7/330
5th ODIIndia
4/331
With India needing 13 off the last over to avoid a series whitewash and end Australia’s record ODI winning streak on home soil, captain Steve Smith threw Marsh the ball in front of 33,710 screaming fans.
Marsh was wrongly called for a wide off his first ball, before MS Dhoni blasted a six and match-winning rookie Manish Pandey (104 not out) a four and then the winning runs to pilot India to a six-wicket victory with two balls remaining.
Australia was left to rue a costly dropped catch by Nathan Lyon, who spilt a sitter off Scott Boland to gift Dhoni (34 off 42) a match-turning chance on 7 when India still needed 74 off 54 to win.
the hallmarks of a confidence-boosting turning point in a career that promises plenty.
Unfortunately it took the best part of the final two overs of the first innings for Marsh to lift from 98 to triple figures, and ultimately Australia’s total of 7-330 was not enough, as India made the most of some embarrassing dropped catches to orchestrate a dominant victory.
India’s chase was the second biggest ever recorded on Australian soil and ensured this finishes the highest-scoring five-match series in ODI history – with the 3159 eclipsing the previous record of 3151 set by New Zealand and England last year.
Australia came out on the right side of the run feast to claim the series 4-1, but Saturday night’s loss ended their 18-match winning streak at home – and the sloppy performance in the field showed the world’s best team aren’t perfect, particularly a month and a half out from the World Twenty20.
As well as Lyon’s sitter, Shaun Marsh also grassed an absolute gimme off his brother in the outfield. However, his blunder was negated by the fact Rohit Sharma was out a short time later for 99. Taking one of the best outfield catches of all time earlier in the night also gave him extra grace.
Backpedalling towards the Member’s Stand, Marsh did his best John Dyson impression to grab an AFL-style hanger over his head and dismiss explosive opener Shikhar Dhawan for 78.
Nicknamed The Bison, Mitchell Marsh joined forces with The Bull David Warner to pile on a century partnership as hard-earned as any seen this entire cricketing summer.
There have been a truckload of tons scored across all the Tests and one-dayers, but almost without exception, they’ve been on surfaces that are batting paradises.
But for once – despite the huge scores – the runs in the first innings at least weren’t being handed out for free on a Sydney pitch that finally had something in it for the long-suffering bowlers.
The fact that Australia hammered 330 after at one stage reeling at 4-117 in the 22nd over was a testament to the class that Warner and Marsh showed at the crease.
Warner proved he is no flat track bully with a blazing 122 off 113 balls that was both tough and inspirational.
Marsh’s unbeaten innings off just 84 balls and featuring nine fours and two sixes was just as important – both for him personally and for the team.
The all-rounder has spent the majority of summer starved of time in the middle and many have questioned whether he is the right man to bat at No.6 in Test matches for Australia.
But on Saturday, on a wicket where there was variable pace and carry in the wicket for the Indian bowlers, Australia needed Marsh to stand up and he answered the call.
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