David Warner and Aaron Finch put on 231 for the first wicket before the tourists ably defended a total of 334 in Bangalore
Related: David Warner hundred for Australia sets up timely win over India
Closed out nicely by Australia, they’ve done it easy in the end. So it won’t be ten on the trot for India, and the visitors arrest a terrible slide away from home, their first away triumph after a dozen losses in a streak that lasted nearly a year.
The Australian quicks were fantastic in the defence of 334. Kane Richardson finished with 3/58 after conceding two sixes in his first over, fighting back across multiple spells. It was much the same for Cummins (1/59) and Coulter-Nile (2/56) who were asked to keep chopping and changing, all getting better as the night went on.
“I think that’s just about it” suggests Brett Lee. You’d hope so for Australia, NCN picking up Axar holing out to the first ball of the last over, India needing 29 from five balls. A second wicket to him. Another who has more than earned his keep tonight.
49th over: India 306-7 (Axar 5, Shami 1)
They can’t get Cummins away, not in a meaningful way in the context of the final result, which seems assured now. Smith has the DLS sheet out of his pocket again, but he’s all set now. A leading edge from Axar should have gone to hand with any luck - he deserved another. Brilliant final spell here from the attack-leader. Especially after a poor start. Five from it, giving him 1/59 for the night. Well bowled. In theory, 29 to win in six balls. NCN to finish it off.
48th over: India 301-7 (Axar 1, Shami 0)
Shami can’t get his first ball away, so it is only the one scoring shot from the over. Albeit a Dhoni six, but he was done next ball. 34 from two overs. Not unheard of in the T20 era, but with two new batsmen who have faced a ball each. Cummins to bowl the penultimate set.
Richardson has all-but won the game for Australia. And he’s deserved it too, dotting up Dhoni with a series of cutters and slower balls. The champion batsman got him away over the cover rope with a muscular slap, but chopped on when trying to repeat the dose. A wicket well-earned. India now need 34 from 13 balls with their masterful chaser no more.
47th over: India 295-6 (Dhoni 7, Axar 1)
Brett Lee has made up a term, saying it was “fairy rain” that had them come off earlier. Anyway, not him: the cricket. Dhoni. DHONI. Clever, gets out of the way when Cummins strays, helping the ball on its way. Next ball he charges. Nearly chops on! Wade makes a good save. Nearly chops on again. All happening, to borrow from WM Lawry. Cummins a third time too quick to Dhoni, who can’t get him to the rope. Six runs and a wicket; Australia have won that over. India now need 40 from three overs.
Big swing, but Pandey can’t shovel it over midwicket. He misses, Cummins hits. Simple as that.
46th over: India 289-5 (Pandey 33, Dhoni 2)
Seven and a wicket from the over, so it is advantage Australia. 46 left from 24 balls. Dhoni gets two from his first ball, running hard and creating some pressure, which forces the misfield on the rope. Pandey striking them beautifully as well. “It was like Usain Bolt finishing a race” Harsha says of Dhoni.
Maybe it is a good outcome for India? Richardson has earned that wicket, four balls into another fine over of late-innings bowling. Jadhav threw his hands at a ball outside the off-stump, not getting enough of it, Finch doing the rest at the cover boundary. But before the ball had even been caught the crowd were chanting DHONI. The man they obsess over more than any other comes to the crease with 49 needed from 26 balls. And if you want anyone walking out right now to chase it down, it is him.
45th over: India 282-4 (Jadhav 64, Pandey 31)
Cummins back. Pandey gets just enough on it to bunt two behind point to start. They’ll take it. But it is Jadhav who makes the bigger dent when the chance comes, flaying through point with control. He’s premeditating deep in the crease, but the width is thre. Cummins bites back with a rapid off-cutter, that he just keeps out. He then lands the yorker of the night. Deserve a wicket with that; absolutely perfect, to the man who was on the advance as well. More class to finish it, dropping back to crash into Jadhav’s thigh pad. All up, eight from it. 53 in five overs the new equation.
44th over: India 274-4 (Jadhav 60, Pandey 28)
Richardson back and begins with the most immaculate slower ball, beating the bat of Pandey. Another change up next, from the side of his hand. Nails a yorker, too. Richardson has barely done a thing wrong since his first over. Missed a full toss to finish, so it is only five from the set. Bowled, Richo. 61 from 36 needed. Might be time to throw one a wicket away in order to get Dhoni in.
43rd over: India 269-4 (Jadhav 58, Pandey 25)
PANDEY! NCN on a good length at the stumps but the right-hander plays a glorious stroke into the crowd at midwicket. What remarkable timing! Flick of the wrist has sent it 80+ metres. “Bring the length back” we can see Smith mouthing on the TV. Not wrong. He does and it’s over. Ten from it though, just what they needed since coming back out.
