Certainly it is the Diwali bonanza for the cricketer fans and people of India as its clinched the series against Australia by a solid innings and double ton by Rohit Sharma. Rohit Sharma re-wrote the record books and also authored personal bests en route to a magnificent 209 (158b, 12x4, 16x6) that which provide a platform to defeat Auatralia in the ODI series.
India batting first and made 383 for six with 101 runs coming in the last five overs during the rollicking 167-run partnership for the fifth wicket between Sharma and skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni (62, 38b, 7x4, 2x6).
Sharma notched an unbeaten 141 that carried India to win at Jaipur earlier in the series, was modest to point out that the small boundaries also played a part in his run blitz that totally floored the Aussies.
Sharma and Shikhar Dhawan (60) provided just the start Indians wanted with their 112-run partnership, interrupted by a rain-break, before the Aussies picked up two quick wickets. Dhawan was trapped in front by left-arm spinner Xavier Doherty and in the next over, Kohli, sent back by Sharma, was run out.
However it became a nightmare for the Australians, reeling at 211 for eight in the 31st over, waged a magnificent fightback with James Faulkner scoring 116 (73b, 11x4, 6x6) and taking the visitors agonizingly close to a dream win with a 115-run stand for the ninth wicket with Clint McKay (18) before both departed within a delivery of each other as they were all out for 326 in the 46th over.
India all but looked the gift horse in the mouth with some ordinary bowling that helped the Australians, chasing under tremendous pressure, to get within an ace of snatching a thrilling win in a match that saw 38 sixes.
The Australians were never quite in the hunt at the start as they lost wickets, including that of their top scorer and skipper George Bailey (4), at regular intervals though Glenn Maxwell (60, 22b, 3x4, 7x6), a limping Shane Watson (49, 22b, 2x4, 6x6) counter-attack but to little effect.
Australians who were without their key seamer and leading wicket-taker Mitchell Johnson who returned home on Friday to prepare for the forthcoming Ashes series, also lost all-rounder Shane Watson who left the field with a hamstring injury after bowling just five overs. In the event, the Aussie attack proved to be a fodder for the in-form Indian batsmen.
(With inputs from IANS)
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