Ranchi: Rain played spoilsport to the fourth ODI match Indian and Australia and the match was called off after India had scored 27/0 in reply to Australia 295 at the JSCA Stadium here on Wednesday. Though India had a tough task ahead of chasing a mammoth target, Indian skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni felt that it was chaseable and the first 15 overs would have decided the course of the match.

“It depended on the first 15 overs. If we didn't lose too many wickets, the wicket would have become better to bat on,” said dhoni, who was in all praise for M Shami, who took four wickets earlier.

“Shami is deceptive. He bowls quicker that you think. What was important was that he bowled full and the wickets he got, he was hitting the bails. In the death overs, he was getting the yorkers in pretty consistently,” said Dhoni, adding that he wasn't worried about the fielding lapses today as some of his best fielders were involved in that and that they would surely come back strong.

“I know they will come back strong. At times it happens, in some of the stadiums it is difficult to sight the ball,” said Dhoni.
 

Talking about using Suresh Raina as a bowler more often, Dhoni said that they have to find the right moment. “With the fifth fielder inside and the opposition looking to get over 300 and without much turn, Raina would have been a gamble. But this was the best game for him and he bowled well, knowing his limitations. The weather is not in our control. To some extent you are a bit disappointed, but whatever result it was we have to accept it. We wouldn't have minded a 20 over game with the start we had and with the water on the field,” said the Indian skipper.

Meanwhile Australian skipper George Bailey said, “It could have been a reasonably good game of cricket. We snuck away with the bat, thanks to Maxwell's innings. There was a little bit of swing and seam and he assessed the conditions well, especially considering he had to bat longer than he is normally used to. I was lucky with a few drops, but yeah, things went well with hte bat. We fancied our chances, with the pitch giving a bit of seam and pace and Mitchell Johson was getting it to go. It's obviously important to be in the lead in any series and hopefully we'll get to Cuttack and get a good game in and get a win.”