Mahendra Singh Dhoni struck an unbeaten 87 to guide India to a historic ODI bilateral series win against Australia as the visitors beat the hosts by seven wickets in the decisive third match in Melbourne on Friday. Dhoni and Kedar Jadhav (61) shared an unbeaten 121-run stand for the fourth wicket as India overhauled the tricky 231-run target on a slow wicket with four balls to spare.

MS Dhoni hit his third half century in as many matches. India lost Rohit Sharma early. However, Shikhar Dhawan and Virat Kohli moved the score ahea. It was left to Dhoni with Jadhav this time to take India home again. 

Earlier, Indian leg spinner Yuzvendra Chahal grabbed his first opportunity in the series with both hands, taking a career-best 6 for 42 to decimate Australia for a paltry 230.

What a run-chase. The Dhoni-Jadhav duo take #TeamIndia to a thumping 7-wicket victory. India take the series 2-1 #AUSvIND pic.twitter.com/vb4fZ0xwR9

— BCCI (@BCCI) January 18, 2019

Super Game of well done boys @BCCI more than the series result I think big big plus for India it’s good to see @msdhoni s form going forward which is going to be very crucial.. sabash @JadhavKedar mza aa gya 2-1 great way to finish the tour

— Harbhajan Turbanator (@harbhajan_singh) January 18, 2019

Wonderful calm, composed innings from Dhoni and Kedar Jadhav playing a very important hand. So India do the double, win the test and the one-day series as well. This has been a very fruitful Australia tour for Team India .

— VVS Laxman (@VVSLaxman281) January 18, 2019

India required 231 in 300 balls -> S.R. of 76.67. Dhoni 87* of 114 -> S.R. of 76.31. Aha! What calculation.

— Ramesh Srivats (@rameshsrivats) January 18, 2019

Me to dhoni haters* pic.twitter.com/Ea2Ub6151G

— Nandu (@sabki_bandhu) January 18, 2019

Keep calm n just watch me #indvsaus #dhoni pic.twitter.com/PbxgjozNYk

— Rahul Chopade (@RahulCh50784598) January 18, 2019

The Men in Blue had never won a bilateral ODI contest on Australian soil before. They had won the 1985 World Championship of Cricket and 2008 CB Series. In fact, this is only the second bilateral ODI series India have played in Australia, losing 4-1 in 2016 when they toured here last.

India finish the current 2018-19 tour without having lost a series here. They have previously drawn the T20I series 1-1, and then went on to record a historic first-ever Test series win here by a 2-1 margin.