Mohali: Ashton Turner (84 n o, 43b, 5×4, 6×6) turned things around for Australia guiding his team to a magnificent four-wicket victory in the fourth ODI here, Sunday. As a result, the visitors leveled the five-match series 2-2 with the decider set to be played in Delhi, Wednesday.
Chasing a massive 359-run target, Aussies suffered a double blow losing skipper Aaron Finch and Shaun Marsh cheaply. However, Usman Khawaja (91, 99b, 7×4) and Peter Handscomb (117, 105b, 8×4, 3×6) stitched together a match-winning 192-run stand for the third wicket. Later Turner and Alex Carey (21) put together 86 runs for the sixth wicket to help Aussies seal the deal comfortably.
Earlier, Shikhar Dhawan (143, 115b, 18×4, 3×6) ended his prolonged bad patch with a career-best century and in Rohit Sharma’s (95, 92b, 7×4, 2×6) company guided India to a commanding 358/9.
India looked a completely different side with opening duo putting on 193 runs on arguably the flattest track on offer during the ongoing series.
While Dhawan got his 16th hundred in ODIs, vice-captain Rohit missed out on what could have been a very well-deserved 23rd hundred with Australian bowlers looking like lambs for slaughter. Pat Cummins (5/70) and Jhye Richardson (3/85) shared the spoils but were taken to task by the Indian openers for their wayward bowling.
Dhawan, who last reached a three-figure mark against Pakistan in an Asia Cup match in September 2018, was in fluent touch from the onset. It released the pressure on Rohit, who initially was watchful even as Dhawan went after the bowling.
With another opening slot hopeful KL Rahul inducted into the playing XI, the 33-year-old Dhawan finally looked to have been shaken out of his comfort zone and played like only he can.
On a ground where it all started with a dream Test debut back in 2013 against the same opposition, the southpaw decided to ease any worries that the team management had with regards to his form going into the World Cup. With left-arm seamer Jason Behrendorff and premier speedster Pat Cummins feeding him on his legs, Dhawan got a flurry of boundaries inside the first six overs.
Rohit also gained in confidence as lofted Adam Zampa (1/57) for a huge six. Skipper Aaron Finch introduced himself but his friendly slow left-arm bowling was treated with contempt by Rohit.
He picked up Richardson’s slow bouncers and guided one behind square and pulled one in-front. However, in his bid to reach the three-figure mark with a six, he deposited the third one down deep mid-wicket’s throat with five to get for his hundred.
Dhawan continued to attack as he surpassed his previous best of 137 against South Africa at the MCG during the 2015 World Cup. He looked good for a double hundred but was out trying to give Cummins the charge.
The stage was set for Rahul (26) and Rishabh Pant (36) to get at least a quick-fire half-century but both wasted their opportunities even as Vijay Shankar (26) ensured that India crossed 350.
