Australia batsman Steve Smith has said that the loss of three quick wickets in the middle overs, including his own, was the reason for his team’s 36-run loss to India in the second ODI. India posted a fighting 340 on a flat track with opener Shikhar Dhawan top-scoring with 90-ball 96 were Australia were bundled out for 304 and the series was levelled at the three-match series 1-1.

“The area where we lost it was losing the three wickets in between 30 and 40 overs and not having someone there that could start to launch,” Steve Smith said after the game on Friday. “If we had someone that had been out there for a while, perhaps things may have been different but that was probably where we lost it.”

“I thought Marnus played really well in his first outing, first bat in ODI cricket. We were going at a reasonable rate at around six an over for a while. We playing good cricket shots. I thought we timed the run (rate) reasonably well but just losing those three wickets in that 30 to 40 overs but (was) a big dent in the run chase,” said Smith.

According to Smith, the reason of India’s victory was their partnerships in the middle. However, he said that it would be great if he could take his side to the finish line.

“I think it’s just our normal one-day game plan, with the ball it’s trying to take wickets and stem the run rate that way, obviously they had some pretty good partnerships, Virat (Kohli), Shikhar (Dhawan) and KL Rahul played really well at the back end. They were able to form some partnerships through the middle,” he said.

“It was nice to score a few runs, I would’ve liked to have batted a bit longer and been there in the happy hour but unfortunately, tried to cut one that stopped in the wicket a little bit and dragged it on. It was a pretty bad time. We had lost Kez (Alex Carey) in the same over.”

Indian pacers used short-balls against Smith and he said he had to think about how to play those in the final.

“I got a few away but I probably didn’t feel great the first 20 balls I was at the crease, and then I started to find a bit of rhythm and feel a bit better. Hopefully, some-time in the middle helped and I can make some more runs in Bengaluru.”

India opener Rohit Sharma hurt his shoulder while fielding and there is no news on whether he will play the final.

Smith said, “He’s a world-class player and if he’s no good we wish him all the best, hope he’s all right but if not, that does leave a hole for them, because he’s phenomenal at the top of the order. His record speaks for itself.”

“It’s a nice batting wicket. It feels like the ball goes further in the air, it sort of travels, you see lots of sixes generally there. It’s quite a fast outfield and it’s usually a nice-paced wicket. I can see perhaps another high-scoring game,” Steve Smith concluded.