This will not go down as Australia's greatest review... #INDvAUSpic.twitter.com/9kKStoT35j
42nd over: India 259-4 (Jadhav 55, Pandey 18)
Commentators are very adamant that there was no real rain across the 23-minute delay. Given it was so brief, no time lost from the game. It ends up a very good over for the hosts either side of the break, Pandey finding the gap at cow corner to end Zampa’s set. I reckon they might go elsewhere from that end at this stage. He has one over left.
That happened quick! We are back! Zampa straight into it with an LBW shout, turned down. DRS used.
“It is bordering on ridiculous that we are off the field.”
Says the commentator on TV. Apparently not a lot of rain, but Smith has an umbrella up anyway on the Australian balcony. Like that. Like that a lot. Brad Hogg says that a storm must be on the way. Either way, they are off and the covers are on.
Well! Pandey smashes Zampa through cover for four... and then the umpires take them off. Covers on. It narrows the margin from four runs to two in the space of the ball, but DLS dictates that they would need to br 253-4 at this stage in order to be ahead. Plenty of time for them to get back on there if/when it stops. The waiting game begins, Australia with their noses ahead.
41st over: India 247-4 (Jadhav 53, Pandey 9)
NCN has been fantastic tonight. Both he and Richardson have showed their experience, good T20 lengths to prevent potent swings. Now I’ve written that, to the final ball the big quick does attack the stumps, Jadhav needing no hesitation to clip through midwicket. It could be an important boundary too, with a bit of rain about. India now only four runs behind the par score with DLS. Smith has the piece of paper out of his pocket clarifying that fact between the overs. Jadhav to 50 with the shot as well.
40th over: India 240-4 (Jadhav 48, Pandey 7)
Full bunger from Zampa; the first of those we have seen from him in a while. Wipes his hands on the towel in the best traditions of spinners who have just been hit for four, suggesting it is slipperly. Pandey away, nevertheless. He’s using his feet again later in the over, but can’t find a gap. Lovely dot to finish, a leg before dismissal turned down. No consideration of a review. Looked pretty good? Anyway, it’s seven from the over as the gap between runs needed and balls left grows further. And perhaps as importantly, the end of the period where only four are allowed outside the circle. Ten overs, 95 runs. If they get there from here, it’ll be quite the win. In their interests to get Dhoni in ASAP.
39th over: India 233-4 (Jadhav 47, Pandey 1)
NCN’s turn again. Was able to breakthrough almost immediately earlier on. Jadhav instead wants to score, and has to. He’s down the track and flicking at the point of contact, down to the gap at midwicket for four. A timely boundary. But the big quick keeps banging it in short of a length, conceding only two further singles. A run a ball won’t do it from here, now needing 9.27 an over.
38th over: India 227-4 (Jadhav 42, Pandey 1)
NOT OUT! He dragged the foot, but was grounded at the point of contact. Top over from Zampa, two runs to go with the wicket. Beats the bat between times. The leggie was sloppy in his first spell, smashed in his second but could be the matchwinner in the end.
HAS WADE STUMPED JADHAV? Going upstairs to find out. A cheeky little backhand attempt.
Superb from Zampa! Back into the attack but only his second ball of the spell to his nemesis Pandya, who cannot help himself first ball of the new over. Tries to thrash a ball outside the off-stump but doesn’t pick the added bounce, a fat top edge going high to Warner running around from long-off. Good catch under the lights. A lot to like about Zampa’s resilience there. Australia - dare I say it - should win from here.
37th over: India 225-3 (Pandya 41, Jadhav 41)
Richardson won’t get a ton of love for the tour he is having, but I’ve enjoyed his work. Just bangs it in short of a length with any number of different grips. No room for proper swinging of arms there, singles to sweepers through tucks and sweeps the best option. A fifth single ends the over with a relatively quick single to Dave Warner, but he doesn’t hit. They were probably home. They cut to Hilton Cartwright mid over banging a couple of kitchen knives together. Sure. Turns out they were to clean the spikes of one of his teammates between overs. Pretty useful service from the 12th Man there.
36th over: India 220-3 (Pandya 39, Jadhav 38)
I like this a lot: Zampa is back. He’s operating at Jadhav rather than his nemesis Pandya in the first instance. Really good start with an lbw appeal, then a big turning leg break. Four dots on the trot when he misses a full toss! The pressure relieved with a single. Right. One ball to come, one run from it so far. Zampa v Pandya. Surely he goes at him? He does not. That’s a high-quality dot, pitching leg on the perfect length, denying a big swing. Pandya keeps the strike with a single. 116 from 85 means the required rate is now 8.2 an over across 14.
35th over: India 218-3 (Pandya 38, Jadhav 37)
Kane Richardson’s turn to see if he can put in another tight spell. He’s improved through the night so far. He’s missed second up with a yorker, clipped by Pandya past square leg. Hasn’t faced many balls of late but a reminder that he can finds the rope at will. No further runs though. That’s fine bowling. 117 from 90 needed now. When do they go hard? Dhoni to come. Pandey too.
