NEW DELHI, (Reuters) – Yuvraj Singh top-scored with 78 and shared a big partnership with skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni to power India to a six-wicket win over Australia in the third one-day international yesterday.
Mike Hussey scored his third successive fifty, on his way to an unbeaten 81, and skipper Ricky Ponting made a cautious 59 as opener to help injury-hit Australia post 229-5 after winning the toss.
India finished on 230 for four in 48.2 overs to take a 2-1 lead in the seven-game series.
Man of the match Singh shared in a 148-run fourth wicket partnership with Dhoni, who was unbeaten on 71 following his match-winning 124 in the previous game in Nagpur on Wednesday.
The pair rescued the innings from 53 for three after Virender Sehwag (11), Sachin Tendulkar (32) and Gautam Gambhir (6) fell in succession.
“It was a slow wicket so getting my first 30 runs, that was the target,” Yuvraj said.
“Me and Mahi (Dhoni) played smart cricket.”
Ponting added: “They certainly batted a lot better than us in slightly more difficult conditions. Their partnership made the difference.”
Singh struck eight fours and two sixes while Dhoni curbed his natural instincts on a slow pitch in his 95-ball effort.
Left-arm pacer Mitchell Johnson gave Australia hopes of victory when he bowled Sehwag after fellow paceman Peter Siddle had left him hobbled with a yorker to his left foot.
DIRECT HIT
Johnson also ran out Tendulkar with a direct hit from mid-on before offspinner Nathan Hauritz struck second ball and bowled Gambhir (6), who had earlier been left dazed after Ponting’s full-blooded pull struck him below his ear while India fielded.
Singh and Dhoni settled down as the evening dew appeared to bind the track and make strokeplay easier before the left-hander led the way with big shots on either side of the pitch.
The naturally aggressive Ponting and accumulator Hussey switched roles to guide Australia, hit by a spate of injuries, when they batted.
Hussey underlined his touch after scoring 73 and 53 in the first two games, after Ponting dug in with a 92-ball effort.
Opening in an ODI only for the second time, Ponting raised partnerships of 72 runs with Shane Watson (41) and 56 with Hussey for the first two wickets.
Watson was stumped off Yuvraj and fellow left-arm spinner Ravindra Jadeja then ended Ponting’s stand with Hussey when he trapped the Australian skipper leg before.
Hussey rallied the lower order batsmen, hitting three fours and a mighty six and helping add 63 runs in the last 10 overs.
The fourth ODI will be played in Mohali tomorrow.
