Jaipur: It looked India would once again crumble under the pressure of chasing the mammoth total of 359 runs. However, the young guns of Indian cricket not only ensured that the hosts would go on to win the match, they did the unthinkable and won it in comprehensively by nine wickets and 39 balls to spare at the Sawai Mansingh Stadium here on Wednesday.
Chasing the winning target of 360 runs, Shikhar Dhawan and Rohit Sharma gave India a rollicking start as the opening duo went on to add 174 runs before Dhawan was caught by Brad Haddin off James Faulkner for 95. Thereafter, Virat Kohli joined Sharma and the youngsters made a mince meat of the Australian attack, with both the batsmen reaching their centuries and in the process steered India to a win, which was the second highest chase in ODI cricket till date.
Earlier, Australians sent the Indian bowlers on leather hunt and went onto set a daunting target of 359 runs for five wickets. Five of the Australians (Aaron Finch 50, Phil Hughes 83, Shane Watson 59, George Bailey 92 and Glenn Maxwell 53) went on to score half centuries.
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India 362 for 1 (Rohit 141*, Kohli 100*, Dhawan 95) beat
Australia 359 for 5 (Bailey 92*, Hughes 83) by nine wickets
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Virat Kohli (100 not out) took the Australian attack to the task with a fastest ever ODI century by an Indian and seventh fastest in the world, scoring it in only 52 balls. It was Kohli's 16th ODI century, including eight fours and seven sixes, in 115 matches.
Meanwhile, Rohit Sharma (141 not out from 123 balls) scored his third ODI century while Shikhar Dhawan (95) continued with his form but was unlucky to miss out on a ton.
However, India's bowling was once again found wanting as the pace tri of Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Ishant Sharma and R Vinay Kumar leaked 197 runs in 28 overs, while Ravindra Jadeja, R Ashwin and Yuvraj Singh gave away 157 in 22 overs.
Indian bowlers conceded 122 runs in the last 10 overs of the innings as Bailey and Maxwell sent the Indian attack on a leather-hunt putting on a staggering 96 runs in only 8.3 overs for the fourth wicket.
India's victory, meanwhile, was built on two partnerships, including the opening stand of 174 between Dhawan and Rohit followed by another 186 runs scored in only 17.2 overs between Rohit and Kohli. The duo put on 100 runs in only 62 balls.