Aussies thwart India’s bid for 10 on the trot

AUSTRALIA ended India’s one-day international winning streak at nine after taking the fourth match of their series by 21 runs in Bengaluru yesterday.

India had never won 10 successive ODIs — by comparison Australia has done it six times — and its bid was only just thwarted.

Australia made 5-334, the first 300-plus score in the series, including a 14th ODI century by opener David Warner.

India was in it until the game was suspended because of a shower.

India lost its momentum. Kedar Jadhav, on 67, was caught in the deep off Kane Richardson in the 46th over.

Three balls later, Manish Pandey was bowled on 33 by Pat Cummins.

Mahendra Singh Dhoni led India past 300, but the asking rate was too much in the face of inspired death bowling from the Australia quicks. India ended on 8-313. India still leads the series 3-1 with one match to go, but lost an ODI for the first time since July. Richardson (3-58) and Nathan Coulter-Nile (2-56) strangled the Indian run chase.

But India made a good start as Ajinkya Rahane (53 off 66 balls) and Rohit Sharma (65 off 55 balls) put on 106 runs for the opening wicket.

Rahane was caught at long on, then Sharma and Kohli were in a bad mix-up and ended up at the same end among the confusion caused by a sensational one-handed, diving stop by Steve Smith at backward point. Sharma was run out. Earlier, Warner made 124 with 12 fours and four sixes in his 119-ball stay.