off from Mitchell Starc and Rohit throws his bat at it. The ball just hits the cover boundary cushion. IND 31/0

2.5 overs: FOUR! KL Rahul gets off the mark in grand style. Just a mere push and the ball races to the fence. Hits Pat Cummins’ delivery through covers to collect four runs. IND 19/0

1.6 overs: FOUR! No one moved there. Exquisite from Rohit Sharma. Wide outside off from Mitchell Starc and Rohit wasted no time on that one. Reaches for it and hits it through covers to collect his first boundary. IND 10/0

End of 1st over: A tidy first over from Pat Cummins as Rohit Sharma collects five runs from it. Rohit also crossed the 9000-run mark in ODIs in the over, becoming the third fastest to get there in 217 innings. Mitchell Starc to share the new ball with Cummins from the other end. IND 5/0

Rohit Sharma and KL Rahul are out in the middle to start the India run chase. A gentle reminder, Shikhar Dhawan has not come out to open after suffering a shoulder injury in the first innings. Pat Cummins has the new ball in hand for Australia. Two slips in place for him. Here we go!

Steve Smith (131 off 132 balls) scored a masterful ton, guiding Australia to a challenging 286/9 in the series-decider against India in Bengaluru. Opting to bat after winning the toss, the decision backfired for the visitors as they lost both openers in the first powerplay. But then Smith alongside Marnus Labuschagne (54) batted beautifully in the middle overs, adding 127 runs for the third wicket. Jadeja then got rid of Labuschagne and Mitchell Starc (0) in the same over but Smith continued his fight against the India bowlers. In the 44th over, Smith reached his 9th ODI ton and then shifted gears to up the scoring rate for Australia. Alongside Alex Carey and Ashton Agar, Smith (131) added important runs, helping Australia to put up a decent total. For India, Mohammed Shami was most successful bowler, registering figures of 4/63. Ravindra Jadeja bagged two wickets while Navdeep Saini and Kuldeep Yadav picked up wicket apiece.

Australia 286/9 in their quota of 50 overs

Steve Smith 131
Marnus Labuschagne 54
Mohammed Shami 4/63

End of 50th over: Mohammed Shami completes the final over conceding just 5 runs and taking a wicket of Adam Zampa. Australia have done well to put up a challenging total on board.

End of 49th over: Excellent! Just five runs from the penultimate over from Jasprit Bumrah. Mohammed Shami will bowl the final over of the innings. AUS 281/8

47.4 overs: OUT! Make it three for Mohammed Shami. A perfect yorker from him and it knocks over the off stump of Pat Cummins. A first-ball duck for Cummins. Australia struggling at the death as India seamers continue domination. AUS 276/8

47.1 overs: OUT! A stupendous catch from Shreyas Iyer running in from the deep. And that kind of effort was required to dismiss centurion Steve Smith. Shami has his second wicket of the match as Smith departs for 131.

45.3 overs: SIX! That’s huge! Steve Smith has hit the fifth gear. Helicopter shot from him and the ball sails into the stands. Navdeep Saini has already leaked 12 runs off the first 3 balls. AUS 257/6

End of 45th over: A good over for Australia as they collect 7 runs off it. But Mohammed Shami has denied them a boundary and that’s what the Aussies are desperately looking for in these death overs. Final 30 balls to go, how many can Australia manage? AUS 245/6

43.5 overs: OUT! Australia lose another in form of Ashton Turner, courtesy a good review from Virat Kohli and co. Navdeep Saini has his first wicket of the match as Turner edges one straight to KL Rahul. He walks back for 4. AUS 238/6

100 for Steve Smith!
His 9th in ODIs and third against India. What a knock this has been from Smith under pressure. Has anchored this innings beautifully for Australia. The team will now need him to go the the kill in the death overs alongside Ashton Turner.
AUS 236/5

Just a single in the 43rd over from Jasprit Bumrah. Absolutely brilliant from Bumrah. He is back doing what he does best. Ashton Turner had no answers to Bumrah’s questions. AUS 234/5

41.4 overs: OUT! Kuldeep Yadav gets the crucial wicket of Alex Carey. He was looking threatening at the crease. Goes inside-out against Kuldeep but is not able to time the ball properly. Shreyas Iyer makes no mistake at deep cover. Carey departs for 35.

Steve Smith (95*) and Alex Carey (30*) both taking Australia forward beautifully after Ravindra Jadeja twin-strike. After the end of 40 overs, Australia have 223 runs for the loss of 4 wickets. Both have added 50 runs together for the fifth wicket off 48 balls. How many more can they add in the final 10?

200 up for Australia!
Steve Smith 82*
Alex Carey 21*
AUS 200/4 after 37 overs.

