Pandey celebrates after scoring his maiden ODI century
Image courtesy of: Zimbio
Manish Pandey scored his maiden ODI century as India downed Australia by six wickets in nail-biting fashion in the fifth and final ODI in Sydney.
Pandey was well supported by India openers Rohit Sharma and Shikhar Dhawan as they scored 99 and 78 respectively.
However, Australia opener David Warner and all-rounder Mitchell Marsh both deserve a lot of credit as they made 122 and 102 not out respectively.
India captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni would have been fairly content with his decision to bowl first as Australia were reduced to 117/4 in the 22nd over.
However, Warner soon steered the Baggy Greens’ inning back in the right direction with his knock of 122, which came off 113 balls and included nine boundaries and three sixes.
Warner savours the moment after bringing up his fifth ODI century
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Following Warner’s dismissal, Marsh took over and hammered the Indian bowling attack all over the place. Despite losing wicketkeeper Matthew Wade and James Faulkner along the way, Marsh had his sights set on bringing up his maiden ODI century and accomplished it in the final over of Australia’s innings.
Marsh finished unbeaten on 102 off 84 deliveries, which included nine boundaries and two sixes, as Australia ended up making 330/7 off their 50 overs.
Marsh exults after scoring his first ODI century
Image courtesy of: Zimbio
Ishant Sharma and debutant Jasprit Bumrah picked up two wickets apiece, while Umesh Yadav and Rishi Dhawan chipped in with one wicket each.
Chasing 331 to win, India got off to a superb start as Rohit Sharma and Dhawan amassed a 123-run partnership, during which Dhawan brought up his half-century, before he was dismissed by John Hastings for 78 off 56 balls, which included seven boundaries and three sixes.
Dhawan scored his 17th ODI fifty
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Despite losing Virat Kohli shortly after, Sharma and Pandey put together a 97-run stand before Sharma was caught behind off the bowling of Hastings for 99 off 108 balls, which included nine boundaries and a six.
Sharma fell one agonising run short of his 11th ODI century
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Pandey and Dhoni kept the runs flowing with a 94-run partnership, during which Pandey surpassed his half-century, before Dhoni was caught by Warner off the bowling of Marsh for 34 in the final over.
Despite India still needing six runs off the last four balls to win, Pandey finished things off with a boundary and a double to deny Australia a 5-0 series whitewash.
Pandey ended up making 104 off 81 deliveries, which included eight boundaries and a six.
Hastings was the most successful bowler with three wickets, while Marsh claimed one.
Australia captain Steven Smith was gutted to have fallen short of winning the match, and said: “It’s been a pretty big run-scoring feast. Very proud of the way the players have played in this series. Tonight was a masterclass in chasing [from India]. We missed a few opportunities in the field, but that happens in cricket, but we have to move on and improve. [The T20s] are a different format, and there is a World Cup around the corner, so the boys are raring to go.”
Dhoni was thrilled to secure a consolation win, and said: “I think we have been competitive in the series. The goal was to win matches. The first four games, I thought we were close, but we didn’t close it down well. That’s important in the ODI format. Every over matters especially in a high-scoring game. Giving those 15-20-run overs, it becomes slightly easier for the opposition. The top order has been together for a long time now. Where we have been hurt a little bit is the lower-order batting, where Manish did really well today, and also the fact that we have not had a settled bowling attack. We have to improve our fielding slightly. Grounds over here are quite big, and once you know the fielder is not that quick or [the opposition] doesn’t have a good fielder, you will put pressure on that fielder.”
Pandey was named Man of the Match, and said: “Batting No. 4 is one of the chances I got because Ajju (Rahane) was injured, and I wanted to capitalise, especially on these wickets, with 300 scored in every match. Always nice to have Indian people in the stadium, it’s a big boost to us.”
Rohit Sharma was named Man of the Series for scoring 441 runs at a brilliant average of 110.25, and said: “Not really [frustrating to get out on 99], because we won the game tonight. Young Manish Pandey did really well, playing his fourth one-day international, getting that hundred and getting us off the mark. Over the course of the tournament we played some really good cricket. Little moments we couldn’t capitalise on. We never thought we were 4-0 down. We wanted to come and win this game and go with a positive frame of mind into the T20 series. I’ve been batting really well in one-day cricket, it’s important that I keep scoring runs for the team.”