Picture : BCCI / Twitter
Australia produced breath-taking batting display to stun India in the fourth ODI at Mohali. The Aussies romped home with 4 wickets to spare and thus level the five match series 2-2.
On a flat pitch , India skipper Virat Kohli won the toss and elected to bat first. And openers Shikhar Dhawan and Rohit Sharma set the stage for an imposing total with a fine 193 run opening stand. Battling for form in last few matches , Dhawan finally found some form and cracked a superb 143 off 115 balls . It was Dhawan’s 16th ODI ton.
Rohit Sharma missed his 23rd ton out for 95. A rare failure for Skipper Virat Kohli out for 7. K L Rahul ( 26) Rishabh Pant ( 36) , Vijay Shankar ( 26) propelled India to a target of 350 plus. India posted 358 for 9 in their 50 overs.
For the Oz , Pat Cummins (5/70 in 10 overs) and Jhye Richardson (3/85 in 9 overs were the wicket – takers. Rest struggled Adam Zampa (1/57) in 10 overs, Glenn Maxwell (0/ 61) in 8 overs. Skipper Aaron Finch (/22 in 3 overs)
It looked a daunting task . But given the flat pitch and the due later on the evening , the target was possible if the batsmen found their groove. And Australia did that after initial hiccups.
Skipper Aaron Finch fell for ( O) to Bhuvneshwar and Shaun Marsh ( 6) fell to Bumrah . Australia were reeling at 12 / 2. But a splendid fight- back by Usman Khawaja ( 91) and Peter Handscomb ( 117 ) his maiden ODI hundred put Australia on track. The duo were brilliant as they put on a fine 192 run stand to rattle India. Glenn Maxwell scored a quick 23. But the man who turned the match towards the end with his blistering batting was Ashton Turner . Turner stroked a unbeaten 84 off mere 43 balls . He smashed five fours and 6 towering sixes to power the Aussies home . Alex Carey chipped in with vital 21. Australia stunned the huge crowd at Mohali to win by 4 wickets. Finishing at 359 / 6 in 47. 5 overs.
The crowds even chanted Dhoni, Dhoni as young Rishabh Pant missed a stumping chance and was not sharp behind the wickets.
The Indian bowling simply fell apart the figures tell the story . Yuzvendra Chahal ( 1/80) in 10 overs, Jasprit Bumrah )3/ 63) in 8.5 overs , Bhuvneshwar Kumar (1/ 67) in 9 overs, Kuldeep Yadav (1/ 64) in 10 overs.
The final ODI in Delhi which at one – point looked a normal match will be now the decider of the series. Thus making the match an important one.
