India prevail in run feast - TeluguPeople.com News

Nagpur: India pulled off a sensational six-wicket victory over Australia in the do-or-die sixth cricket one-dayer, riding on Virat Kohli's brutal unbeaten 115 and Shikhar Dhawan's blistering century to level the seven-match series 2-2 here on Wednesday.Chasing a mammoth 351, the Indians gave ample display of their batting firepower on a belter of a track at the VCA Stadium at Jamtha to overhaul the target with three balls to spare in what turned out to be a thrilling floodlit contest which went down the wire.

The incredible run chase brought back memories of India's awesome victory in Jaipur on October 16 when they overhauled a stiff target of 360, achieving the second highest successful run chase ever in ODI history.

Dhawan (100), Rohit Sharma (79) and Kohli - who hit the third fastest ODI hundred by an Indian from just 61 balls, were the main architects of India's victory in the high-scoring tussle which has restored the balance of the series after the Ranchi and Cuttack ODIs were washed out.

Earlier, George Bailey (156) and Shane Watson (102) smashed scintillating centuries as Australia put the listless Indian bowling attack to the sword to post an imposing 350 for six after being in to bat.

India replied in stunning fashion with Dhawan hitting his fourth ODI ton in his 24th match while Kohli struck his 17th century in his 118th match. Dhawan faced 102 balls in his innings and hit 11 boundaries while Kohli's unbeaten knock came from just 66 balls with the help of 18 fours and a six.

Kohli, Dhawan slam centuries as India level series; Bailey, Watson tons go in vain Captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni (25 not out) hit the winning runs - a two - as India reached 351 for four to bring the capacity crowd to raptures and the home team players hugging each other at the dressing room.

With the scores locked 2-2, the seventh ODI in Bangalore on Saturday will serve as the summit showdown of the series which has already seen a phenomenal 2565 runs scored so far (excluding the 295 scored by Australia in the abandoned fourth match at Ranchi).

India stuttered a bit towards the end as Suresh Raina (16) and struggling Yuvraj Singh (0) were out in the same over - 43rd - but Kohli, who had hit the fastest-ever 100 off just 52 balls by an Indian in Jaipur and an equally unruffled Dhoni saw them home with an unbroken partnership of 61 for the fifth wicket.

The game looked on a knife's edge even after the great start given by Dhawan and Rohit - who shared 178 runs from 29.3 overs for the opening wicket - but Kohli tore into the visitors' bowling attack to swing the game in India's favour.

Dhawan was lucky to be let off when on 19 off James Faulkner at fly-gully by Glenn Maxwell and then survived a difficult chance after reaching his 50.In between these two escapes and earlier too, he got his runs mainly by using his bottom hand to hit square and behind the wicket on both sides and reached his half century with a run-a-ball effort.

Score Card

Australia: Phillip Hughes c Kohli b Kumar 13, Aaron Finch b Ashwin 20, Shane Watson b Mohammed Shami 102, George Bailey c Kohli b Jadeja 156, Glenn Maxwell c Kumar b Ashwin 9, Adam Voges not out 44, Mitchell Johnson c Dhawan b Jadeja 0, Brad Haddin not out 0; Extras: (W-3, NB-3) 6; Total: (for six wickets in 50 overs) 350; Fall of wickets: 1-30, 2-45, 3-213, 4-224, 5-344, 6-346; Bowling: Bhuvneshwar Kumar 8-0-42-1; Mohammed Shami 8-1-66-1; Ravindra Jadeja 10-0-68-2; R Ashwin 10-0-64-2; Amit Mishra 10-0-78-0; Virat Kohli 2-0-15-0; Suresh Raina 2-0-17-0.

India: Rohit Sharma c Faulkner b Finch 79, Shikhar Dhawan b Faulkner 100, Virat Kohli not out 115, Suresh Raina c Haddin b Johnson 16, Yuvraj Singh b Johnson 0, MS Dhoni not out 25; Extras: (LB-8, W-7, NB-1) 16; Total: (for four wickets in 49.3 overs) 351; Fall of wickets: 1-178, 2-234, 3-290, 4-290; Bowling: Mitchell Johnson 10-0-72-2; Clint McKay 7-0-47-0; James Faulkner 9.3-0-73-1; Xavier Doherty 6-0-40-0; Shane Watson 6-0-51-0; Glenn Maxwell 7-0-40-0; Aaron Finch 4-0-20-1.
Man of the match: Virat Kohli