Yuzvendra Chahal finished with career-best figures of 6-42 off his 10 overs

Image courtesy of: ESPNcricinfo

Yuzvendra Chahal took six wickets and MS Dhoni struck an unbeaten 87 as India defeated Australia by seven wickets in the third ODI in Melbourne and claimed a 2-1 series win.

Being put in to bat first, Australia lost opener Alex Carey early on as he was caught by India skipper Virat Kohli at second slip off the bowling of Bhuvneshwar Kumar for five runs.

Australia captain Aaron Finch only scored 14 before he was trapped lbw off the bowling of Kumar.

Shaun Marsh and Usman Khawaja steadied things with a 73-run partnership before Marsh was stumped by Dhoni off the bowling of Chahal for 39.

Khawaja was on his way back to the pavilion three balls later as he was caught and bowled by Chahal for 34.

Marcus Stoinis fell shortly after, while Glenn Maxwell made a quickfire 26 before he was sent packing by Mohammed Shami.

Australia continued to lose wickets at regular intervals after Maxwell’s departure thanks to Chahal, but Peter Handscomb’s 63-ball 58, which included two boundaries, played a crucial part in helping the hosts get to 230 before they were bowled out.

Chahal was the pick of the bowlers with six wickets, while Kumar and Shami chipped in with two wickets apiece.

Chasing 231 to win, India lost opener Rohit Sharma in the sixth over as he was caught by Marsh at first slip off the bowling of Peter Siddle for nine runs.

Shikhar Dhawan managed to muster 23 runs before he was caught and bowled by Stoinis.

Kohli and Dhoni stabilised the innings with a 54-run partnership before Kohli was caught behind off the bowling of Jhye Richardson for 46.

That was to be Australia’s last taste of success as Dhoni and Kedar Jadhav led India to victory with their unbeaten 121-run partnership.

MS Dhoni hammered six boundaries during his unbeaten knock of 87

Image courtesy of: ESPNcricinfo

Dhoni finished on 87, which came off 114 balls and included six boundaries, while Jadhav remained undefeated on 61, which came off 57 deliveries and included seven boundaries.

Richardson, Siddle and Stoinis claimed one wicket each.

Chahal was named Man of the Match.