34th over: India 213-3 (Pandya 33, Jadhav 37)
There it is again, Jadhav decides to take a proper swing and makes wonderful contact after charging Stoinis. He’s right on top of the medium pacer. It’s into the crowd at long-off. Expect to see more of that after drinks with 7.6 an over still needed. Well set for a quality finish. Just as they are on the final day of the county cricket, as they scrap it out for who stays in the top flight. Follow that with Will on the other blog.
Hope for Middlesex: Dawson flashes at The Other Ryan Sidebottom and is caught at first slip! Five more for Warks... Dawson made 9 from 95.
33rd over: India 204-3 (Pandya 32, Jadhav 29)
Cummins a fine job in this set. Pandya hasn’t much strike of late an takes one first ball to mid-off. They had to motor, but got there comfortably in the end. He’s right on the money to Javhav throughout the rest. Until the very last ball... another wide from Cummins down the legside. Is this going to happen again, where India get out of the over with runs at the back end? Nup. Just a single to third man. Jadhav keeps the strike. Three from it. Bowled, Patrick.
This is going to be a good finish. The wickets of Rohit and Kohli have thrown an opportunity towards Jadhav and Pandya
32nd over: India 201-3 (Pandya 31, Jadhav 28)
Now they’re both coooking. Second over in a row where the bowler has done a fine job until the final two balls. This time Stoinis drops short and is slapped by Jadhav to the rope at midwicket. Next, it’s short enough again for the batsman to thrash through point. 200 up with the shot. Required rate still hovering around 7.7. Doing that nicely at the moment, without many risks.
On a practical level, no Ashes tour for Ben Stokes as things stand. But Alex Hales free to play in SA domestic T20 league
ECB have given themselves a bit of breathing space to consider everything away from the game tomorrow and deal with things appropriately
31st over: India 191-3 (Pandya 30, Jadhav 19)
Less effective from Cummins this time around, starting well before spraying a wide down the legside that Wade can’t glove, two added. Jadhav gets one away to third man off an edge next ball; the bottom of the bat by the looks of the replay. Then keeps the strike in that direction as well, with a single. Nine from it.
Ben Stokes and Alex Hales will not be considered for selection for England international matches until further notice.
Each remains on full pay pending further ECB investigation and the on going Police investigation into an incident in Bristol in the early hours of Monday 25 September.
Statement on Stokes and Haleshttps://t.co/51xXkmGpYopic.twitter.com/13oXQwzJON
30th over: India 182-3 (Pandya 29, Jadhav 13)
Stoinis! Didn’t look like we were going to see him again in this match going straight off the ground reaching for his groin. Used here in favour of Zampa. Tough call to take the young spinner out of the attack rather than giving him a chance to force the error, but there we have it. Jadhav up the business end for the bulk of this over though, picking up the eight they require to keep with the rough required rate. Highlight a boundary pulled through midwicket into the gap from a fairly loose delivery. Stoinis not quick enough to get away with that, especially on a track without much life in it for the most part.
29th over: India 175-3 (Pandya 27, Jadhav 8)
Cummins back for NCN, Smith rotating the quicks at that end. He’s quick from the get-go, smacking into Pandya’s thigh. Looks like it must have been fleshy based on the response. Have a bruise for that, mate, the bowler would have informed. Superb piece of bowling to finish the over, beating Jadhav with a beauty outside the off-stump. He didn’t get any movement in his opening spell with the new ball, but that is genuine outswing. Change has worked well, only two from the over. 160 from 128 needed.
28th over: India 173-3 (Pandya 26, Jadhav 7)
PANDYAMONIUM! Knew it had to come soon, Zampa the man he targets just as he did to begin the series. He just flat-bats the first of two sixes, deep midwicket cleared by a long way. Zampa tries to deceive him into a false stroke outside the off-stump, but he goes again! Over extra cover for six more. Well, that’ll do. TV graphic shows that Pandya has 50 runs from 26 Zampa balls at him in this series. Feels about right. He fights back with a good final ball, landing his topspinner and forcing respect. Will Smith keep backing Zampa? Has the runs to play with to buy the wicket, doesn’t he?
27th over: India 158-3 (Pandya 13, Jadhav 5)
Pandya clips a couple out to the sweeper to begin. Working into his innings. Javhad does likewise later in the over. A really close catching midwicket next to the pitch introduced, suggesting that they are going to attack Pandya’s stumps with seam. Six from it. But they need a bit more than that 177 to get at 7.7 an over from this point. “There are too many runs to get to rebuild,” observes Harsha. In other words, Pandyamoooodium probably coming soon.
