His 96 off 83 balls in knocking off India’s 6 for 295 did precisely that.
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“We did well to keep them down to 295”.
Virat Kohli’s magnificent ton went in vain as Indian bowlers couldn’t manage to defend a sizeable total for the third time in a row. On a pitch that offered some turn, it was a mistake that they left out R Ashwin.
Habib also questioned Dhoni’s decision to use spinners, who though effective in the World Cup previous year have struggled on good batting surfaces.
Shaun Marsh completed a half-century, but when Ishant Sharma had him caught behind for 62, Australia were stumbling on 167 for four.
Australia Expected 11A Finch, S Marsh, S Smith (Capt), G Bailey, G Maxwell, M Marsh, M Wade (WK), J Paris, S Bolland, J Faulkner, J Hastings. Maxwell played some extraordinary shots, including a slap for six over extra cover off Barinder Sran, and was the key man. Would he be better off going for quick runs after reaching seventies or hundred instead of hanging around and not give time to other batsmen?
MCG and SCG are the two grounds where India has at the slightest of chances of winning in Australia.
Fast bowler Umesh Yadav claimed an early wicket when Aaron Finch (21) edged him to India captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni behind the wicket.
Ravindra Jadeja then struck in his first over by removing Steve Smith (41) and also removed the in-form George Bailey (23).
India came to this match knowing that a run a ball may not be enough to set Australia – it certainly wasn’t in the first two matches of this series.
He also became the first Indian batsman to score four ODI centuries on Australian soil, overtaking Laxman’s three. Their 125-run stand ticked the score along easily and little risk; Kohli cruised to his half-century from 60 deliveries. Following Dhawan’s dismissal, Ajinkya Rahane (50) gave adequate support to Kohli as the duo added 109 runs for the third wicket. Only 40 of Kohli’s runs came in boundaries, seven fours and two sixes, and he was constantly taking off for singles to rotate the strike and ensure things did not stagnate.
Shaun brought up his 12th ODI fifty in the 22nd over as Australia ended up with 145 for two at the half-way mark. But the Australian bowlers bagged another couple of wickets towards the end to restrict the visitors to a manageable total. Debutant Gurkeerat Singh was bowled for 8 by a Faulkner slower ball, before Jadeja and Rishi Dhawan steered the innings home.
Smith ran in from long-on and caught it at the edge of the boundary. Wickets were the need of the hour, and Dhoni misread the situation when Australia were five wickets down with 15 overs to go, but with a required run rate of around six.
Rohit’s departure saw Kohli stride to the crease and he proceeded to try and steady the innings along with Dhawan. Australia’s chase had begun in rollicking fashion, and given the form of the top order, it seemed as if an early finish was on the cards.
But, seemingly aware that India needed to lift their tempo to avoid the kind of stalling that occurred in Perth and Brisbane, Shikhar took it upon himself up the ante.
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But on 68 Dhawan tried to glance John Hastings and was bowled when the ball hit his pad and cannoned into the stumps.
