Rookie batsmen Cooper Connolly, Matt Short and Mitch Owen produced career-best ODI knocks to steer Australia to a thrilling two-wicket win against India.
Australia claimed a series victory after victory at Adelaide Oval on Thursday gave them a 2-0 lead in the three-match series.
India scored 9-264, with Rohit Sharma (73 off 97 balls) top-scoring and Australian Adam Zampa (4-60 off 10 overs) and Xavier Bartlett (3-39 off 10) the leading wicket-takers.
In reply, Australia reached the finish line with just two wickets remaining from 46.2 overs, with Short making 74 from 78 balls, Connolly an unbeaten 61 from 53 in his fourth ODI innings, and Owen 36 from 23 in his first knock in an ODI.
The inexperienced duo of Connolly and Owen played in a match-defining 59-run partnership that led Australia out of danger.
Connolly, who had made just ten ODI runs before his appearance in Adelaide, compiled 5-187 in the 36th over, hitting five fours and one six, while Owen hit three sixes and two fours.
Connolly reached his half-century off 42 balls after Australia lost openers Mitch Marsh (11 off 24 balls) and Travis Head (28 off 40) inside 13 overs.
Short, batting after suffering a painful fracture to a finger of his right hand while fielding, and Matt Renshaw remained steady afterwards with a 54-run partnership.
But just as the duo seemed about to cash in, Renshaw (30 off 30 balls) was bowled, leaving Australia 3-109 in the 22nd over.
Alex Carey fell for nine and was soon followed by Short, who also recorded his highest ODI score, 74 off 78 balls.
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Short’s departure brought Connolly and Owen together, with the latter being dismissed when the home side needed just 17 points to win.
Earlier, Indian legend Virat Kohli made consecutive ducks for the first time in his esteemed ODI career.
Kohli, who made his ODI debut in 2008, had never before been dismissed without scoring in consecutive one-dayers.
But the former Indian captain followed his duck in the series opener in Perth on Sunday with another in Adelaide.
In his 304th ODI, Kohli was trapped in the crease and hit the pads in Bartlett’s second over of the match.
Australia called Bartlett into the team for his fifth ODI, with almost immediate reward.
The Queenslander removed Indian captain Shubman Gill (nine) with the first ball of his second over and claimed the prized wicket of Kohli four balls later.
The Indians were 2-17 after seven overs before ex-skipper Sharma (seven fours, two sixes) and Shreyas Iyer (61 off 77 balls, seven fours) rallied with a 118-run partnership.
The series concludes in Sydney on Saturday, after which the countries will meet in five T20 matches from next Wednesday.
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