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Match Preview: CANBERRA: With the series already decided in favour of Australia, India will play for pride and aim to give their best to avoid another defeat when they face-off against the hosts in the penultimate and fourth One-Day International (ODI) at the Manuka Oval here on Wednesday. Despite centuries from opener Rohit Sharma and vice-captain Virat Kohli, the visitors could not avoid defeat as some poor bowling saw all three ODIs going against them. India lost the first ODI by five wickets, second by seven wickets and third by three wickets. The Australians were given the task to chase in the first two ODIs. With the hosts finishing the task on both days, they preferred to bat second when they won the toss in the third match in Melbourne on Sunday. A disappointing effort from the Indian bowlers saw the home team chase down all three big totals with ease. [caption id=“attachment_2588296” align=“alignleft” width=“380”]
File photo of MS Dhoni and Steve Smith. AFP[/caption] On Wednesday, the young Indian bowling attack will have to try and put pressure on the opposition and keep their previous mistakes behind them to deliver for the side. There is not much to worry about the Indian batsmen as they have gone about their job efficiently, posting big totals on the board but the bowlers have been ordinary at best – in Perth, Brisbane and Melbourne – to concede an unassailable 0-3 lead. It will be the first time the visitors will face-off against the home side at the Manuka Oval. India have played here only once when they lost to Sri Lanka in the 2007-08 season. The bowling attack for the tour, except for Ishant Sharma, is quite inexperienced with players like Rishi Dhawan, Barinder Sran and Umesh Yadav. The spinners – Ravindra Jadeja and Ravichandran Ashwin – have also not been effective on the flat pitches. In Melbourne, India did not play Ashwin, seeing that he was ineffective in the first two games. On the other hand, the home side are currently on cloud nine with everything going in their favour. Chasing down two 300-plus totals and one close to 300, that too under pressure, has been the plus point for the side. Despite David Warner being out on paternity leave, other batsmen under the leadership of Steve Smith, have delivered – be it openers or middle-order batsmen. Like the first three ODIs, Australia will again look to dominate and continue their winning streak and go into the final ODI looking for a whitewash. As far as the nature of the pitch is concerned, another flat pitch and warm day is expected in the Australian capital which will put more smiles on the faces of the batsmen and plenty of runs on the board.
India vs Australia, 4th ODI as it happened: India snatch defeat from jaws of victory
Live updates from the 4th ODI between India and Australia in Canberra.
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http://www.firstpost.comThat’s it! Australia win by 25 runs. They go 4-0 up!
Ishant is caught behind off Marsh. India snatch defest from jaws of victory. What a choke. They were cruising at one point at 277/2 from 38 overs but the departure of Dhoni sparked a collapse. They lost their last nine wickets for 46 runs. It was a total brainfade with poor shot selection. This time a couple of centuries went in vain. Kohli and Dhawan batted brilliantly but they squandered a wonderful opportunity.
After, 49 overs, India 323/9 (Jadeja 24, Ishant 0)
Jadeja starts off the over well with a couple and a four through third man. But Faulkner then changes his pace really well to bowl three dots in an over. 26 needed off the last over.
After, 48 overs, India 316/9 (Jadeja 18, Ishant 0)
It’s all happening at the Manuka Oval. Australia drop two in two. Umesh miscues one to long off where Richardson drops it, then Jadeja goes for a slash and gets an outside edge, Wade leaps but doesn’t manage to hold on. Umesh then again goes for a wild swing but gets a top edge and this time Bailey manages to hold on to it finally. 33 needed off 12 balls.
After, 47 overs, India 313/8 (Jadeja 16, Umesh 1)
Umesh swung and swung and swung but onnected just once, that too went off the inside edge to deep square leg for a single to retaint he strike. 36 needed off 18 now.
After, 46 overs, India 311/8 (Jadeja 14, Bhuvneshwar 0)
A wicket maiden from Richardson. Brilliant stuff. 38 needed off 24 now.
OUT! Another one bites the dust! B Kumar c Smith b Richardson 2 (6b 0x4 0x6)
What are they thinking? Bhuvneshwar stays in his crease and guides it straight to first slip.
Umesh Yadav is the new batsman.
After, 45 overs, India 311/7 (Jadeja 15, Bhuvneshwar 2)
Bhuvneshwar gets a lifeline! He pushes at one but gets an outside edge, Wade drops a relatively easy catch. Just three runs off the over. 38 needed off 30 now.
