David Warner, Aaron Finch power Australia to 334 in fourth ODI against India
By Krishnendu Banerjee | Express News Service | Published: 28th September 2017 01:19 PM |
Last Updated: 28th September 2017 06:20 PM | A+A A- |
Australian cricketer David Warner (R) raises his bat while his partner Aaron Finch looks on to celebrate his century (100 runs) during the fourth one day international (ODI) match against India. | AFP
BENGALURU: Turning pre-match punditry on its head, Australia’s opening pair of David Warner and Aaron Finch took India’s much-lauded bowling attack apart in a record 231-run opening partnership in the fourth ODI against India here on Thursday.
It was Australia’s highest opening partnership against India in ODIs, surpassing the 212 runs compiled by Geoff Marsh and David in Jaipur back in 1986.
Australia posted a challenging 334-run total for the loss of five wickets, justifying captain Steve Smith’s decision to bat first.
India’s skipper Virat Kohli’s decision to rest his key bowlers Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Jasprit Bumrah and Kuldeep Yadav took the bite out of the Indian attack and Warner and Finch easily managed Mohammed Shami, Umesh and Yuzvendra Chahal.
Axar Patel’s inclusion had no effect either. He finished his 10-over quota, coughing up 66 runs without a wicket. Chahal, who has been India’s go-to man to break partnerships, was hammered by Finch and Warner.
The latter struck a huge six over mid-wicket that almost went out of the stadium. Shami was the only bowler to trouble the Aussie batters with his variation. But even he gave away 15 runs in the last over to finish his quota with 62 runs. Umesh was the most successful bowler for India, taking four wickets, but giving away 71 runs from 10 overs.
Playing his 100th ODI, Warner became the eighth batsman to score a century as he finished his innings with 124 runs off 119 balls (4x12, 6x4). His almost flawless innings came to an end when he went for a big hit but holed out to Kedar Jadhav at long-on.
Finch, fresh from his 127 in Indore, fell six runs short of a second consecutive century when he miscued a slow delivery by Umesh and was caught at mid-on by Hardik Pandya. But he had been lucky. M S Dhoni missed a stumping chance when Finch was at 47 as Chahal’s delivery surprised both batsman and wicketkeeper.
After the Australian openers had both gone, the Aussies faltered again, losing Steven Smith next. But Travis Head and Peter Handscomb carried the innings forward with a 63-run stand. But by the time Head departed, Australia were in a comfortable position.
Brief scores: Australia 334/5 in 50 overs (David Warner 124, Aaron Finch 94, Peter Handscomb 43, Umesh Yadav 4/71, Kedar Jadhav 1/38)
