Shikhar Dhawan, India vs Australia 2019, Rohit Sharma
Shikhar Dhawan celebrates after scoring his century in the 4th ODI against Australia. Credits - Getty Images

Australia kept the 5 match series alive against India as they registered a sensational 4 wickets victory and chased down a record target to change the course of the match. Despite the home team scoring a mammoth 358 runs, the Indian bowlers failed to find their mark and were punished by the Australian middle order.

Despite having a good start with the ball, India lacked the penetration towards the middle and the end overs which cost them big time. Peter Handscomb scored a brilliant century. However, the match-changing innings was played by Ashton Turner. He smashed a sensational 84 to seal the deal for the visitors.

Earlier in the day, it was a sensational 193 runs stand between openers Rohit Sharma and Shikhar Dhawan which got India off to a flying start. Dhawan, in particular, took on the Australian bowlers and found the gaps on a consistent basis. Rohit Sharma started of in a sedate manner. He started finding the boundaries during the middle overs and played catch up with Dhawan.

India vs Australia 4th ODI- Ashton Turner Played a World Class Knock Says Aaron Finch
Ashton Turner played a special knock of 84 runs to seal the match for Australia. (Photo by Robert Cianflone/Getty Images)

In a bid to score his 23rd ODI century, Rohit Sharma attempted a pull shot but mistimed it straight to Peter Handscomb in the long on region. Shikhar Dhawan completed his century and stepped on the accelerator to perfection. He ended up scoring a brilliant 143. In the end, India managed to score 358 at the expense of 9 wickets.

Bhuvneshwar Kumar began proceedings with a beautiful inswinger to Aaron Finch. The ball breached his defence and disturbed the timbers. Jasprit Bumrah also bagged the important wicket of Shaun Marsh. But from there on it was a great partnership between Peter Handscomb and Usman Khawaja which brought Australia back into the game. They found the gaps on a consistent basis and kept the required rate in control.

Peter Handscomb went onto score a magnificent century. However, dismissals of Handscomb and Glenn Maxwell helped India claw their way back into the match. The scenario of the match changed completely courtesy a special knock from Ashton Turner. He kept Australia in the match and played some wonderful shots en route to his knock of 84 of 45 deliveries which was studded with 5 fours and 6 sixes. The visitors eventually won the match quite convincingly by 4 wickets and with 13 balls to spare.

India vs Australia 2019, Twitter Reactions
Peter Handscomb en route to his century in Mohali. Credits – Getty

Here is what winning skipper Aaron Finch said at the post-match presentation

I thought the partnership between Usman and Peter was crucial. To be able to get us deep was unbelievable. To get his maiden hundred was outstanding. When we chased 300 totals in Australia, we were trying to go with the same process. The wicket was good, it wasn’t a panic.

The plan was to take the game as deep as we could. Ashton playing his second game and playing a match-winning knock and Peter playing such a knock and Usman coming to form was wonderful. We have seen him do that a lot in Big Bash. It was a world-class knock and to take on two of the best death bowlers in the world was outstanding.

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