Australia have nabbed top spot on the ODI rankings after spinners Adam Zampa and Ashton Agar came to the rescue in a series-deciding, 21-run victory over India in Chennai.
Veteran David Warner was surprisingly relegated down the order as Australia posted 269 off 49 overs in Wednesday’s third and final clash.
Makeshift opener Mitch Marsh again top scored with 47 off as many balls, while Warner made 23 off 31 balls batting at four.
In reply, India were in cruise control at 146-2 before Zampa (4-45) and Agar (2-41) turned the match Australia’s way.
Agar snared Virat Kohli (54 off 72 balls) and Suryakumar Yadav (0) in consecutive balls in the 36th over to help transform the game.
Zampa was a force the whole way through as India lost 6-79 in a devastating period, with the home side eventually bowled out for 248 in 49.1 overs.
The result gave Australia a 2-1 series victory and propelled them above India into top spot on the ODI rankings.
Zampa was the star of the show, claiming the scalps of Shubman Gill (37), KL Rahul (32), Hardik Pandya (40) and Ravindra Jadeja (18).
Kohli threatened to guide India safely to the win, but he holed out to Agar’s bowling in what proved to be a critical moment of the match.
Agar clean bowled Yadav next delivery.
It was the third match in a row Yadav had been dismissed for a golden duck.
Earlier in the game, Marsh continued his hot form as Australia reached 68-0, but a collapse of 5-70 put the visitors on edge.
Alex Carey (38), Marcus Stoinis (25) and Sean Abbott (26) led the recovery effort to at least help Australia reach a respectable total.
There was a big shock in the batting order when the returning Warner, who had finally recovered from a hairline fracture in his elbow and a corked quad, was named to bat at two wickets down.
It marked just the second time in Warner’s decorated 142-game ODI career that he didn’t open, the other being against Scotland at the 2015 World Cup when he scored 21no off six balls while batting at No 5.
His relegation down the batting order – and another promising display from Marsh – has added huge intrigue as to who will open at this year’s World Cup in India.
Marsh’s latest knock lifted his tally to 194 runs at an average of 97 across this three-match series – all as an opener.
Travis Head was retained as Marsh’s opening partner for game three and made 33 off 31 balls, following on from his 51no off 30 balls in Sunday’s 10-wicket thrashing of India.
Paceman Hardik Pandya (3-44 off eight overs) and spinner Kuldeep Yadav (3-56 off 10) were the chief destroyers for India.
Allrounder Ravindra Jadeja (0-34 off 10 overs) was by far the most economical bowler.