India vs Australia 5th ODI preview
In the fear of another wash out game, India is playing the 5th ODI game against Australia in Barabati Stadium, Cuttack on Saturday. India has to win the remaining 3 matches to clinch the seven-match bilateral cricket series.
Australia is ahead in the series with 2-1 lead. After being thrashed by 4-0 in the test series earlier this year, Australia have comeback strongly and their batsman proved that they can comeback in the game irrespective of big totals scored by the opposition.
After India's unbelievable victory chasing down 360 runs by nine wickets, the home side is not able to defending 300 odd runs in the game. In the last game while defending 304 runs was severely let down by the young pacer Ishanth Sharma in the 48th Over at Mohali.
Mohammed Shammi who replaced Ishanth Sharma was outstanding with his career best figure of 3/42 at Ranchi. It was the first time that Aussies top order was completely troubled by a bowler in the series. Shammi's fine in-swing castled Shane Watson and Aron Finch. The performance of Shammi would certainly reserve a space in the squad for the series but other bowler's performance is what something to ponder about.
Left arm Seamer Jaydev Unadkat, replacement for Bhuvanesh Kumar, hardly troubled Australian batsman with his slow pace. But economical Bhuvaneshkumar should fit in the Indian squad for his early pace attack.
Vinay Kumar has been costly but the medium pacer, who denied George Bailey and Glenn Maxwell centuries in two crucial wickets in Ranchi, would definitely have something in his favour.
Three Indian batsmen have posted centuries including the Rohit Sharma, while Virat Kohli is in tremendous form with two half-centuries and a hundred to be the leading run getter with 229 runs at an average of 109.04.
India vs Australia 5th ODI prediction
Prediction: India will be the winners against Australia in the 5th ODI on 25th October 2013
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