Aus vs Ind: India loses once again

Kane Richardson took five wickets, including four in his last four overs, as Australia held on to beat India by 25 runs on Wednesday and extend its lead to 4-0 with one match remaining in the limited—overs international series.

Aaron Finch made 107 and David Warner returned from paternity leave to score 93 as Australia posted a total of 348-8 after winning the toss and batting.

India was coasting at 277 for 1 in reply in the 38th over but lost its last nine wickets for 46 runs, with Richardson taking 4-16 in a match-turning spell and returning 5-68 for the innings.

Shikhar Dhawan scored 126 and Virat Kohli added 106, the pair sharing a 212-run partnership for the second wicket and seemingly setting India on course for a victory, until the dramatic late collapse ended with the visitors all out for 323 in 49.2 overs.

The pattern of the series changed slightly on Wednesday; India batted first in each of the first three matches and lost.

Finch reached his seventh ODI century from 97 balls. It was his first against India and his second at Manuka Oval in the Australian capital.

Warner was the main aggressor in a blazing beginning by the Australian openers who rushed to 40—0 after five overs.

Warner was out in the 30th over when he chopped a ball from Ishant Sharma onto his middle stump.

Finch was out when Australia was 221-2 in the 38th over after he and Mitchell Marsh had added only 34 runs in 8.4 overs. The opener reached 100 with a single from his 97th delivery, two years after his first century at Manuka Oval against South Africa.

Finch was finally caught off Umesh Yadav, skying a pull shot to Ishant Sharma at mid-on.

Finch’s power-hitting claimed one notable casualty. In the 17th over, his straight drive hit English umpire Richard Kettleborough on the right leg and Kettleborough was forced to retire from the match. He was replaced by Australia’s Paul Wilson.

Steve Smith hit the ball powerfully from the outset and reached his 50 from 27 balls.

The Australians lost 5-37 to lose momentum before Glenn Maxwell hit 41 from 20 balls with six fours and a six, falling to the last ball of the innings.

The fifth match will be played in Sydney on Saturday.

Scoreboard

Australia innings: David Warner b I Sharma 93; Aaron Finch c I Sharma b Yadav 107; Mitchell Marsh c Kohli b Yadav 33; Steven Smith c G Singh b I Sharma 51; Glenn Maxwell c M Pandey b I Sharma 41; Gorge Bailey c R Sharma b I Sharma 10; James Faulkner b Yadav 0; Mathew Wade run out 0; John Hastings not out 0. Extras (LB—7, WD—6) 13

Total (For 8 wickets in 50 overs) 348

Fall of wickets: 1—187, 2—221, 3—288, 4—298, 5—319, 6—319, 7—321, 8—348.

Bowling: Umesh Yadav 10—1—67—3, Bhuvneshwar Kumar 8—0—69—0, Ishant Sharma 10—0—77—4, Gurkeerat Singh 3—0—24—0, Rishi Dhawan 9—0—53—0, Ravindra Jadeja 10—0—51—0.

India innings: R. Sharma c Wade b Richardson 41; S. Dhawan c Bailey b Hastings 126; V. Kohli c Smith b Richardson 106; M.S. Dhoni c Wade b Hastings 0; G. Mann c sub b Lyon 5; R. Jadeja not out 24; A. Rahane c Smith b Richardson 2; R. Dhawan c Warner b Richardson 9; B. Kumar c Smith b Richardson 2; U. Yadav c Bailey b M. Marsh 2; I. Sharma c Wade b M. Marsh 0. Extras (nb-1 w-5) 6

Total (all out, 49.2 overs) 323

Fall of wickets: 1-65, 2-277, 3-277, 4-278, 5-286, 6-294, 7-308, 8-311, 9-315, 10-323

Bowling: N. Lyon 10 - 0 - 76 - 1 K. Richardson 10 - 1 - 68 - 5 J. Hastings 10 - 0 - 50 - 2(nb-1 w-1) J. Faulkner 7 - 0 - 48 - 0(w-1) M. Marsh 9.2 - 0 - 55 - 2(w-2) G. Maxwell 1 - 0 - 10 - 0(w-1) S. Smith 2 - 0 - 16 - 0

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Harsh steps need to be taken post-ODI series: Gavaskar

Former captain Sunil Gavaskar on Wednesday called for harsh steps in the setup of the struggling Indian cricket team in Australia, saying some of the players have not learnt from their past mistakes despite making the trip Down Under multiple times.

“We have to take harsh step after the series is done. I am not calling for a complete overhaul but there are players who have not learnt from their past mistakes. There are players who have made 3-4 trips to Australia but they have not learnt from their mistakes. If we are looking at building a team for the 2019 World Cup, we need to blood some youngsters in,” a disappointed Gavaskar told a television channel after an unexpected batting collapse pushed India 0-4 down in the five-match series.

Gavaskar was more critical of the bowlers who let the team down and said dropping star spinner Ravichandran Ashwin for the second game in a row made little sense.

“Not playing Ashwin for the second game in a row was not a good decision. I feel the conditions in Canberra would have suited him. Some of other bowlers seem to be the same mistake over and over again,” he said.

On the learning process the team management and captain M.S. Dhoni keeps talking about, Gavaskar said: “Well, every game is a learning experience but are the players learning from their mistakes? If not, then there is a problem. The series result is really disappointing.

“India has all lost four matches from winning position. Today I think Virat (Kohli) getting out put pressure on the batsman to follow. Ajinkya Rahane not coming out to bat number four also made a difference as he did not look hundred percent when he did come to bat at No 7.”

Dhoni himself took the blame on him for not getting the team home and Gavaskar also felt the skipper should have done more. Dhoni fell without scoring and Kohli got out soon after to allow Australia stage a dramatic comeback.

“He himself had said the he should have got the job done from that position. It is unfortunate that he lasted just two balls,” Gavaskar added.

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