26th over: India 152-3 (Pandya 10, Jadhav 2)
Good time to bring Zampa back. He struggled earlier, but two new men. And Pandya will go at him, no question about that. Loves attacking spin of any kind and has already taken Zampa down in this series. It’s a really good over too, eating Pandya outside the off-stump with a slower delivery well outside the off-stump, keeping him honest either side with top-spinners directed at the woodwork. Should be a good contest between these two over the next few overs.
25rd over: India 149-3 (Pandya 8, Jadhav 1)
Harsha on the TV is gutted that Kohli has departed. But India still in decent enough nick with ample depth and experience in these chases. Jadhav, the new man, off the mark with a steer to third man. Pandya keeps the strike with a tuck. Two runs and the huge wicket from it. Perfect return to the attack from NCN.
According to WinViz, Australia are firm favourites now. #INDvsAUSpic.twitter.com/pb4u8315Ga
Fantastic bowling change! NCN returns to the attack and second ball has Kohli! The captain chops on from the crease. Undone trying to get a bit cute, not a lot of footwork. Cinnaswamy, momentarily, silenced.
24rd over: India 147-2 (Kohli 21, Pandya 7)
Right, it is Pandya at four, as he was at Indore. The internet nearly exploded when he was elevated up the list in that game on Sunday. He was the matchwinner. Kohli the first to find the boundary here though, a superb cover drive. His best shot yet. Pandya’s turn comes though - BIG over long-on, in keeping with what we have seen throughout from the emerging star of the game in this series. Can’t let these two get into a groove. They’ve done well to get the openers, but Australia can’t rest.
What a mess! Kohli to backward point, well stopped by Smith who makes a wonderful take and throw at the ‘keeper’s end. It misses, but they are both ball-watching, ending up at that end. It gives Head, who is backing up, sufficient time to get it down to the non-strikers’ end for Richardson to take the bails. One brings two! On reflection, utterly brilliant from Smith to make the stop to begin with. Full five, one hand, the works.
Earlier in the over, Kohli played a glorious clip from middle stump through the onside for four. Stat flashes up on TV that he is the fastest to 2000 ODI runs as captain. That’s in 36 matches, the next quickest ABDV in 41.
22nd over: India 127-1 (Rohit 63, Kohli 10)
A graphic comes up on TV showing how closely Head’s deliveries have been. Very consistent for a spinner usually identified as a part-timer. But he’s a better bowler than that. Doesn’t stop Rohit though! Nothing wrong with the penultimate ball of this over but Rohit comes down the track to meet the ball at the pitch and hits him over his head for six. That’s one way to hit a bowler of their line and length. Good response from Head though, straight back on it to end the set.
21st over: India 119-1 (Rohit 56, Kohli 9)
Richardson again. Was a good change getting him on for Zampa, who was struggling early. Four singles to the sweepers but nothing more. Pattern of his match in Indore too, battled early on but once the South Australian found his groove became very hard to get away. Essentially filling the John Hastings role and doing it well.
20th over: India 115-1 (Rohit 54, Kohli 7)
Head stays on. And Stonis gets his first workout there, having to chase hard behind the ‘keeper after the captain Kohli executes a little glide. Big dive, but can’t stop it. First boundary for Virat. And he’s dropped last ball of the over! That could be a very big moment in the context of this game. Head has earned the return catch taken off the back foot from Kohli, so it wasn’t going too quickly. He dives to his left and it doesn’t stick. Proooobably should have done better there. Either way, it’s a legit dropped catch. The champion survives. Australia on top at the moment.
If you close your eyes and just listen, the ovation Kohli gets when he goes out to bat these days brings back memories of No.10. #INDvAUS
19th over: India 108-1 (Rohit 53, Kohli 1)
Right, so Richardson has got the incision. Clutch take from Finch. But that brings Virat to the middle, and we certainly know it with the huge response from the crowd. They love him in Bangalore, that’s for sure. Off the mark with a single to third man to end the over. Two from it. Just what Australia needed. Oh, and the camera cuts to Marcus Stoinis... he’s back on the field! Given the way he left, that’s quite surprising.
First ball after drinks! Rahane makes room to slap down the ground and nearly goes the whole way but Finch completes a good catch running around at long-on. Super hand from the opener. But now a chance for Australia to force their way into this the old-fashioned way: quick wickets.
18th over: India 106-0 (Rahane 53, Rohit 52)
“Yeeesss, Heady! That’s close to a nick mate!” Matthew Wade, of course, encouraging his off-spinner from behind the pegs. He is doing a lovely job again, pushing through the last over before the drinks break for just three singles. Against the flow of play, he has 0-11 from three. They drink with the home side, according to my CricViz app, a 54% chance of winning from here. Australia at 42 and the tie four. Before you yell at me/them, remember that their numbers are backward looking. Still pretty fun to keep an eye on in chases like this.
