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Match Report:

Scorecard

India avoid sweep in SCG thriller

Manish Pandey's maiden ODI century seals a classic in another run fest in Sydney

The match in a tweet: India win a thriller! Tourists avoid whitewash thanks to Pandey's maiden century, while Warner and Marsh also ton up in another run fest

The final over: Games don't get any closer than this! India needed 13 runs to win from the final over of the match, a target that was reduced to 12 when a tight wide call went against Mitchell Marsh from the very first ball. MS Dhoni then launched a massive six over long off to reduce the target to 6, but he perished next ball when he tried to repeat the dose. Manish Pandey then squirted a full delivery down to the third man boundary to bring up his maiden international hundred and reduce the target to 2 runs off 3 balls. With the field up, Pandey swung hard and got the ball over the in-field to secure a tense victory with two balls to spare. 

WATCH: Re-live the thrilling last over of the SCG ODI

The hero: Rookie Indian batsman Manish Pandey only got a chance tonight due to an injury to Ajinkya Rahane and the right-hander stated his case for a more permanent spot in the side with his maiden international century. Pandey burst onto the scene back in 2009 when he scored a century in the Indian Premier League, but it took him until just last year to play his first match for his country. Playing in just his fourth ODI, Pandey was superb in continuing the momentum of India's openers and then steering them home in a dramatic final over. Pandey finished unbeaten on 104 from 81 balls, including right fours and a six. 

WATCH: Perfect Pandey wins SCG thriller

The support cast: Pandey finished the job, but it was India's openers who once again laid the platform for a monster run chase. Just as he did in Canberra, Shikhar Dhawan took on the role of aggressor and belted three sixes and seven fours in slamming 78 from 56 balls, dominating a 123-run opening stand that was scored in just 18.2 overs. Rohit hardly took a back seat, either, hitting nine fours and a six to fall just one run short of his 11th ODI century. It was the eighth time the duo have posted a century stand in ODI cricket and the first in Australia. 

WATCH: Dhawan ends series with flashy fifty

The consolation effort: Mitchell Marsh's position in Australia's XI has been under scrutiny for most of the summer but he silenced his critics here with his maiden international century. Having come to the wicket with the home side in a tight spot at 4-117, Marsh unleashed a series of powerful blows all around the wicket, striking nine fours and two sixes to finish unbeaten on 102 from 84 balls. The joy on the 24-year-old's face when he brought up three figures for the first time in 44 international matches was one of the highlights of the summer.  

WATCH: Marsh hammers maiden ODI hundred

The consolation effort II: The excitement of Marsh's breakthrough performance somewhat overshadowed David Warner's fifth ODI century and his second at the SCG, which he celebrated by making a rocking gesture with his bat in reference to his new-born baby girl Indi Rae. Warner attacked almost from the outset of today's match, despite wickets falling around him, and his 118-run partnership with the younger Marsh was crucial in Australia posting a total of more than 300 for the fourth time in the series. He was eventually dismissed for 122 from 113 balls, his innings featuring nine boundaries and three sixes. John Hastings also turned in another brilliant performance, grabbing 3-61 from 10 overs, to continue his excellent series.  

WATCH: Warner blasts ODI ton No.5

The moment: So close! Indian opener Rohit Sharma fell just a single run short of becoming the first man in history to score three centuries on a five-match ODI series on Australian soil. Having posted tons in Perth and Brisbane earlier in the series, Rohit expertly steered India's run chase and appeared to be on track for century No.3 when he got a thin edge behind off the bowling of John Hastings. The opener looked disappointed with the decision, but replays vindicated umpire Paul Wilson and Rohit was on his way. It was nevertheless a tremendous series from the right-hander, whose tally of 441 runs is the fifth most in a five-match ODI series. 

WATCH: Rohit feathers one to fall on 99

The catch: Two words immediately sprung to mind when Shaun Marsh took a spectacular catch on the western boundary at the SCG - John Dyson. Marsh brought back memories of Dyson's famous diving grab against the West Indies at this very ground in 1982 when he launched himself backwards and pocketed the ball with both arms raised above his head. Dyson's grab may have happened on the other side of the ground, but the similarities are there for all to see. 

WATCH: Shaun Marsh hanger ends Shikhar's innings

The drop(s): Captain Steve Smith spoke on Friday of the high standards the Australians hold in the field, so he would not be best pleased with some more dropped catches in this match after several went down in Canberra on Wednesday. Shaun Marsh and Nathan Lyon were the culprits on this occasion, both spilling ones they would expect to take in the outfield. And unlike the game at Manuka Oval, these errors proved costly in a tense loss.

The leave: Replays showed the umpire may have got it wrong, but credit to Ishant Sharma for this violent in-swinger that did Aaron Finch in just the first over of the day. The Aussie opener shouldered arms at a ball that started wide of off stump only to watch it duck back in to him and cannon into his pads. 

WATCH: Finch falls to costly leave

The deflection I: A bullet throw from Umesh Yadav found a Marsh brother short of his ground for the second time in this series, but there was more than an element of luck in this dismissal. Mitchell was the victim at the MCG while Shaun was the one to go here, and the elder brother would have considered himself a little unlucky when he watched the replay. 

WATCH: Shaun Marsh's unlucky run out

The deflection II: This is a new one. Virat Kohli's deft cut shot over the slip cordon from the first ball he faced clipped SpiderCam on its way to the boundary, leading to the ball being declared dead. Unlucky for Virat and a very handy break for the Australians. 

WATCH: SpiderCam saves Australia four runs

The stat: Mitchell Marsh became just the fifth Australian to score an ODI century batting at No.6 in the order and the first since his brother Shaun achieved the feat against England five years The other players to do so are Michael Bevan (in 2002), Andrew Symonds (2003) and Mike Hussey (2006).

What it all means: Tonight's win was India's first in 12 matches against Australia across all formats, a streak that extends back to March 2014. Having also avoided a series whitewash, the tourists will be buoyed as the two teams head to Adelaide for the first of three KFC T20 INTL matches on Tuesday.