BANGALORE — India beat Australia by 57 runs in the seventh One-Day International (ODI) at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium here to clinch the seven match series 3-2, with two games washed out due to rain. Rohit Sharma's scintillating 209 off 158 balls powered India to a mammoth 383-6. In reply, Australia stuttered, but then recovered, thanks to some great hitting by Glenn Maxwell and James Faulkner. However, that wasn't enough as it finished on 326 in 45.1 overs. Rohit walked away with the Man-of-the-Match and Series awards. On this thrilling day, Rohit smashed 16 sixes, which is a world record. Later, Glenn Maxwell came in and raced to fifty in only 18 balls, equaling Simon O'Donnell's record for the fastest half-century by an Australian in ODIs. Later, Faulkner notched the fastest ton by an Australian in ODIs by getting there in 57 balls. The match saw a record of 38 sixes in the game, most for any ODI. Going by the trends in the series, George Bailey won the toss and elected to bowl first. Australia brought in Nathan Coulter-Nile in place of Mitchell Johnson, who headed home to prepare for the Ashes. India on the other hand recalled R Vinay Kumar and dropped Amit Mishra. India got off to a good start courtesy Shikhar Dhawan, but Rohit was more sedate early on. Dhawan raced to his fifty and punished the bowlers if they got it wrong. However, he was leg-before for 60 by Xavier Doherty, who picked up his first wicket of the series. Disaster struck for India as Virat Kohli was run-out for naught after a mix-up with Rohit. India's scoring rate picked up when Rohit smashed a few sixes in the middle off the spinners Glenn Maxwell and Doherty. However, the fall of a few wickets slowed India down and then skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni joined Rohit in the center. Rohit kept smashing sixes and completed only the third double ton in ODI history. He joined the likes of Sachin Tendulkar and Virender Sehwag in the league of batsmen to have scored doubles in ODIs. Australia was rocked early when Shami Ahmed dismissed Aaron Finch in the second over. Brad Haddin came in at No. 3 as Shane Watson had left the field during the Indian innings. The Indian bowlers kept pegging them back and George Bailey's comical run-out had them in deep trouble. However, Glenn Maxwell walked in at 74 for four and smashed the ball all over. He was dismissed for 60 off 22 balls. Watson smashed six sixes. However, he was out for 49. James Faulkner also enjoyed the good batting surface and finished his ton off 57 balls, breaking Matthew Hayden's record of scoring it in 66 deliveries. Brief scores: India 383-6 (R. Sharma 209, MS Dhoni 62; X. Doherty 2-74). Australia 326 in 45.1 overs (G. Maxwell 60, J. Faulkner 116; Shami Ahmed 3-52, R. Jadeja 3-73. — Agencies
