Usman Khawaja and Aaron Finch help Aussies to first away ODI win since 2017

Opener Usman Khawaja’s maiden one-day international century and incisive bowling from spinner Adam Zampa has seen Australia withstand a Virat Kohli masterclass.

Australian cricketer Aaron Finch (R) and Usman Khawaja run during the third one-day international (ODI) cricket match between India and Australia at the Jharkhand State Cricket Association International Cricket Stadium, in Ranchi on March 8, 2019. (Photo by DIBYANGSHU SARKAR / AFP) / ----IMAGE RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE - STRICTLY NO COMMERCIAL USE-----

Adam Zampa has spun Australia to a 32-run ODI victory in Ranchi, where not even a century from masterful chaser Virat Kohli was enough to get India home.

Written off as World Cup contenders and down 2-0 in the five-match series, Australia responded with arguably their best one-day performance under coach Justin Langer.

Langer will be thrilled with his side’s first ODI victory outside Australia since they triumphed in Bangalore, in September 2017.

Aaron Finch (R) and Usman Khawaja piled on a massive opening partnership. Picture: Dibyangshu Sarkar/AFP

Aaron Finch returned to form and Usman Khawaja posted his maiden ODI ton as Australia finished 5-313, their biggest total since amassing 5-334 during that same match in Bangalore.

Finch (93) and Khawaja (104) laid the platform for an even bigger total in their 193-run opening stand, which spanned 191 balls and was almost double Australia’s previous highest opening partnership during David Warner’s suspension.

“It was a pretty good performance. To get 300 on that wicket was very good. It was nice and especially in these conditions,” Finch said after the win.

“I have been working really hard and have always had the faith I would get runs. Usman played a fantastic knock, Jhye was also impressive with the ball,” he added.

Australian cricketer Aaron Finch fell just seven runs short of a century. Picture: Dibyangshu Sarkar/AFP

Kohli, fresh from his matchwinning hundred in Nagpur on Tuesday, responded with a sparkling knock of 123 that came off just 95 balls.

Zampa made the crucial breakthrough, dismissing the captain for a third time on tour, and also removed MS Dhoni and Kedar Jadhav.

India were all out for 281 in 48.2 overs, with Pat Cummins and recalled paceman Jhye Richardson also playing pivotal roles with the ball.

Cummins starred with the new ball to help reduce India to 3-27 then Zampa claimed the all-important scalp of Dhoni to make it 4-86, silencing a sold-out crowd that came to see what is expected to be the wicketkeeper’s final international game in his hometown.

Indian cricket captain Virat Kohli looks on as he walks back after losing his wicket. Picture: Dibyangshu Sarkar/AFP

Kohli’s class and composure came to the fore as he wrestled momentum back from the visitors with ODI century No.41.

The challenge for Australia was simple yet mind-bogglingly difficult. They needed to find a way to remove Kohli, whose batting average in ODI chases is now an outrageous 68.71 (with 25 tons), or lose the series. Glenn Maxwell created a caught-behind chance when Kohli was on 98, which would have denied the superstar a ninth ODI hundred in chases of excess of 300.

Australian cricketer Pat Cummins (C) celebrates with teammates after taking the wicket of Indian cricketer Ambati Rayudu. Picture: Dibyangshu Sarkar/AFP

Kohli, out when he skipped down the pitch and was clean bowled attempting to clip the ball to the leg side, could hardly believe the series of events. India’s victory equation was 95 off 75 balls when Kohli departed. Vijay Shankar and Ravindra Jadeja put together a 32-run stand but the tourists kept their cool, with the former going down swinging at Nathan Lyon before the required run-rate got out of hand.

Indian cricketer Mahendra Singh Dhoni is clean bowled by Adam Zampa. Picture: Dibyangshu Sarkar/AFP

“I was very disappointed when I got out. I really thought we had a chance with the difference being 20 between balls and runs,” said Kohli.

“Australia played better on the day. Adam bowled well and they won the game. We will have a few changes in the next couple of games.

“A little hiccup in the middle but we will regroup and come back stronger.”

The series continues in Chandigarh on Sunday before wrapping up in Delhi on Wednesday.

SCORECARD

Australia

A. Finch lbw b Yadav 93

U. Khawaja c Bumrah b Shami 104

G. Maxwell run out (Jadeja/Dhoni) 47

S. Marsh c Shankar b Yadav 7

M. Stoinis not out 31

P. Handscomb lbw b Yadav 0

A. Carey not out 21

Extras (w6, lb4) 10 Total (5 wickets, 50 overs) 313

Fall of wickets: 1-193 (Finch), 2-239 (Khawaja), 3-258 (Maxwell), 4-263 (Marsh), 5-263 (Handscomb)

Did not bat: J. Richardson, P. Cummins, N. Lyon, A. Zampa

Bowling: Shami 10-0-52-1 (w1), Bumrah 10-0-53-0 (w1), Jadeja 10-0-64-0, Yadav 10-0-64-3, Shankar 8-0-44-0, Jadhav 2-0-32-0 (w2)

India (target 314)

S. Dhawan c Maxwell b Richardson 1

R. Sharma lbw b Cummins 14

V. Kohli b Zampa 123

A. Rayudu b Cummins 2

M.S. Dhoni b Zampa 26

K. Jadhav lbw b Zampa 26

V. Shankar c Richardson b Lyon 32

R. Jadeja c Maxwell b Richardson 24

K. Yadav c Finch b Cummins 10

M. Shami c Cummins b Richardson 8

J. Bumrah not out 0

Extras (b1, lb10, w4) 15

Total (all out, 48.2 overs) 281

Fall of wickets: 1-11 (Dhawan), 2-15 (Sharma), 3-27 (Rayudu), 4-86 (Dhoni), 5-174 (Jadhav), 6-219 (Kohli), 7-251 (Shankar), 8-273 (Jadeja), 9-281 (Shami), 10-281 (Yadav)

Bowling: Cummins 8.2-1-37-3, Richardson 9-2-37-3, Stoinis 6-0-39-0, Lyon 10-0-57-1 (w2), Zampa 10-0-70-3 (w2), Maxwell 5-0-30-0

Toss: India

Result: Australia won by 32 runs

Series: India lead the five-match series 2-1

Umpires: Chettithody Shamshuddin (IND), Joel Wilson (WIS) TV Umpire: Kumar Dharmasena (SRI) Match referee: Ranjan Madugalle (SRI)

Originally published as Usman Khawaja and Aaron Finch help Aussies to first away ODI win since 2017