Star Metro - Australia end losing streak with consolation win over India

Mitchell Marsh led the batting onslaught with his 96 as Australia posted 352-7, a total their bowlers defended by bowling out India for 286 in Rajkot.

The hosts took the three-match series 2-1 but Australia finish on a high ahead of the World Cup starting October 5 in India.

Maxwell, who returned to the team alongside Mitchell Starc after the two players recovered from injuries, scored just five with the bat but made an impact with his impressive off-spin.

"I feel like I've come into this World Cup nice and fresh and I'm excited to hit the ground running," Maxwell said after being named man of the match. "Nice to get a nice result tonight."

The all-rounder added: "It's nice to chip in, if Mitch Marsh was there on the field, we would have chopped and changed (on the bowling). Since he was not there, had to bowl more. That will be the role of the allrounders in this World Cup."

Maxwell got the first three wickets including skipper Rohit Sharma, for 81, and star batsman Virat Kohli, for 56, after a brisk start by India.

Rohit raised his fifty in 31 balls and seemed to have the chase in control but Maxwell got the captain with a stunning caught and bowled in his second over.

He then sent back Kohli soon after the former captain's 66th ODI fifty and, despite a fighting 48 by Shreyas Iyer, the Indian batting folded in 49.4 overs.

Pace bowler Josh Hazlewood took two wickets as Australia ended the losing streak which started in South Africa earlier this month.

- Top-order fires -

Batsmen set up victory after Marsh tore into the Indian bowlers in attacking partnerships that included a second-wicket stand of 137 with Steve Smith, who hit 74.

The top four batsmen stood out with Marsh, David Warner (56), Smith and Marnus Labuschagne (72) all contributing to a mammoth total that looked like going beyond 400 before India hit back.

Indian pace spearhead Jasprit Bumrah took three wickets while left-arm wrist spinner Kuldeep Yadav took two.

India had only 13 players to pick for their XI with some rested and a virus in the camp that made Ishan Kishan miss out.

Rohit said the players are fresh and raring to go.

"When we talk about the 15 we are very clear what we want," said Rohit.

"We are not confused, we know where we are headed as a team. It's a team sport and you need everyone to play their part and that's how we win championships."

Marsh took on Bumrah with three boundaries and a six in the paceman's first two overs and the left-handed Warner soon joined in the charge.

Warner hammered Prasidh Krishna for three fours and a six in the seventh over and raced to his fifty in 32 balls in the next with another hit over the fence.

Marsh reached his half-ton in 45 balls but was denied a century when he casually slapped Kuldeep straight to cover. His 84-ball knock included 13 fours and three sixes.

Smith, Alex Carey and Maxwell fell at regular intervals, slowing the tourists down before Labuschagne took control until he was undone by Bumrah's slower ball in the penultimate over.

The two teams now head into the World Cup warm-ups before they meet in the 50-over showpiece tournament on October 8 in Chennai.

D.Cameron--SMC