India’s hopes of inflicting a whitewash on Australia ended, as the visitors defeated the hosts by 21 runs in the fourth One-Day International at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bengaluru.
Chasing a daunting 335, India were off to a good start with Rohit Sharma and Ajinkya Rahane sharing a century-plus partnership for the second game in a row before the latter was sent back by Kane Richardson for 53.
At 135 for one, India was cruising in their chase before Australia clawed their way back into the game by dismissing Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli in a quick succession.
Rohit was the first to go when a brilliant piece of fielding from Steven Smith resulted in a misunderstanding and eventually a run-out before Virat Kohli chopped a Nathan Coulter-Nile delivery onto his stumps. Hardik Pandya, who batted at number 4 in the previous game, joined in and then steadied the ship along with Kedar Jadhav.
But just when it looked like the duo had firmly settled down, Pandya miscued an Adam Zampa delivery which ended the 90-run stand. Jadhav and Manish Pandey kept India in the chase with a 61-run stand before a well-set Jadhav was dismissed by Kane Richardson for 67, leaving India in need of 49 runs from final 26 deliveries. The visitors further strengthened their grip when Pat Cummins dismissed Pandey.
MS Dhoni was India’s last hope, but he struggled to get going, as India was eventually restricted for 313 for eight. The defeat, meanwhile, ended India’s nine-match winning streak in the ODIs.
Earlier, Australian openers David Warner and Aaron Finch made the most of the batting first on a flat pitch in a small ground. The duo added 231 runs for the first wicket, going past the previous highest opening stand for Australia against India which was achieved by Geoff Marsh and David Boon when they added 212 runs in 1986. The mammoth partnership was broken by Kedar Jadhav when he had Warner caught at long-on for 124. Two quick wickets threatened to derail Australia’s innings, but Travis Head and Peter Handscomb’s 63-run partnership guided them to a big total.
Here is how Twitter reacted to the match:
Thunder Thursday for @CricketAus. Stokes and Hales out for Ashes and a win against India. #IndvAus
— cricBC (@cricBC) September 28, 2017
At this rate Dhoni will be playing role of Villain in sequel of his own biopic
— EngiNerd. (@mainbhiengineer) September 28, 2017
MSD just doesn't have that kind of hitting range as he used to. Very good in situations when you need to rebuild.
— Bharath Ramaraj (@Fancricket12) September 28, 2017
https://twitter.com/Abhility_/status/913426859701891072?
Australia have Wade for a keeper and Brainfade as the captain. How do you expect them to get their reviews right? #Unfair #INDvAUS
— Manya (@CSKian716) September 28, 2017
Third umpire should have slapped Steven Smith for this review #INDvAUS pic.twitter.com/jKnLwp9VCe
— sunil the cricketer (@1sInto2s) September 28, 2017
https://twitter.com/goud_saaketh/status/913426472798273537
Not even raining heavily, terrible umpiring! Smith and his crybabies #INDvAUS
— Sushant (@Sushant196) September 28, 2017
When invigilator caught you while ur trying cheat in exam hal nd all sudden you make a face like your trying to remember something #INDvAUS pic.twitter.com/p3LALYY9rj
— Sheetal Jain?? (@RealSheetal) September 28, 2017
Pandya came in to bat with the required rate 7.19. He left with the asking rate 8.57. So he wasn't sent just to smash the bowlers
— Harsha Bhogle (@bhogleharsha) September 28, 2017
No fly zone declared over the Chinnaswamy stadium. @hardikpandya7 is out to bat. All flights diverted! #INDvAUS
— Jatin Sapru (@jatinsapru) September 28, 2017
Even if Zampa goes for 90 runs, I rate him as a brave bowler. He is ready to get thwacked in order to pick up scalps.
— Bharath Ramaraj (@Fancricket12) September 28, 2017
This is going to be a good finish. The wickets of Rohit and Kohli have thrown an opportunity towards Jadhav and Pandya
— Harsha Bhogle (@bhogleharsha) September 28, 2017
Virat Rohit – the untold Story. #INDvAUS pic.twitter.com/ajxlmfK17W
— Hunटरर ♂ ? (@nickhunterr) September 28, 2017
* Virat reached into the dressing room *
Rohit: Ye experiment fail ho gaya… agli baar tu hi run out hona?#INDvAUS— sunil the cricketer (@1sInto2s) September 28, 2017
Ek rohit run out se pareshaan hai. Dusra ranaut se#INDvAUS pic.twitter.com/q8mN6FPBYm
— Akash (@vaderakash) September 28, 2017
Virat and Rohit are like BJP and Shiv Sena. They are in the same team, but there's no coordination. #INDvAUS
— Sagar (@sagarcasm) September 28, 2017
Rohit Sharma:Virat Kohli :: Inzamam:Mohd Yousuf ! Run-outs most likely mode of dismissal when batting together #INDvAUS
— Navneet Mundhra (@navneet_mundhra) September 28, 2017
Recently only thing more frequent than Suryavansham on Set Max is Rohit Sharma and his 6s. #IndvAus
— cricBC (@cricBC) September 28, 2017