Melbourne: Paceman Mitchell Starc took 6-43 to help Australia to a four-wicket victory over India on Sunday, their second in succession in the One Day International tri-series, despite a brilliant Rohit Sharma century.
Sharma’s superb 138 at the Melbourne Cricket Ground enabled India to post a competitive total of 267 for eight after winning the toss and electing to bat.
However, on a placid pitch it always appeared slightly less than required and Australian opener Aaron Finch countered Sharma’s century with a match-winning knock of his own.
Finch made 96 as Australia rattled up 269 for six, winning with six balls to spare.
He received great support from the in-form Steve Smith (47). The pair put on 101 for the third wicket as the home side appeared coasting to victory.
However, Finch fell when a century beckoned, caught behind by M.S. Dhoni from the bowling of Umesh Yadav, as India made an unlikely late bid to snatch victory.
In an unexpectedly tense finish, Brad Haddin and James Faulkner got the Australians home with an unbroken 21-run stand.
In a blow to India, paceman Mohammad Shami was forced off the field with a leg problem after bowling the first ball of the 47th over.
India’s innings was dogged by a poor start and a disappointing finish.
Beaten by the host nation 2-0 in the recent four-Test series, India found themselves in early trouble at 59 for three.
As was the case in Australia’s big win over England in the series opener on Friday, left-arm paceman Starc claimed a wicket in the first over of the match - Shikhar Dhawan caught at second slip by Aaron Finch for just two.
Fellow paceman Gurinder Sandhu, born in Australia to Indian parents, then made a dream debut when he claimed the wicket of Ajinkya Rahane in just his second over.
Virat Kohli could not summon up his incredible form of the Test series, making just nine before he was caught off the bowling of Faulkner.
Suresh Raina, who made a pair when recalled for the fourth Test against Australia earlier this month, then went out to join Sharma and they rebuilt the innings.
Once again the tension between the sides briefly boiled over, when Australian opener David Warner and Sharma exchanged words after the Indians ran an overthrow in the 23rd over.
The Indian batsmen were not distracted and the pair put on 126 before Raina (51) holed out to mid-on to give Starc his second scalp.
Sharma continued to lead the way, gliding Starc to third man for a single a few minutes later for his sixth one-day international century, from 109 balls.
He eventually fell late in the innings as Starc put the brakes on the Indian innings again.
Sharma faced 139 balls, hitting nine fours and four sixes.
