Canberra: Despite some stupendous batting from Virat Kohli (106 off 92 balls) and Shikhar Dhawan (126 off 113 balls), India lost their fourth match in a trot to Australia by 25 runs at the Manuka Oval stadium in Canberra on Wednesday. Australia now lead the series 4-0, with the last match to be played at Sydney on January 23.
With this win, Australia created yet another record of remain unbeaten for 19 games at home (a record), winning 18 of them.
Chasing 349, India started off well with in-form Rohit Sharma and Shikhar Dhawan before Sharma edged Kane Richardson to wicket-keeper Mathew Wade for 41runs off just 25 balls. Kohli joined Dhawan and started India’s onslaught that saw the duo decimate the Australian bowlers at their will. The duo added 212 runs in just 29.3 overs. And when it seemed the centurions will rope in the match for India, Dhawan’s dismissal triggered India’s downfall.
Indian skipper MS Dhoni followed with scoring any run, while Kohli too left soon, giving Australia a sniff of victory.
Thereafter, it was a middle order collapse with Richardson doing most of the damage and finally the Aussies won by 25 runs.
Earlier, stitching an opening stand of 187 with David Warner, Aaron Finch got to a century to help Australia get 348/8 in their allotted 50 overs. Warner made 93.
