Opener Rohit Sharma's belligerent ton and skipper Virat Kohli's breezy 89 helped India defeat Australia in the series decider at MA Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru and clinch the 3-match ODI series 2-1.


Set a 287 run target, the Indians got off to a solid start with openers Rohit Sharma and KL Rahul registering a 69-run opening stand.Rahul did not look at his fluent best and was trapped leg before by Ashton Agar.

Virat Kohli came into bat at No.3 and piled on the agony on the Australian bowlers by stitching a 137-run partnership with Rohit. Rohit was severe on the Aussies bowling attack, tonking them to all corners of the park.

The right handed opener eventually got to his 8th ton against the Kangaroos and his 29th overall in ODIs. After Rohit's dismissal, Kohli continued to score at a brisk pace with Shreyas Iyer. At the stroke of his ton, Virat Kohli lost his wicket to Josh Hazlewood. Shreyas Iyer then took the responsibility of taking the home team across the line with a well compiled half ton.

Earlier in the match, Australian skipper Aaron Finch won the toss and elected to bat first.

Australia set India a 287-run target in the third and final ODI being played at the MA Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru. After skipper Aaron Finch won the toss and put his team to bat first, the visitors posted a 286-run total on the back of Steve Smith's ninth ODI ton and Marnus Labuschagne's maiden fifty.

The Aussies did not get off to the best possible start as they lost both their in-form openers David Warner and Aaron Finch cheaply. After Shami scalped Warner for just 3, Finch lost his wicket courtesy a terrible confusion with Steve Smith, leading to a run-out.

At 46-2, Smith was joined by Marnus Labuschagne and the duo stitched a 127-run partnership to steady the visitors innings and help them lay a strong foundation. Kohli pulled off a brilliant catch of Raindra Jadeja's bowling to dismiss Labuchagne for a well compiled half ton.

Smith carried on piling up the runs and got to his 9th ODI ton and also brought up his 4000-runs in ODI cricket. Wicket-keeper batsman Alex Carey batted well with Smith to score a breezy 35 but before Australia could seize complete control, Mohammad Shami was again impressive at the death picking up the wickets of centurion Smith, Pat Cummins and Adam Zampa.