Australia choose to bat in 4th ODI v India

Well, you could say Australia pulled victory from the jaws of defeat in the fourth One day match against India at Manuka Oval in Canberra. They were 1 for 277 in the 38th over with an asking rate of not much more than a run per ball.

India are playing for pride, while Australia are gunning for a clean sweep when the two teams meet for the fourth ODI, in Canberra.

Virat departs as he mistimes a shot straight to Smith.

India had batted first in the three previous matches, losing by five wickets, seven wickets and three wickets respectively to give Australia a decisive 3-0 lead in the five-ODI series.

The Indian cricket enthusiasts were seen cheering for the team outside Manuka Oval in Canberra in Australia on Wednesday before the 4th One Day International match between the two teams.

Earlier, Rohit Sharma, who had two hundreds against his name in the series, hit three sixes and two boundaries before getting out off Kane Richardson’s bowling.

His innings was especially damaging to umpire Richard Kettleborough, who was hit on the shin by a powerful on-drive and had to be replaced in the middle by Paul Wilson.

Both Finch and Warner were able to find the big hits nearly at will and the hosts raced to 145/0 in 25 overs. Towards the end, Australian captain Steve Smith (51) and Glenn Maxwell (41) put the flawless icing on the cake to take the score to a very competitive levels.

He was caught off the last ball, delivered by Sharma (4/77).

Ishant was the most successful of the Indian bowler with four wickets for 77 runs, while Yadav picked up three for 67. The fifth and last One-Day International (ODI) will be played in Sydney on Saturday.

Earlier, Aaron Finch (107) made a fine century for the hosts and were ably supported by David Warner (93). Even so, Glenn Maxwell pointed out immediately after the MCG win that they intend to go for a 5-0 whitewash.

Soon Finch scored his seventh ODI ton but could not get going after that and fell for 107.

He took 63 wickets in 17 tests the last of which he played against India in 2010.

Panic was suddenly apparent in the India camp and the likes of Gurkeerat Singh (5) and Rishi Dhawan (9) are likely to rue the wild shots that resulted in their exits.

Nathan Lyon, the offspinner, comes for Scott Boland, while David Warner’s return from paternity leave means Shaun Marsh has been left out. The match followed a pattern typical to the series, with a top-order batsman – Kohli in this case – scoring a century to help India post 295 for 6, before Australia chased down the total on the back of Maxwell’s flamboyant 96.