India vs Australia 2019: Ashton's Innings Was the Game-Changer - Virat Kohli

Indian skipper Virat Kohli believes Ashton Turner’s blistering knock of 84 runs off just 43 balls was the game-changer in the fourth ODI at Mohali. Turner, who was only playing his second One Day International was able to turn the match on its head. The novice right-hander smashed five fours and half-a-dozen sixes in his match-winning innings.

Turner joined Peter Handscomb when Australia lost the big wicket of Glenn Maxwell. The right-hander was able to hit the ground running as he played a fine knock. In fact, Turner had the rub of the green on his side as he was dropped on multiple occasions by Rishabh Pant, Kedar Jadhav and Shikhar Dhawan.

Turner was able to turn the match on its head.

Turner and Carey added 86 off just 39 balls to help Australia draw level in the five-match series. This was the maiden fifty for Ashton Turner. The Perth Scorchers batsman brought his best to the table as he took the Indian bowlers to the cleaners with his superb hitting.

Virat Kohli said in the post-match presentation, “The wicket remained good throughout the game. It was very difficult to bowl in the end, Asthon’s innings was the game-changer. Last game, we were told there would be dew and we were at the wrong end. They played better cricket, they deserved to win. We had to get the fifth bowler out of the way, so we wanted to get done with it first”.

“It became too wet to bowl, it was very difficult to bowl in the right areas. Crucial, we were sloppy in the field and should’ve grabbed our chances. The opportunities slipped away and so was the game. It’s going to be a cracker of a game, we’ve had two eye-openers in two games. We have to work hard and we got to come up with more intensity and passion in the next game”.

It was a brilliant knock from Ashton Turner as he was able to clean hit the ball to all the corners of the ground.

On the other hand, Peter Handscomb scored his maiden ODI hundred to help Australia get close to the gargantuan score of 358 runs. Handscomb added a big alliance of 192 runs with Usman Khawaja, who continued his good form going as he scored 91 runs from 99 balls.

Earlier, Shikhar Dhawan scored his career best of 143 off just 115 balls. Rohit Sharma also scored a fine knock of 95 runs whereas Pat Cummins scalped a maiden five-wicket haul for Australia.

The decider of the five-match series will take place at the capital, New Delhi on 13th March.