And, the inconsequential final match would be the ideal way for India to leave Australia after a disappointing ODI series.
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And the match swung in India’s favour finally when Finch was run out off a superb throw from Jadeja again at extra-cover, finding the Australian skipper just short as Dhoni disturbed the bails. Suresh Raina, under pressure, did the job for India with a 25-ball 49 and he was ably supported by Yuvraj Singh who smashed a 6 and 4 in the last over to help India score 17 off 6 and sealed the match by seven wickets.
Rohit Sharma (52 off 38) and Virat Kohli (50 off 36) struck high-class fifties in reply as India confidently set about their target before impressive leg-spinner, Cameron Boyce (2-28), removed both. Finch hit eight fours and two sixes in his 48-ball knock before he was run out trying to steal a quick single.
India’s score of 184-3 was built on two half-centuries from Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli, along with a breezy 42 from Shikhar Dhawan. In the women’s game, veteran pacer Jhulan Goswami (2-16) and left-arm spinner Rajeshwari Gayakwad (2-27) starred with the ball as the Australians posted 125/8 from 18 overs in a rain-affected contest.
Captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni produced a nine-ball 14 and was out in the last over – caught at long off off pace bowler Andrew Tye, one of three T20 debutants for Australia along with offspinner Nathan Llyon and seam bowler Scott Boland.
The pair of Kohli and Sharma pulverised the Oz bowlers and added 78 runs for the second wicket to lead India’s batting charge.
MS Dhoni believes India are reaping the benefits of a settled side as they prepare to try to win the ICC World Twenty20 on home soil. Mithali remained unbeaten on 37 from 32 balls with six boundaries.
Australian star all-rounder Shane Watson surpassed the record of New Zealand’s Brendon McCullum by playing longest T20 innings in the third T20 game against India at Sydney cricket stadium.
Khawaja’s omission from the original squad was a surprising one after his successful summer with the Test team and a blistering Big Bash for the Sydney Thunder, in which he averaged 172.5.
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Cameron Boyce (2/28) and Shane Watson (1/30) were the most successful bowlers for Australia.