17th over: India 103-0 (Rahane 51, Rohit 51)
Another second-decker! Rohit has gone BIG over midwicket, picking up a quicker Zampa delivery nice and early, down into the slog-sweep position and delivering! AND AGAIN! Longer this time! To 50 he moves as well with the Indian 100 as well. Superb over, worth 14. Magnificent clean hitting from the opener. He’s seen Rahane go at a better clip throughout, but now pulled even. Slog-sweeps suggest something ugly, but they were both very pretty indeed.
16th over: India 89-0 (Rahane 50, Rohit 38)
Down the ground goes Rahane to classy half-century, his third on the bounce. Head going nicely here, beats Rohit then pushes Rahane deep back in the crease. Gives it a real rip. Done well since coming into the Australian white-ball XI last year in the West Indies to now push ahead of Maxwell. Twice now he’s been kept when the Victorian dropped. Not least due to the fact that Smith rates his spin as a better option. Wade creates some levity to end the over, throwing the ball back to the bowler and hitting Rahane on the helmet. Laughs all round. Play on.
Best resign yourself to the fact that you will NEVER be allowed home now, Adam!
15th over: India 85-0 (Rahane 48, Rohit 36)
Zampa just taking a while to find it here. In his first over he was too short, now too full. But again he’s saved any real scoreboard damage, conceding just the four in the over. Won’t be claiming any wickets with that, though.
14th over: India 81-0 (Rahane 46, Rohit 34)
Trav Head on from the end Stoinis was operating from. Nice cover drive/slap from Rohit gets him a couple, nearly beating the sweeper. But Head does this well, rushing through a 60-second over. Spoke too soon: gives away an overthrow last ball, Rohit to retain the strike as a result. Four from it. Two spinners operating, Australia need to find something before the accumulation phase catches up with them.
13th over: India 77-0 (Rahane 45, Rohit 31)
Zampa back into the XI with Agar injured. Bit stiff to be dropped given the 18 months he’s had in the canary yellow. Takes him a while to find his length, dropping short a few times in a row through the middle portion of the over. But gets away with it. Five singles.
12th over: India 72-0 (Rahane 42, Rohit 29)
Finch completes the over with his left-arm-neither-here-nor-theres. Oh, Marcus. The news is all in his face when walking from the field. He knows he’s in strife. Bowlers tend to. Very disappointing for the all-rounder.
That video shows a dickhead trying to bottle @benstokes38 and getting his just desserts in my opinion....
Groin injury. Straight off. Injured when fielding off his own bowling, couldn’t complete the next delivery. I blame myself for that. Urrrrrghhhhh.
11th over: India 69-0 (Rahane 40, Rohit 28)
Richardson has pushed back well in his second over. Belt and braces stuff, full on off-stump and just outside. In turn, only four singles from the over. If Australia lose here, it’ll be 12 completed ODIs away from home since they last won. Rough.
10th over: India 65-0 (Rahane 38, Rohit 26)
Marcus Stoinis to replace NCN. No change to Rahane’s approach, another blistering stroke through point, more or less off the front foot. Utter class. Gets one off around the corner later in the over to keep the strike. Nice comeback from the big all-rounder after that boundary came from his first ball. He’s done plenty right with ball in hand.
9th over: India 59-0 (Rahane 33, Rohit 25)
COP THAT! What a way to get your 50th six against Australia. Rohit sees a ropey short ball from the new bowler Richardson, and tucks right in. It’s big too, into the crowd. They are loving it. TV cross to shots of the press box, they will be cheering in there too no doubt. Rahane gets into it too! Doesn’t go the full journey, but another forceful blow from a poor delivery, out to the rope. Richardson has been quite good since coming into the XI, but has conceded 12 in his opening set here. After a couple of decent overs for Australia, too. India’s 50 up in the process. They’re right on track.
Rohit Sharma becomes the 1st batsman in ODIs to hit 50 sixes against Australia
Next best: 39 by Eoin Morgan#IndvAus
8th over: India 47-0 (Rahane 28, Rohit 18)
First boundaryless over, by my count. NCN doing his bit, keep it just short of a length for the most part, generating some away swing when he pitches up further. Not a lot of bounce out there, either.
7th over: India 45-0 (Rahane 27, Rohit 17)
Odd batting from Rohit to begin, doesn’t need to attempt a lap of Cummins at this stage, I’m fairly sure. He misses, hit on the pad. Appeal is turned down. No review. Would have been close, the replay confirms, but not hitting. Turning the strike over via a leg bye, Rahane gets a go and carves with complete ease behind point for four more. His fourth boundary alongside the six in the previous over. In superb nick, he is.
6th over: India 39-0 (Rahane 23, Rohit 17)
Oh! Rahane isn’t meant to be known for his big hitting but he’s nailed an absolute beauty here, all the way for six! “That’s the shot of the series!” says Michael Clarke. Front foot, over cover, slap. Cop that, NCN! What a player. Speaking of Clarke, they have a chat to him on the TV about an ODI ton he made at Bangalore in 2007 with a few highlights. “What’s going on with me hair?” his first response. Okay. Dots through the rest of the over, ball where Rahane tries to make room and flick behind square and it only just goes over his leg stump. Eventful whenever he’s on strike at the moment.
