Mitchell Marsh scored a blistering 96 as Australia recorded a consolation win by beating India by 66 runs in the third and the final one day international at the Saurashtra Cricket Association Stadium in Rajkot on Wednesday.
After winning the toss and electing to bat first, openers David Warner and Marsh got Australia off to a fantastic start. The duo added 78 for the opening wicket before the former was caught behind the stumps while attempting a scoop off Prasidh Krishna for 56.
Marsh featured in a 137 run stand for the second wicket alongside Steve Smith before the former (96) chipped a catch to Prasidh at covers off Kuldeep Yadav.
Mohammed Siraj then got into the act by trapping Smith leg before wicket while attempting a flick across the line for 74.
The visitors lost Alex Carey (11), Glenn Maxwell (5) and Cameron Green (9) cheaply as they slumped to 299/6. However Marnus Labuschagne scored a 58 ball-72 to take his side to a formidable total of 352/7 in their 50 overs.
In response, the hosts got off to a solid start with openers Rohit Sharma and Washington Sundar adding 74 for the opening wicket. Glenn Maxwell then broke the stand by dismissing Sundar (18) caught at long off by Labuschagne.
Rohit along with Virat Kohli added 70 runs for the second wicket stand before the former fell to a spectacular one handed catch by Maxwell off his own bowling back for a swashbuckling 81. His knock came off 57 balls with 5 fours and 6 sixes.
Kohli then top-edged a short-of-a-length delivery to Smith at midwicket for 56. Shreyas Iyer and KL Rahul put on 52 runs for the fourth wicket stand before the latter top edged a slog off Mitchell Starc to wicket keeper Alex Carey for 26.
Suryakumar Yadav (8) fell soon, mistiming a pull off Josh Hazlewood to Maxwell at midwicket. Iyer (48) was then castled by a peach from all rounder Maxwell for 48.
Ravindra Jadeja scored a 36 ball-35, but it was not enough as India were bowled out for 286, giving the visitors a 66 run win.
Australia 352 for 7 (Marsh 96, Smith 74, Labuschagne 72, Bumrah 3-81, Kuldeep 2-48 ) beat India 286 (Rohit 81, Kohli 56, Maxwell 4-40, Hazlewood 2-42) by 66 runs