Young Manish Pandey struck a brilliant unbeaten 104 as India thwarted Australia’s push for a clean-sweep with a record run chase to notch up a thrilling consolation six-wicket victory in the fifth and final cricket one-dayer here on Saturday.
Australia thus won the high-scoring series by 4-1 margin.
Chasing a steep target of 331, India’s batting rode on Pandey’s maiden ODI ton and a superb opening stand of 123 between Rohit Sharma (99) and Shikhar Dhawan (78) to overhaul the score with just two balls to spare, setting up the record for the highest run chase against the home team on Australian soil.
After having bungled a similar chase in the previous match, the Indians made sure that they did not suffer any catastrophic collapse today with Pandey being the glue that held one end.
The visitors, after cruising along nicely at one stage, were left to pick 13 of the last over which was bowled by Mitchell Marsh. He bowled the first delivery wide as the equation came down to 12 off six balls.
Skipper Dhoni, who was struggling to middle the ball throughout the entire innings cleared the fence off a low full-toss bowled by Marsh but was out off the very next delivery leaving a tricky six runs to be scored off 4 deliveries.
Pandey, however kept his cool as he steered a wide yorker for a boundary to keep it down to 2 off 3 balls. He also completed a magnificent ton in the process.
The win was accomplished when Pandey hit over extra cover region as vice-captain Virat Kohli rushed to the field to congratulate him.
Pandey, hit eight fours and a six in his 81 ball knock.
The cricket caravan now moves to Adelaide, where the first T20 International will be played on Republic Day.
Man of the match: Manish Pandey
Man of the series: Rohit Sharma
Australia posted a challenging 330/7 against India in the fifth and final One-Day International (ODI) at the Sydney Cricket Ground here on Saturday.
Opener David Warner (122) and Mitchell Marsh (102 not out) scored superb tons each for Australia.
For India, debutant pacer Jasprit Bumrah (2-40) and Ishant Sharma (2-60) were the pick of the bowlers.
India captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni won the toss and decided to bowl in the fifth and final One-Day International (ODI) at the Sydney Cricket Ground here today.
12:27 hrs: Bumrah cleans up James Faulkner. Faulkner goes for 1 off 3 balls.
12:24 hrs: Umesh dismissed Wade. ball Umesh catch Dhoni 36 (27 balls)
11:42 hrs: Warner is gone for 122 off 113 balls. Australia are 235-5 after 39 overs.
11:34 hrs: Fifty for Mitchell Marsh. Reaches his 6th ODI half-century off just 47 balls.
11:22 hrs: Century for Warner. First ton against India.
11:20 hrs: Warner just two runs away from his ton. Australia are 206-4 after 35 overs.
11:14 hrs: 200 for Australia.
10:40 hrs: Captain removes Gurkeerat from the attack and brings in Rishi Dhawan
10:26 hrs: Shaun Marsh is run out for 7 runs by Umesh Yadav.
10:19 hrs: Bhuvneshwar Kumar has been ruled out of Twenty20 series, Rishi Dhawan will take his place.
09:55 hrs: George Bailey is gone for 6 off 13 balls. Rishi Dhawan gets his maiden ODI scalp.
09:44 hrs: Jasprit Bumrah strikes on debut. Steven Smith c Rohit Sharma b Jasprit Bumrah 28 (37).
Ishant Sharma struck early at the SCG when he trapped Aaron Finch LBW for 6 in the first over.
Following their loss in the first four ODIs, the visitors have made two changes on their side.
Young pacer Jasprit Bumrah, who will make his debut for India, comes in for injured seamer Bhuvneshwar Kumar while batsman Manish Pandey replaces injured Ajinkya Rahane.
On the other hand, the hosts have made two changes. Pacer Scott Boland comes in for Kane Richardson, batsman Shaun Marsh for injured Glenn Maxwell.
The teams:
India: Mahendra Singh Dhoni (captain), Gurkeerat Singh, Shikhar Dhawan, Ravindra Jadeja, Virat Kohli, Ishant Sharma, Manish Pandey, Rshi Dhawan, Rohit Sharma, Jasprit Bumrah, Umesh Yadav.
Australia: Steve Smith (captain), Aaron Finch, George Bailey, David Warner, Matthew Wade, James Faulkner, Mitchell Marsh, Nathan Lyon, Scott Boland, Shaun Marsh, John Hastings.