Yuvraj Singh and captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni hit impressive half-centuries to steer India to a six-wicket victory in the third one-day international against Australia in New Delhi on Saturday.
Yuvraj top-scored with 78 while Dhoni hit an unbeaten 71 as India surpassed the 230-run target with 10 balls to spare in the day-night encounter at the Ferozeshah Kotla stadium.
The duo put on 148 runs for the fourth wicket off 173 balls on a challenging track to pull India out of trouble after they were reeling at 53-3 in the 16th over.
PHOTO: AFP
Yuvraj, named man of the match, smashed eight fours and two sixes in his 96-ball knock before being trapped leg-before by one-day debutant Moises Henriques in the 44th over.
Dhoni then guided his side to victory and a 2-1 lead in the seven-match series.
Led by left-arm spinner Ravindra Jadeja (2-41), India’s slow bowlers did well to restrict the world champions to 229-5, built around a fine 82-ball 81 by middle-order batsman Michael Hussey.
Ponting, opening the innings, scored 59 while Shane Watson contributed 41 at the top of the order.
Australia began their defense on a promising note, dismissing Virender Sehwag (11), Sachin Tendulkar (32) and Gautam Gambhir (six) inside 16 overs, but lost their way thereafter.
Sehwag was bowled through the gates off left-arm paceman Mitchell Johnson (1-43) after he was hit on the foot in the previous over by fast bowler Peter Siddle.
Tendulkar (32) was run out by a direct throw from Johnson from mid-off, while Gambhir fell to off-spinner Nathan Hauritz (1-48).
Earlier, Hussey hit his third half-century of the series and shared 56 runs with Ponting after the world champions won the toss and elected to bat.
Watson made up for his disappointing batting in the first two matches, stroking a fine 41 off 59 balls with five fours and sharing 72 runs for the opening wicket with Ponting off 98 balls.
Ponting, taking the opener’s role for only the second time in his 327-match one-day cricket career, completed his 72nd one-day half-century off 74 balls before falling to Jadeja.
The fourth match will be played in Mohali today.
■BANGLADESH V ZIMBABWE
REUTERS, DHAKA
Contrasting half-centuries from Tamim Iqbal and Mohammad Ashraful guided Bangladesh to a four-wicket victory over Zimbabwe on Saturday for a 2-1 lead in their five-match one day series.
Tamim blazed 80 off 72 balls, hitting 10 fours and two sixes, and Ashraful struck 63 off 91 as Bangladesh made 198-6 in 40.4 overs after their spinners had restricted Zimbabwe to 196 all out.
Opener Tamim looked set for his third one-day century before a moment of madness meant he was stumped by Brendan Taylor off leg spinner Graeme Cremer, ending his 98-run second-wicket stand with Ashraful.
Ashraful, who completed his 19th half century, was bowled by Ray Price and his departure triggered a mini collapse.
The hosts lost four quick wickets to be reduced from 175-2 to 194-6, but it was too late for Zimbabwe to make any impact on the result.
The final two matches of the series will be held in Chittagong tomorrow and Thursday.
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