India captain Virat Kohli (right) walks away disappointed after yesterday's four-wicket loss to Australia in Mohali. Pic/AFP

Australia's splendid win, which came four days before the 23rd anniversary of their amazing victory over West Indies in the 1996 World Cup semi-final at the same venue, caused Shikhar Dhawan's superlative hundred to go in vain. Twenty-two runs in his last three previous games could have even the most enduring of performers on the edge before a World Cup selection. However, by the end of the India innings, he was a mighty relieved man with a big hundred under his belt - 143 (off 115 balls, 18x4, 3x6).

Poll

Who will win the Punjab Elections?

BJP 32.86%

AAP 41.43%

INC 25.71%

Submit

View All In Poll

Along with Rohit Sharma, he gave India a splendid start in an association which yielded 193 runs before Rohit had to depart five short of a hundred. Dhawan walked back to the dressing room 61 runs later, bowled by Pat Cummins, who went on to claim 5 for 70. Dhawan hit a four off the first ball he faced from Cummins. There was a caught behind appeal by Jason Behrendorff in the second over but he recovered and hit two boundaries off Cummins in the fifth.

Free-flowing Dhawan
There was no stopping Dhawan as he middled the ball well and pierced the gaps. He took a calculative risk and attacked the new ball bowlers and his 44-ball 50 included nine fours and a six.

He cleared the field like a man in form. Ask Glenn Maxwell, who he hit for a 77m six over deep midwicket. Dhawan was free-flowing but his health didn't appear to be perfect. The team's physiotherapist attended to him twice. Dhawan completed his 16th ODI hundred with a leg side four off leggie Adam Zampa on the last ball of the 32nd over. Dhawan's 115-ball knock came to an end when he failed to negotiate Cummins's straighter one and was bowled.

Catch up on all the latest sports news and updates here. Also download the new mid-day Android and iOS apps to get latest updates