36.2 over: FOUR! FOUR! Alex Carey finding the fence on regular basis. Two already in this over off Navdeep Saini. Carey has quickly moved to 20 off 18 balls. AUS 198/4

End of 35th over: India now looking to control the Australian run rate. Another tight over from Jasprit Bumrah. Just three singles from it. India still need the big wicket of Steve Smith, who is batting on 79. AUS 183/4

Skikhar Dhawan injury update! He injured his shoulder earlier in the day while fielding.

31.6 overs: OUT! Make it two in an over. Second wicket for Ravindra Jadeja. This time he removes Mitchell Starc, who was sent to up the scoring rate. Hits it straight down the throat of substitute fielder Yuzvendra Chahal in the deep. Starc walks back for a 3-ball duck. AUS 173/4

31.3 overs: OUT! Virat Kohli takes a screamer at short extra-covers and Marnus Labuschagne is in disbelief. Ravindra Jadeja gets his first wicket of the match. What a catch that was from the Indian skipper. Full stretch dive to his right and completes the catch with ease. Labuschagne has to walk back for 54. AUS 173/3

50 for Marnus Labuschagne!
His maiden half-century in ODIs. After a good 46 in the previous game, Labuschagne has once again played beautifully here. Gets there in style with a classy flick through mid-wicket region. Gets there in 60 balls.

Steve Smith (75*) and Marnus Labuschagne (48*) looking strong together as they now have added 119 runs for the 3rd wicket. Another good 7-run over for them. Australia 165/2 after 30 overs in series-decider.

26.2 overs: Four byes! Steve Smith was so so lucky there! Dances down the track against Kuldeep Yadav to smack the ball out of the park but completely misses it. Luckily gets the front pad in the way and the ball manages to reach the third man fence. 100-run partnership (off 106 balls) also comes up between Smith and Marnus Labuschagne. AUS 149/2

We are half-way through!
And, Australia have 140 on the board for the loss of two wickets. Both Steve Smith (62*) and Marnus Labuschagne (40*) have batted beautifully so far and are looking quite comfortable out in the middle.

End of 24th over: Both Steve Smith and Marnus Labuschagne now looking for acceleration of sorts. After collecting 9 runs from Navdeep Saini’s previous over, the duo now take 8 runs off Ravindra Jadeja including a boundary. AUS 134/2

50 for Steve Smith!
After a gritty 98 in Rajkot, Smith continues his fine run with the bat with a fifty here in Bangalore. His 25th in ODIs. Gets there in 63 balls with a boundary in the third man region. Smith has once again anchored this Australian innings beautifully and his team will once again need more from him. AUS 121/2

End of 21st over: A tidy comeback over from Navdeep Saini. Just three singles from it. Both Steve Smith and Marnus Labuschagne rotating strike at the moment and not looking to take any risks. AUS 114/2

100 up for Australia!
A comfortable single for Marnus Labuschagne off Ravindra Jadeja as 100 comes up for Australia in 17.5 overs.
Steve Smith 38*
Marnus Labuschagne 24*

End of 17th over: FOUR! A cracking sweep from Marnus Labuschagne off Kuldeep Yadav and he collects a boundary off the final ball of the over. 50-run partnership comes up between Labuschagne and Steve Smith. AUS 96/2

Drinks break!
Comeback over from Jasprit Bumrah produces 2 runs. And drinks are now arriving on the field. Australia have 80 on the board for the loss of 2 wickets after 14 overs with Steve Smith (29*) and Marnus Labuschagne (14*) in the middle.

12.2 overs: FOUR! India leaking boundaries at the moment. Steve Smith collected two in the previous over of Navdeep Saini and now Marnus Labuschagne hits Kuldeep Yadav through covers for his second four. AUS 73/2

10.2 overs: Another run out opportunity but Kuldeep Yadav fails to collect a brilliant throw from Yuzvendra Chahal from deep. Marnus Labuschagne dodged the bullet there. He was too short of his ground but Kuldeep made a mess of it. AUS 58/2

End of 10th over: FOUR! Marnus Labuschagne squeezes one through covers off Navdeep Saini to end the first powerplay with a four. Labuschagne gets his first boundary on the board. Change in bowling for India as spin comes into the attack for the first time. Kuldeep Yadav has the ball in hand. AUS 56/2

8.5 overs: OUT! Big mix-up between Aaron Finch and Steve Smith. Both are found at the striker’s end. You never take a risk when the ball goes to Ravindra Jadeja. He goes for the direct hit at the striker’s end but misses. Meanwhile, Finch is furious as he is way way short of his ground at the non-striking end. Shami clips the bails and Finch has to walk back. AUS 46/2

8.3 overs: FOUR! Bumper from Mohammed Shami but is off target. Steve Smith pulls it in style to collect his second boundary. AUS 46/1

