Australia, which registered two back-to-back victories in the first and second ODIs, are now aiming for an unassailable lead over visitors.
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India’s bowling division has been disappointing them and it will be a task for the bowlers and Dhoni to make sure they get things right in the third ODI.
But India did not have much more luck, dropping Shaun Marsh four times as he set up the chase with a 145-run opening stand with Aaron Finch (both 71).
Despite the batsmen performing well to set targets of more than 300 on both occasions, it was the Indian bowlers which let the team down. Sharma used it to good effect, but he did survive a huge call in the 31st over, edging back to the keeper off Paris.
Australia have made only one change in their bowling attack, Kane Richardson has been left out to make a place for Mitchell Marsh while John Hastings, who came in place of Josh Hazlewood, has been retained for the next match.
“I must say growing up watching cricket and even now you see a chase of 200 on a wicket that has a bit in it – they do tend to be exciting games”, he said.
After Dhawan (six) fell cheaply for the second straight game, Rahane (89 off 80) was inspirational as he combined with Rohit Sharma (124) in a 121-run third wicket stand.
“You get 340, and again it is not a safe score anymore”.
Asked if batting second is an advantage thus, the Mumbai batsman replied, ” I don’t think so.
But the rest of the Indian bowlers have not been able to make any sort of impression on the Australian batsmen. And Ishant was fit for this game and so we thought he will get good bounce here. He bowled at some hard times.
It brought Kohli to the crease and along with Sharma, he tried to raise a stand similar to the 200-plus one they had put up in Perth.
Habib also questioned Dhoni’s decision to use spinners, who though effective in the World Cup past year have struggled on good batting surfaces.
“When we bat, we are not too anxious about the strike rate because we know we can cover it up in the end”.
In the second ODI, Barinder Sran, was the only bowler who recorded a maiden over, while everybody else, including R Ashwin and Indian pacers, went for over six runs an over. He has been in great form in the ODIs with three fifties and a hundred in his last five games, but what will hurt him is the fact that India have only won one of those. Australian top order have shown their perfection while their hard-hitting middle and lower-order are yet to be exposed with James Faulkner and wicket-keeper Matthew Wade have not got chances to bat.
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“(But) I don’t think it is going to change any time soon”.
