Brilliant Sharma helps India clinch series against Australia

BANGALORE: Australia had a shattering 57-run defeat after an incredible double century for Rohit Sharma helped India set an enormous target of 384 in the series-deciding ODI clash ending today.

India's total was built around Rohit Sharma's astonishing 209, the second-highest individual ODI score of all time, as the home side secured a 3-2 series win.

Australian skipper George Bailey won the toss and chose to field first, with the chasing team having won all but one fixture this one-day international series.

Less than three weeks out from the opening Test at the Gabba, Watson sustained the injury bowling as India racked up an enormous 6-383 in Bangalore overnight.

Australia's gallant run chase was sparked by the most unlikely of centuries to James Faulkner and a 115-run 10th wicket partnership with Clint McKay (18).

The Australians were never realistically in the chase, despite explosive cameos from Glenn Maxwell (60 off 22) and Watson (49 off 22), until Faulkner reprised his Mohali heroics.

In that match he thumped 30 off one Ishant Sharma over in a match-winning 64 off 29.

This time, he clubbed six sixes and 11 fours in a blistering 73-ball 116 but couldn't quite get his side across the line.

He reached three figures from just 57 balls, making it the fastest ODI century by an Australian - bettering Matt Hayden's 66-ball effort against South Africa in 2007.

But of great concern is the injury status Watson who pulled up in his delivery stride to begin his sixth over.

He gingerly walked back to his mark and attempted a stretch before succumbing to the injury.

He returned for a brutal batting cameo as Australia were bowled out for 326, but his availability for the Gabba Test is surely in doubt.

Selectors may be heartened that he was able to bat at all, but he was in obvious pain throughout his 22-ball innings.

Sharma's incredible 158-ball innings included 16 sixes and a dozen fours, and he was the beneficiary of a very costly drop by replacement fielder Moises Henriques when on 120.

He put on 112 for the opening wicket with Shikhar Dhawan (60) and a further 167 with MS Dhoni (62 off 38).

Dhoni, who hit one six out of the stadium, was also dropped - by Maxwell when on 29.

The pair helped India pile on a staggering 151 runs in the final 10 overs as their total went from being simply imposing to being match-winning.

Xavier Doherty was the pick of the Australian bowlers, taking 2-74 while quicks Clint McKay (1-89) and Nathan Coulter-Nile (0-80) bore the bulk of the punishment.

On the other side, recalled paceman Vinay Kumar became just the fifth bowler, and the first Indian, to concede 100 runs in an ODI - finishing with 1-102 from nine overs.