8 Wkts for 46 Runs; Massive Batting Collapse Takes India 4-0 Down
From 277/1 to losing their last 9 wickets for 46 runs- here’s a look at Indian batting’s newest collapse.
Virat Kohli and Shikhar Dhawan both scored centuries for India as they chased Australia’s 349 but a massive batting collapse saw the visitors crumble for 323 and lose the fourth ODI by 25 runs.
Cruising at 277/1 in the 38th over, India’s batsmen simply lost the ability to stay at the crease from there as Kane Richardson turned tormentor-in-chief to pick 4/16 in his final spell and finish the match with 5/68.
Australia Won Toss, Batted First
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.
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.
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. They amassed a massive 348/8 in their 50 overs.
India’s Reply
Chasing 349 to record their first victory of the series, Rohit Sharma stepped up hitting a breezy 41 off 25 balls before Dhawan and Kohli collaborated in a 212-run partnership.
Dhawan’s innings had 14 boundaries and two sixes while Kohli hit 11 boundaries and a six. But he was gone for 126 after gloving the ball down the leg side off Kane Richardson (5/68) in the 8th over.
Kohli hit 106 off only 92 balls for his second successive century in the series before a soft dismissal and then Dhoni (0) lasted only three balls to dash India’s hopes with another frontline batsman Ajinkya Rahane injured although he did come into bat making only 2 runs.
From there on it was a steady in-and-out drill for the Indian batsmen as they folded for 323 in 49.2 overs.
Australia winning their 18th consecutive ODIs at home.
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