Result: Australia deny India fightback to take 4-0 lead in one-day series
Australia denied India a comeback win by sealing a 25-run triumph in Canberra on Wednesday, extending their 100% record to four games in the five-match one-day international series.
Australia started strongly after they went in to bat as the first-wicket partnership between David Warner and Aaron Finch reached 187 runs before the former was sent packing. Warner hit 93 runs off 92 balls before he was bowled out by Ishant Sharma in the 30th over, but Finch continued the charge alongside Mitchell Marsh.
Finch top-scored with 107 runs off 107 deliveries, while captain Steven Smith contributed 51 runs as the hosts reached the end of 50 overs on 348-8.
It was expected to be a routine win for the Aussies following India’s previous displays, but Shikhar Dhawan and Virat Kohli guided the chase by scoring centuries.
Dhawan ended his innings with a knock of 126 runs off 113 overs, while Kohli managed 106 off 92 deliveries in a match that had a tense finish.
At one stage, India were on 277-3, but the wicket of MS Dhoni, who was taken out by John Hastings for a duck, swung the momentum in Australia’s direction as they sat at 313-8 with 18 balls remaining.
Despite India’s early charge, their batting order collapsed and Australia wrapped up their 18th consecutive ODI win on home turf, with Kane Richardson snatching five wickets.
