Sunday 1st October 2017
Australia has reversed a recent run of poor form on the sub-continent with a solid win to deny the Indian team a record breaking winning streak. After winning the toss and electing to bat for the 2nd time in a row the Australians got off to a great start with openers David Warner and Aaron Finch putting together a potentially match winning opening partnership of 231 runs. It was expected to be a slower and lower wicket that could have been tough to bat on but the new Indian fast bowlers Mohammad Shami and Umesh Yadav were fodder for the destructive duo.
Warner and Finch set the game up for Australia
Warner eventually fell for 124 and Finch followed soon after for 94 when it looked possible that Australia might post a score close to 400, but it was a familiar tale for the Australian middle and lower order as they failed to take advantage of such a great start. Steve Smith was dismissed cheaply for 3 when he chipped one to midwicket and while Peter Handscomb posted a handy 43 off just 30 balls they struggled to accelerate during the death overs. Marcus Stoinis was once again left not out on 15 off 9 balls as Australia made it to a credible total of 334.
Australia failed to fully capitalise on such a commanding start
The Indians also started well with Rahane and Sharma putting on a partnership of 106 before Rahane played a loose shot. Then a brilliant piece of fielding by Steve Smith threw the Kohli / Sharma partnership into chaos with them both getting stuck at the same end. This gifted an easy run-out to Kane Richardson at the bowlers end and Sharma was gone. Eight balls later Kohli chopped on for the 2nd time this series to leave the Indian run chase under pressure at 147 for 3 wickets in the 25th over.
The Indian top 3 weren't able to repeat their recent dominance
Hardik Pandya and Kedar Jadhav steadied the Indian innings but as scoreboard pressure started to build they both were caught at long off after playing loose strokes trying to lift the run rate. Manish Pandey scored a handy 33 off just 25 balls but was bowled by one that kept a bit low from Pat Cummins and when master finisher MS Dhoni fell to a slower ball from Kane Richardson the Indian chase was in ruins and they eventually fell short by 21 runs.
Indias middle and lower order succumbed to scoreboard pressure
So Australia broke their losing run on the sub-continent, saved some face and are looking to build momentum as the final game of the series is played today at Nagpur. It is a newly relaid pitch which might produce another high scoring match so again the toss will be important as both teams will want to bat first.
India will need to decide whether to recall their rested bowlers or persist with the attack that struggled at times during the last match, while Australia may finally have the luxury of keeping a winning team together. The final game of the series may be considered Dead Rubber but the tour is far from over with a best of three T20 series to follow. Australia will be looking to build on it's momentum from last game and carry some good form and confidence into the T20 series.
You can catch all the action on FoxSports 501
The fifth match will be televised LIVE from 6:50pm AEST Sunday
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