6.5 overs: SIX! First one of the day! Pitched up from Mohammed Shami and Aaron Finch deposits the ball over the long off stands. Excellent timing on that one from Finch. AUS 38/1

End of 6th over: Excellent start from Navdeep Saini. Just a single from his first over. Bowled in a good channel and hurried onto the batsmen. Change of ends for Mohammed Shami as he now replaces Jasprit Bumrah. AUS 28/1

End of 5th over: A tidy 1-run over this time from Jasprit Bumrah. Change in bowling for India as Navdeep Saini replaces Mohammed Shami. AUS 27/1

3.2 overs: OUT! India draw first blood. Mohammed Shami bowls in excellent channel just outside off and induces an edge off David Warner’s bat. KL Rahul makes no mistake behind the stumps. Warner departs for 7. AUS 18/1

2.2 overs: 5 extras! Jasprit Bumrah struggling with his line at the moment. Strays down the leg side once again and KL Rahul had no chance there. Dives to his left but was in vain.5 wides for Australia. AUS 18/0

The Indian players are wearing black armbands to pay respect to Bapu Nadkarni, who passed away on Jan 17.

1.1 overs: FOUR! On the pads from Mohammed Shami and that was too easy for Aaron Finch. Flicks it through mid wicket region as Australia and Finch collect their first boundary of the day. AUS 8/0

End of 1st over: A mixed start from Jasprit Bumrah. Australia collect 3 runs from his first over. Mohammed Shami will share the new ball with Bumrah from the other end. AUS 3/0

0.1 overs: Australia open their account with an extra as Jasprit Bumrah starts off with a wide down the leg side. David Warner then takes a comfortable single off the first legal delivery. AUS 2/0

Team India is out in the middle and so are the Australian openers David Warner and Aaron Finch. Warner to face first ball. Jasprit Bumrah to start the proceedings for India. A slip in place for him. Here we go!

Playing XI for both teams

India: Rohit Sharma, Shikhar Dhawan, Virat Kohli(c), Shreyas Iyer, Lokesh Rahul(w), Manish Pandey, Ravindra Jadeja, Mohammed Shami, Navdeep Saini, Kuldeep Yadav, Jasprit Bumrah

Australia: David Warner, Aaron Finch(c), Steven Smith, Marnus Labuschagne, Alex Carey(w), Ashton Turner, Ashton Agar, Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood, Adam Zampa

Captains at the toss!

Virat Kohli: “It’s a dry pitch, we wanted to chase too. It’s been a difficult ground to defend on. We need to put pressure on the batsmen and keep the total in check. I think against a side like Australia we would take that kind of victory any day. We could have restricted them a little more towards the end, but at 275/9, it was done and dusted. KL’s innings was the game-changer and today we’re looking for similar contributions. He will play in front of his home crowd today. We’re going in with the same team as Rajkot.”

Aaron Finch: “We’re going to bat first. Hopefully we can post a good score and defend it later. It’s based on conditions and history. Hopefully we can get some early wickets defending and get into the Indian middle order. It looks like a bloody good wicket, and it will play good for a hundred overs. We were just one wicket too far down in the last game, but credit to India, they played really well. Hazlewood in for Richardson.”

Toss news: Australia skipper Aaron Finch wins the toss for the third time in a row and this time he opts to bat first. India will chase in Bengaluru.

Pitch report: “It’s a slightly dry pitch, some minor cracks, but the dryness is really the feature of this pitch. This pitch will have a lot in it for the wristspinners, there will be a lot more grip even for the finger-spinner. The mindset that says chase might change – they need to put scoreboard pressure and pile it on the chasing team,” said Sanjay Manjarekar and Sunil Gavaskar.

12:35 pm: Hello and welcome to Timesofindia.com’s coverage of Australia’s tour of India, which has reached an exciting climax in the form of a series-deciding third ODI in Bengaluru today.

After the Aussies hammered Virat Kohli & Co by 10 wickets in the opener, the hosts cam back to register a 36-run victory in Rajkot to make it 1-1.
In terms of recent stats at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium, India’s previous two matches have been T20Is, which they have lost by heavy margins to Australia (by 7 wickets) and South Africa (by 9 wickets).
India’s injury concerns swelled in Rajkot. While Shikhar Dhawan took a Pat Cummins delivery on the elbow and then the ribcage, Rohit left the field after hurting his left shoulder while fielding in the deep.
The BCCI in a statement said the duo’s participation will be finalized on match day.
Bowling on a high-scoring pitch with fast outfield is never easy, especially with the series on line. So the Aussie bowlers, spearheaded by Pat Cummins and Mitchell Starc, will be keen to come out with their ‘A’ game, which India may mull adding an additional spinner in their line-up.
Source : timesofindia