Photographs: BCCI
Riding on Rohit Sharma's breathtaking double century, India won the seventh and final One-day International against Australia by 57 runs in Bangalore on Saturday, to clinch the ODI series 3-2.
Sharma became only the third person to hit a double-century in ODI as he slammed a brilliant 158-ball 209 to help India finish with a mammoth 382 for six. In reply, Australia made 326 courtesy of James Faulkner's maiden ODI century as he slammed 116.
Rohit joined Sachin Tendulkar and Virender Sehwag as the only three players to have breached the 200-run mark, in ODIs.
Dhawan continues golden run; hits half-century
Image: Shikhar DhawanPhotographs: BCCI
Dhawan was the aggressor in the initial part as he took on the Aussie bowling.
Dhawan was particularly severe on Clint Mckay as he smoked him for three consecutive boundaries in the third over.
Xavier Doherty however came to Australia's rescue as he dismissed the left-hander for 60 after he had put on 112 runs for the opening wicket with Rohit.
Kohli fails in Bangalore
Image: Australian players celebrate after the run out of Virat KohliPhotographs: BCCI
Much was expected out of Virat Kohli, but he was unlucky to be run out for a three-ball duck after a huge misunderstanding with Rohit.
Yuvraj flops again
Image: Xavier Doherty (left) celebrates with his team mates after getting the wicket of Suresh RainaPhotographs: BCCI
Rohit and Suresh Raina then joined hands to put on a 72-run stand for the third wicket before the latter was dismissed leg before wicket by Doherty for 28.
Yuvraj Singh's horrible show with the bat in the series continued as he was dismissed after scoring just 12 runs courtesy of a brilliant catch from wicketkeeper Bradd Haddin off pacer James Faulkner.
Rohit hits fourth ODI century
Image: Rohit Sharma celebrates after reaching his centuryPhotographs: BCCI
Rohit completed his fourth century of his ODI career with two runs off Faulkner. Rohit then turned the heat on Australian bowlers and took apart the bowling line up that was missing Mitchell Johnson, who was called back to Australia to prepare for the Ashes.
Soon after reaching his century, Rohit slammed a six and a boundary off Faulkner and his confidence grew rapidly thereafter as he looked to play more freely.
Rohit smokes a double ton
Image: Rohit SharmaPhotographs: BCCI
Rohit then turned the heat on in the final few overs, as it rained sixes at the M Chinnaswamy stadium in Bangalore.
Dhoni attacks Aussie bowlers in the final overs
Image: Mahendra Singh DhoniPhotographs: BCCI
Interestingly, captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni was merely a spectator and enjoyed Rohit's spectacle from the other end. The duo put on a splendid partnership of 167 runs from 94 balls to script a complete turnaround and leave the Aussies stunned.
Dhoni brought his spectacular helicopter shot, slamming Faulkner for a huge six which went out of the ground. He slammed a quickfire 61 from 37 balls to help India post a mammoth 383 for six in their 50 overs.
The Bangalore crowd were witness to some unbelievable batting by the Indians in the last few overs. They scored a mammoth 100 runs in the last five overs, while losing just one wicket in the process. Infact, in the last 10 runs they smashed as many as 161 runs to leave the Aussies stunned.
Shami strikes early
Image: Mohammed Shami (centre) celebrates after getting the wicket of Aaron FinchPhotographs: BCCI
Pacer Mohammed Shami struck in his first over, getting the wicket of Aaron Finch, who was dismissed leg before wicket for five.
Phil Hughes made 23 from 33 balls before he was caught at midwicket off R Ashwin.
Maxwell hits quickfire half-century
Image: Glenn MaxwellPhotographs: BCCI
Glenn Maxwell came out all guns blazing and launched a superb counter-attack.
He smashed his way to a rampaging knock of 60 from just 22 balls, hitting three fours and seven sixes, before he top edged a pull shot off Vinay Kumar and was caught at deep midwicket.
Watson blasts 49 despite injury
Image: Shane WatsonPhotographs: BCCI
Shane Watson had go off the field after bowling just five overs because of a hamstring injury.
He came out to bat at No. 8 and immediately went on the attack, with a quickfire knock of 49 from 22 balls to lead Australia's fightback.
Faulkner's century gives Australia hope
Image: James FaulknerPhotographs: BCCI
Just when it looked Australia were out of the running after being reduced to 211 for eight in the 31st over, James Faulkner came to the fore with a wonderful century.
He blazed 116 from 73 balls, with the help of 11 fours and six sixes. The right-hander brought up his century from 57 balls to break Matthew Hayden's record for the fastest century by an Australian in ODIs.
He put on 115 runs from 14.5 overs for the ninth wicket with Clint McKay, who made 18, to give Australia some hope.
But McKay fell in the 45th over followed by Faulkner's wicket in the next over to Shami to give India victory.
India clinch ODI series 3-2
Image: Mahendra Singh Dhoni celebrates victoryPhotographs: BCCI
India heaved a sigh of relief after winning the match by 57 runs as Faulkner had single-handedly threatened to take the match away from them in the closing stages.
The victory helped India clinch the seven-match series 3-2 after the two games in Ranchi and Cuttack were washed out.
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