5th over: India 33-0 (Rahane 16, Rohit 17)
Rohit goes big! Cummins short, and doesn’t hesitate to swing the arms in the general direction of midwicket, popping it into the crowd. The corresponding series four years ago was where this player hit a double ton. Not enough runs out there for him to do that today, but hard to stop when he gets on the heater as he was on Sunday in Indore for a time. Couple of singles to see out the set. No issues for either batsmen at this stage.
4th over: India 25-0 (Rahane 16, Rohit 9)
Rohit’s turn to strike hard square of the wicket, NBN giving him the necessary width to complete a punishing slap to the point boundary. Close up of Smith’s face. Looks like he wants to go home as well. They’ve spent a looooot of time in the subcontinent this year. Smith and Warner especially. About six weeks for the Border-Gavaskar, roughly eight weeks for the IPL, over three weeks in Bangladesh now this series, where they had seven days prep before the first ODI. It’ll work out to roughly 20 weeks. NCN gets it together for the back half of his over, with a bit of tail away from the right handers too.
Related: County cricket final day: Somerset beat Middlesex and survive, Hampshire battle drop – live!
3rd over: India 20-0 (Rahane 16, Rohit 4)
Wonderful stroke Rahane, clipping Cummins off his pads to start the fresh over; his third boundary already. Can’t set a field for that with no swing to speak of early on in this Australian defence. A couple to Rohit in that general direction as well. Cummins has been quite outstanding across this tour (remember, it began with two Tests in Bangladesh), but he might be tiring now. I say it again: get him home.
2nd over: India 12-0 (Rahane 10, Rohit 1)
“Rohit, Rohit!” goes the chant as Coulter-Nile (or NCN as I am going to refer to him from now) takes the ball. They usually save the chant for Kohli and Dhoni, so they must have really enjoyed his rapid 70-odd on Sunday. Rahane down the business end after a single, and he steers with complete comfort through the cordon along the ground for his second boundary. The Indian vice-captain is away. “This is the difference between having 290 on the board and 330,” observes Michael Clarke. “They have to take these two on straight away. Last time, they knew they could just see off the two opening bowlers.”
If you get involved in a street brawl you better have a bloody good batting/bowling average or you're in serious trouble.#Ashes
1st over: India 6-0 (Rahane 6, Rohit 0)
Before we begin. Why is Pat Cummins still in India? Gotta get the boy home, don’t you? He is missing the T20s anyway, let him watch these dead rubbers from the couch. Anyway, here he is. Rahane away with a couple behind square and then launches into a smashing square drive. It’s in the air and only a couple of feet from a diving Head at point, but four runs. Up to 146kph with the final delivery of the over.
Neglected to mention. We should talk. Have you got a love song dedication for Glenn Maxwell too? Or a hot take on Ben Stokes? Then hit me (not you, Ben). Email. Tweet.
I have a take on England’s Ashes squad that I want to save for an article, but I’ll test it out here. Here goes. In the form of how they set the S.A.T questions when I completed it in America way back when:
Vince/Ballance : Trevor Bayliss’ Ashes squad :: Benson/Hedges : Mike Bassett’s World Cup squad.
Quick update on Stokes is up.
He has apologised to the board, who held a teleconference this morning to review the disturbing footage that emerged last night. Bloody hell. Grim isn’t it?
Related: Ben Stokes apologises to ECB following arrest under suspicion of ABH
Allo.
Thanks to JPH for keeping me up to speed as I raced around London this morning. Caught the last few overs and especially enjoyed his Randy Macho Man Savage “OOOOH YEEEAH!” directed at Marcus Stoinis when flogging a massive one at the death. Adam Collins taking the baton now for India’s chase of 335 for a four-zip series lead.
Australia eventually reached a total they’ll feel confident of defending after once again threatening to throw away a strong position. David Warner and Aaron Finch put on 231 for the opening wicket in quick time, but after Warner fell for 124 in his 100th ODI, Finch (94) and Steve Smith (3) followed soon after.
Peter Handscomb (43) and Travis Head (29) regrouped for Australia and some late boundaries for Marcus Stoinis (15*) took the total to a score just above par you’d think on a small ground with a lightning outfield and a venue India are used to winning on.
50th over: Australia 334-5 (Stoinis 15, Wade 3)
Shami to bowl the final over and it’s a good one for Australia, 15 from it.
49th over: Australia 319-5 (Stoinis 2, Wade 0)
Good if not fluent innings from Handscomb - 43 from 30. Regathered some of Australia’s momentum after the wheels threatened to fall off again.
