For neutral cricket fan, it was a day to remember as the fans were kept at the edge of the seats throughout the game during the fourth ODI of the five-match series between India and Australia at the PCA Stadium in Mohali. It was Ashton Turner, who was the star of the match with a brilliant match-winning knock as he helped the visitors to chase down the huge target of 359 run with 13 balls to spare. He pulled out a win from the jaws of defeat with a terrific knock thus making Shikhar Dhawan’s century went in vain.
The Australian skipper, Aaron Finch made the wrong call again at the toss in the 4th ODI against India as the hosts elected to bat first at the PCA Stadium in Mohali. Despite the dryness of the surface and chances of dew, the Indian skipper, Virat Kohli felt, would help give their batsmen a slight edge in the first innings as their bowlers are good enough with the wet ball.
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India made four changes in the squad as, Ambati Rayudu, MS Dhoni, Ravindra Jadeja, and Mohammed Shami made way for KL Rahul, Rishabh Pant, Yuzvendra Chahal, and Bhuvneshwar Kumar. On the other hand, Australia also made a couple of changes as Marcus Stoinis and Nathan Lyon made way for Ashton Turner and Jason Behrendroff.
However, the Indian openers, Rohit Sharma and Shikhar Dhawan did well as Team India reached the total of 358/9 in their quota of 50 overs. The duo stitched 193 runs for the first wicket before Rohit missing out a well-deserved century with 5 runs short. However, Dhawan continued his brilliant show, who went on to smash 143 runs in 115 balls.
Coming into the chase, Australia lost Aaron Finch and Shaun Marsh in the first overs itself as they were cleaned by Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Bumrah respectively. Then the partnership between Usman Khawaja and Peter Handscomb started to rise. They looked threatening for India with 192 runs being paired in between them.
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However, India’s go-to bowler Jasprit Bumrah gave a much-required breakthrough by sending down a sharp bouncer to dismiss Usman Khawaja. Despite the dismissal, Handscomb (117) went with his strokes to bring his century.
The Indian wrist-spin duo, Yuzvendra Chahal and Kuldeep Yadav brought India back into the game by bagging the wickets of Peter Handscomb and Glenn Maxwell at the crucial stages of the game. But, then came the surprise in the form of Ashton Turner, who made a massive impact on the game.
Turner just took away the game from India’s pockets with a stunning knock of 84 runs in 43 balls. Out of nowhere, Australia finished the game by winning with 4 wickets and 13 balls to spare.
Here are the reactions of the Twitterati after India’s loss:
Ashton Turner has silenced the Mohali crowd with his maiden ODI fifty! Playing a superb knock here!
LIVE: https://t.co/iCK26mSpUz #INDvAUS pic.twitter.com/VAm8coy2U8
— cricket.com.au (@cricketcomau) March 10, 2019
That awkward moment when Rishabh Pant misses stumping and crowd chants "Dhoni Dhoni". 🙊#INDvAUS
— Sir Jadeja fan (@SirJadeja) March 10, 2019
Turner is turning this game #INDvAUS
— Gaurav Kapur (@gauravkapur) March 10, 2019
Outstanding run chase from the Aussies. That is a brilliant win 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻🇦🇺🇮🇳🏏
— Michael Clarke (@MClarke23) March 10, 2019
Australia win!!! What a great ODI series!
It’s 2-2 and you can’t watch the last ODI on @StarSportsIndia
🇦🇺👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻— Dean Jones AM (@ProfDeano) March 10, 2019
Ashton Turner … pretty sure someone said he should be in the team during the #BigBash !!!! #INDvAUS #JustSaying … Now getting very concerned the Aussies are starting to get something going at the right time !!!! #CWC19
— Michael Vaughan (@MichaelVaughan) March 10, 2019
One of India's most listless display with the ball and in the field in recent times. Dropping absolute sitters. Also, in times like these, India realise the value of Mahendra Singh Dhoni behind the wickets. Taking nothing away from the brilliance of Turner though #IndvAus
— Mohammad Kaif (@MohammadKaif) March 10, 2019
This is Incredible from Australia. To come back from 12-2 and chase down 359 with as much ease as swatting flies, you’ve got to hand it to them. But what about Indian catching? Death bowling? #IndvsAus
— Vikrant Gupta (@vikrantgupta73) March 10, 2019
The belief with which Ashton Turner’s played here is unbelievable.. Second match of his career, daunting chase, but he’s made it look like a walk in the park .. There’s dew yes, dropped catches, yes but don’t take anything away from him .. #IndvAus
— Jatin Sapru (@jatinsapru) March 10, 2019
The partnership between Khawaja/handscomb shouldn’t have played 5th 6th bowler in the early https://t.co/Ojju9nbW82 least not from both the ends. By saying that well done Australia for winning the game #INDvsAUS
— Irfan Pathan (@IrfanPathan) March 10, 2019
Rishabh Pant misses the stumping and crowd chants 'Dhoni.. Dhoni'. But its hard on the young man. Let's allow him to get settled in ODI cricket.
— Broken Cricket (@BrokenCricket) March 10, 2019
This is quite an innings from Ashton Turner. Australia have found a finisher
— Harsha Bhogle (@bhogleharsha) March 10, 2019
https://twitter.com/DesiOptimystic/status/1104774288576561152