Usman Khawaja scored his second hundred of the ongoing ODI series vs Australia (AP Photo) Usman Khawaja hadn't scored a single hundred in his one-day international career before landing in India for the ongoing ODI series. However, the Australia opener will leave the South Asian country with two tons and a World Cup ticket in his kitty.
Khawaja also joined an elite list of players who have scored three or more 90-plus scores on the trot in ODIs in India when he scored his second ODI hundred in the fifth and final match of the five-match series in Delhi on Wednesday. Only AB de Villiers and Virat Kohli have scored four successive ninety-plus scores in the 50-over format in India.
India vs Australia, 5th ODI: Live cricket score
Khawaja's century at the Feroz Shah Kotla comes at a crucial stage for Australia as they are bidding to win their first ODI series since January 2017 in the ongoing deciding match.
@Uz_Khawaja 100 number 2, many more to come. Don't think we've seen the best of him yet. World Cup squad becoming tough to pick due to performance rather than hope now. #INDvAUS
Brad Hogg (@Brad_Hogg) March 13, 2019 Khawaja began the ongoing series on a good note when he scored a half-century in the first ODI which Australia lost in Hyderabad. He then stepped up once again in a must-win situation in the third ODI in Ranchi, striking his maiden one-day hundred -- a 113-ball 104. Australia went on to win the game by 32 runs after posting 313 on the board.
In the fourth ODI in Mohali on Sunday, Khawaja once again stepped up and scored a well-paced 91. Australia completed their highest-ever successful chase of 359 to keep the series alive until the decider.
Khawaja got out just after reaching the three-figure mark but he had done the job by giving Australia a good platform to post a challenging total on what seems to be a sluggish Kotla wicket.
Khawaja's 383 second-most tally for Australia in 5-match ODI series
Notably, Khawaja finished with 383 runs, including two centuries and as many half-centuries, in the five-match series. The run-tally takes him to the second spot on the list of Australian batsmen with most runs in a five-match ODI series. David Warner, who is serving a ball-tampering ban, is on top of the list with 386 runs scored against South Africa in 2016.
The tally is alo the second most runs for Australia in an ODI series against India. George Bailey holds the record with 478 runs he scored in 2013.
Meanwhile, India have managed to seize control of the Delhi decider after the dismissal of Khawaja. Australia have lost their last three wickets, including that of a well-set Peter Handscomb (52), for just seven runs.
Earlier in the day, captain Aaron Finch and Khawaja added 76 for the opening stand after Australia won the toss and opted to bat.
Also Read | IPL 2019: Fit-again Hardik Pandya joins Mumbai Indians in pre-tournament camp Also Read | R Ashwin asks Cheteshwar Pujara to play an 'important game' in TNCA League
Get real-time alerts and all the news on your phone with the all-new India Today app. Download from Post your comment
