Australia send series to decider

Australia produced their greatest ODI chase in history to defeat India in Chandigarh.

Set a target of 359 the Aussies prevailed with 13 balls to spare thanks to Peter Handscomb’s maiden century and Ashton Turner’s stunning unbeaten 84.

India still managed to deliver a World Cup wake-up call to Australia in Chandigarh, asking the visitors to complete a record chase after amassing a massive total of 358-9 in the fourth ODI of the five-match series.

Virat Kohli described the pitch in Chandigarh as a belter after winning yesterday’s toss and he was proven true by a brutal 193-run opening partnership between Shikhar Dhawan and Rohit Sharma.

Dhawan (143) and Sharma (95) hammered the bowlers all over the pint-sized park in an astonishing 125-minute onslaught that put the game on India’s terms.

The tourists fought back relatively well after dismissing both openers, inflicting a collapse of 6-56.

Pat Cummins, who spearheaded the comeback by bowling Dhawan, logged career-best ODI figures of 5-70 from 10 overs.

But hard-hitting cameos from Rishabh Pant, recalled as MS Dhoni was rested as one of India’s four changes, and Vijay Shankar left Australia needing to make history to send the series to a decider in Delhi.

Australia’s previous highest successful chase in ODIs came in 2011 at the SCG, where they finished on 334-8 in 49.2 overs to defeat England.