The 5 Best ODI wins for India versus Australia in Australia

#2 Sydney, 2016

Manish Pandey playing only in his fourth ODI scored a match-winning hundred for India

This series was a five-match bilateral series. Australia won all the four matches before the team met at Sydney for the final match of the series. India had nothing to lose except pride.

Dhoni won the toss and in keeping with the trend in the series, elected to field on a good batting wicket. India was in control of the game when Australia was trimmed to 117 for 4 for the loss of Aaron Finch, Steve Smith, George Bailey, and Shaun Marsh’s wicket. But David Warner was still at the wicket and in association with Mitch Marsh took the score to 235 before Warner fell for a well made 122.

Thereafter Mitch Marsh and Mathew Wade ripped through the Indian bowling striking 85 runs in 10 overs. Mitchell Marsh reached his maiden ODI century in the last over of the innings. Australia reached a mammoth 330. For India debutant, Jasprit Bumrah took 2 for 40 in his 10 overs. India had to score 331 to avoid the humiliation of a whitewash.

The Indian openers Rohit Sharma and Shikhar Dhawan put their best foot forward on a very good batting wicket. India reached 50 in the 8th over and 100 in the 16th over. Dhawan was aggressive of the two completing his 50 off 42 balls while Rohit took 60 balls.

Finally, Australia got a double breakthrough when John Hastings got rid of Dhawan and Kohli in successive overs. Dhawan gave India the perfect start with a quickfire 78 off 56 balls with 7 fours and 3 sixes.

Manish Pandey playing only in his fourth ODI was promoted to number 4 to join Rohit. Some friendly stuff from Nathan Lyon and Steve Smith helped Manish Pandey to settle down and get going at the same time. The 50 of the partnership was posted in 53 balls.

Rohit Sharma got a life when he was dropped by Mitch Marsh on 92. However, he could not reach his hundred and was unlucky to lose his wicket on 99. Dhoni walked in with India needing 100 from 91 balls. As always, Dhoni took his time to settle down with 6 off 20 balls while Manish Pandey went on to complete his 50.

India needed 77 in the last 10 overs. While Dhoni continued to struggle, Pandey was impressive with his stroke play and reached 70 off 55 balls.

In the last 5 overs, India needed 45 runs with 7 wickets in hand. While Dhoni got stuck on 16, Manish Pandey raced away to 85. Still, India needed 35 from 18 balls. Mitchell Marsh came into bowl the 48th over. The second ball was edged down to the third man boundary by Pandey. India reached 300 in that over. Dhoni finally got bat on ball as he clobbered the 5th ball for a straight boundary. 13 runs came in the 48th over.

22 needed in 12 balls. Faulkner did not concede any boundaries in the 49th over and India needed 13 runs with Manish Pandey on 98. However, it was Dhoni who was on strike. After conceding a wide, Mitch Marsh bowled a juicy full toss outside the off-stump which Dhoni promptly lifted over long off for a six. Marsh had his revenge in the next ball when David Warner came under a skier at long-off. But the batsmen had the presence of mind to cross over and Manish Pandey was on strike.

6 needed off 4. Pandey squeezed the next ball to third man boundary and reached his maiden ODI hundred. The match got over in the next ball and India won the match by 6 wickets with 2 balls to spare. Manish Pandey remained not out on 104 off just 81 balls with 8 fours and one six. That was the first time India had successfully chased down a target of more than 300 against Australia in Australia.