49th over: Australia 319-5 (Stoinis 2)
India’s turn to make a mess of things now. A run out opportunity is missed following a poor throw to the keeper, and then Handscomb gets lucky with a mistimed drive towards the cover sweeper that Rahane dives for, misses, and concedes four. Yadav puts the next one in the Victorian skipper’s hitting zone and watches the ball sail over cow corner for six.
48th over: Australia 306-4 (Handscomb 33, Stoinis 2)
Handscomb has been fine today but he doesn’t look comfortable as a late-innings striker. He’s overcome that with some good running and by dispatching the bad ball but he’s not a destructive force compared to some of the other players at Australia’s disposal.
47th over: Australia 300-4 (Handscomb 29, Stoinis 0)
Head never really looked in, always trying to hit the ball a bit too hard during his 38 ball stay worth 29 runs.
That’s more like it from Head! After a wide to start the over Umesh puts one in Head’s slot and he swings that massive arc of his to cart the ball over cow corner for a flat six. He tries the same shot later in the over but doesn’t pick the slower ball and Rahane swoops on the square-leg fence to pocket the catch.
46th over: Australia 287-3 (Head 20, Handscomb 27)
A boundary to start Shami’s over, the first in aeons that Australia have begun positively. It was a delightful shot too from Handscomb, straight drive just to the off side with a beautifully held classical pose in the follow though.
45th over: Australia 276-3 (Head 18, Handscomb 21)
All pace from hereon in with Umesh interrupting Jadhav’s fine spell. He has a full deck of deliveries making him difficult to line up. Cutters, yorkers, genuine pace on a length, all hoicked with brute force by the batsmen but none middled. Just five from the over.
44th over: Australia 271-3 (Head 17, Handscomb 17)
Tidy over from Shami, five from it.
43rd over: Australia 266-3 (Head 16, Handscomb 13)
Jadhav moves into the seventh over of his momentum changing spell. He gets away with one run from his opening three deliveries to Head but a full toss to Handscomb is put away nicely to release the pressure. Still, another decent over in the scheme of things for India with just six coming from it.
42nd over: Australia 260-3 (Head 15, Handscomb 8)
Chahal’s legspin a bold inclusion into the attack. To the left-handed Head the line is well wide of off, spinning in prodigiously but slowly. To the right-handed Handscomb it’s a more conventional off-stump line from over the wicket.
Interesting phase of the game both Head & Handscomb in need of runs but team requires minimum 8-10 per over in last 10 overs! #INDvAUS
41st over: Australia 252-3 (Head 9, Handscomb 7)
Jadhav continues, prompting the conversation on commentary to wonder if he bowls with the lowest arm in cricket history. It’s certainly in Malinga territory.
40th over: Australia 248-3 (Head 7, Handscomb 5)
Shami replaces fellow opening bowler Yadav and Head’s keen to smack him out of the attack. A swing and a miss is followed by a fierce inside edge onto his pad before a conventional off drive rotates the strike. Just two from the over.
39th over: Australia 246-3 (Head 6, Handscomb 4)
Jadhav continues - he isn’t going to give up the ball now after being called on originally as cannon fodder for Warner and Finch. And he sends down another rapid over that Australia can’t get to grips with.
I reckon I've seen this one before #INDvAUS#herewegoagain
38th over: Australia 240-3 (Head 2, Handscomb 3)
Oooh, Head’s a lucky boy. A leading edge lobbed just past the bowler in his follow through and died near the umpire after another nervy shot.
Oh dear or dear oh dear. DON’T PANIC!!!!!!!!
Smith’s gone. Three for five in the blink of an eye. Chipped Umesh Yadav to Kohli’s safe hands at midwicket and the wheels are falling off like a Russian dashcam compilation.
37th over: Australia 236-2 (Head 0, Smith 3)
It was a super knock from Finch, his second in a row. He missed out on his century today but I thought be batted better than he did in Indore. The timing of his dismissal is disappointing though, so soon after Warner’s, inviting India back into the game.
Not again? Was that record opening partnership just the prelude to an even more hilarious collapse?
Umesh Yadav comes back into the attack and after frustrating Finch for four deliveries the Victorian picks out mid-on with a mistimed lofted drive.
35th over: Australia 231-1 (Finch 94)
Crunch! Raining sixes in Bengaluru. Finch lines up Jadhav’s weirdness and manufactures a leg-stump half-volley and sticks into the cheap seats.
33rd over: Australia 222-0 (Finch 86, Warner 123)
Warner hits the roof! Axar bowls one in the slot and the centurion wallops it high over cow corner. Clean power hitting from Warner, clearing his front leg, gritting his teeth and muscling it miles.
33rd over: Australia 206-0 (Finch 86, Warner 107)
Yadhav’s action really is a thing of wonder. He approaches the crease over the wicket from an angle but delivers almost from around the wicket, his action is so rounded his arm stretches wide of the umpire at the point of release. It’s effective for now with just three runs from the over.