After, 44 overs, India 308/7 (Jadeja 14, Bhuvneshwar 0)
A successful over for Australia. 9 runs and a wicket off it. 41 needed off 36 balls.
OUT! Another brain fade another one back in the hut. R Dhawan c Warner b Richardson 9 (8b 1×4 0x6)
They had already scored 9 runs off 5 balls, there is no need to do something extra ordinary but still, Dhawan charges and goes for a wild slog but ends up getting a top edge to deep point.
Bhuvneshar Kumar is the new batsman.
After, 43 overs, India 299/5 (Jadeja 9, R Dhawan 0)
India playing cautiously now. 5 runs off the Lyon over. 50 needed off 42 balls now.
After, 42 overs, India 294/5 (Jadeja 9, R Dhawan 0)
Another brilliant over from Richardson. Three runs and a wicket off it.
OUT! Richardson strikes another blow. A Rahane c Smith b Richardson 2 (3b 0x4 0x6)
It’s a length delivery outside off, Rahane stays in his crease and looks to steer but ends up helping it straight into the hands of the first slip fielder.
Rishi Dhawan is the new batsman.
After, 41 overs, India 291/5 (Jadeja 6, Rahane 2)
Another successful over for Australia. 9 runs and a wicket off it.
OUT! They are throwing it away! Gurkeerat Singh c sub (SE Marsh) b Lyon 5 (6b 1×4 0x6)
Gurkeerat had hit a four just the previous ball, there was no need for going for another big one. He goes for a slog sweep but gets a top edge to square leg where the fielder makes no mistake.
Ajinkya Rahane strides out to the middle with four stitches in his right hand.
After, 40 overs, India 282/4 (Jadeja 3, Gurkeerat 1)
Another brilliant over for Australia. Just four runs and a wicket off it.
OUT! This is a HUGE WICKET for Australia! Kohli is back in the hut! V Kohli c Smith b Richardson 106 (92b 11×4 1×6)
Richardson is brought back and he strikes straightaway. He charges down the track and looks to go downtown but the ball holds on the surface, he ends up playing a half hearted push and chips it to mid off where Smith pouches a diving catch.
Ravindra Jadeja is the new batsman.
After, 38 overs, India 278/3 (Kohli 106, Gurkeerat 0)
A tight over from Lyon. Just one run off it. Good build up of pressure from Australia.
After, 38 overs, India 277/3 (Kohli 105, Gurkeerat 0)
A brilliant over from Hastings. His last of the innings. Three runs and a two wickets off it and it has put pressure on India.
OUT! Hastings gets second wicket in the over. MS Dhoni c Wade b Hastings 0 (3b 0x4 0x6)
It’s a good length delivery outside off, Dhoni charges down the track and looks to steer but the ball holds its line and Dhoni gets a faint edge to the keeper.
Gurkeerat Singh is the new batsman.
OUT! At last, the 212-run partnership ends. S Dhawan c Bailey b Hastings 126 (113b 14×4 2×6)
It’s a slower delivery from Hastings, outside off, Dhawan slashes but end up hitting it straight to Bailey at point.
MS Dhoni strides out to the middle.
After, 37 overs, India 274/1 (Dhawan 124, Kohli 105)
It’s all too easy for both the batsmen. Dhawan charges and lofts one over wide mid off for a boundary, he again looks to go downtown off the next ball but mistimes it to long on for a couple. He the flicks one over mid-wicket for a couple. A single more makes it 9 runs off the over. 75 needed off 13 overs now.
After, 36 overs, India 265/1 (Dhawan 116, Kohli 104)
Good stuff from the two, not taking undue risks and dealing in singles and twos. 6 runs off the over in which Kohli got to his ton.
CENTURY for Kohli!
He lofts it over covers for a couple and brings up his 25th ODI ton. His 15th while chasing. 13 fours and two sixes in his innings. Brilliant stuff from him.
After, 35 overs, India 259/1 (Dhawan 115, Kohli 99)
A heart in mouth moment for Dhawan in that over. He slashes at one and Bailey grabs a low catch and then appeals. The umpires refer it upstairs to check whether the catch was clean but the replays show he had grassed it. Earlier in the over, Dhawan swiped one behind square leg for a boundary and then got an outside edge to third man on his slog for a couple. 8 runs off the over. Kohli is on 99 now.