32nd over: Australia 203-0 (Finch 85, Warner 105)
200 partnership now up for Australia as Axar continues his nifty business.
Why is 87 “hated” in the Australian culture?
31st over: Australia 197-0 (Finch 81, Warner 103)
Kedar Jadhav’s part-time roundarms are brought on to see if they can burgle a wicket. They are odd things to witness. His arm is nearer horizontal than vertical, really flat skimmer deliveries.
CENTURY! Brilliant knock from @davidwarner31, bringing up his 14th ODI hundred - and first international in India - off 103 balls #INDvAUSpic.twitter.com/FsjyIFZc3x
30th over: Australia 191-0 (Finch 80, Warner 98)
Axar back into the attack and he’s greeted by Finch’s delicate side, the right-hander dropping to one knee and casually lapping a boundary behind square on the leg side. Warner continues to intelligently nudge his way to his century.
29th over: Australia 183-0 (Finch 75, Warner 95)
Warner in no rush to reach three figures, despite how much Chahal tempts him into a reckless shot. It’s a sign of how well these two have batted in tandem that they’ve accepted the occasional quiet over without any sign of desperation.
28th over: Australia 180-0 (Finch 73, Warner 94)
Pandya back on to replace Axar and it gives Warner a chance to show his game isn’t all about power with some aggressive running keeping the scoreboard motoring along.
We understand members of the ECB board have spoken via video conference to activate disciplinary procedures with regards to Ben Stokes. pic.twitter.com/zWBS82wtj8
27th over: Australia 174-0 (Finch 72, Warner 90)
Chahal continues and every so often one of his leggies grips but there’s no field set to profit from anything any more, nor are they landing in consistently dangerous areas. Finch cuts out any risk of spin from the last delivery of the over, taking a big stride and monstering Chahal over the sightscreen.
@JPHowcroft This is the Chinnaswamy, so India will start panicking only after Australia crosses 338.https://t.co/qiTeq8yRWk
Nigam
26th over: Australia 161-0 (Finch 61, Warner 88)
Axar continues his excellent spell with a stifled appeal for a leg-side strangle against Warner. Finch has seen enough, stays leg-side of the ball and goes inside-out for six over cover. Axar has been hard to get away in recent overs but Finch shows the way with a mighty hit. He backs that up by dispatching a sloppy legside delivery to become the leading runscorer in the series so far - from just two knocks!
25th over: Australia 148-0 (Finch 50, Warner 86)
Finch backs up his ton in Indore with a 50 here in Bengaluru. He’s looked more compact and controlled than he did last time out, which is ominous for India.
24th over: Australia 145-0 (Finch 49, Warner 85)
Axar continues to be difficult to get away, mixing up his pace and angles with his left-arm orthodox.
The crowd cheering Warner's sixes means that this has an #IPL vibe to it.
What say?#INDvAUS
23rd over: Australia 143-0 (Finch 48, Warner 84)
Chance! First of the day for India and missed by MS Dhoni behind the stumps. Finch advances to Chahal, swings and misses, but Dhoni’s hands are nowhere near the ball as it races away for four byes. Poor keeping really to not get anywhere near that chance, and with runs flowing freely India can’t afford to be too charitable.
22nd over: Australia 136-0 (Finch 47, Warner 82)
First appeal of the day arrives in the 22nd over as Warner goes back to an Axar delivery from around the wicket and getting hit on the pad, but it’s sliding well down leg.
21st over: Australia 135-0 (Finch 47, Warner 81)
As with previous tight overs, Australia respond immediately afterwards, Warner advancing to Chahal’s opening delivery and depositing him into the stand behind midwicket. Further runs are worked both sides of the wicket as Australia’s brilliant start continues.
20th over: Australia 124-0 (Finch 46, Warner 71)
Axar back into the attack and he delivers a tidy and very rapid over, just the one from it.
19th over: Australia 123-0 (Finch 46, Warner 70)
More runs for Australia, and Chahal’s second over features a mighty swish of Warner’s Kaboom, sending the ball effortlessly over the square leg boundary. There’s turn later in the over but by then the batsmen were watchful, safe in the knowledge the scoreboard was already motoring.
18th over: Australia 112-0 (Finch 45, Warner 61)
Australia bang on top at drinks. Can they finally go on and deliver a big score after conspiring to finish under par so far this series?
17th over: Australia 104-0 (Finch 42, Warner 56)
Yuzvendra Chahal the latest Indian bowler to try his luck. Warner responds by batting without any headwear whatsoever. Not often you see that in international cricket - not even a cap. Chahal doesn’t really land any of his leggies but Australia have been wary of his variations this series and treat him with respect.
Cashing in on the nothing to lose situation. Warneful fifty. #INDvAUS
16th over: Australia 101-0 (Finch 42, Warner 54)
Pandya’s variations all coming out now to stem the flow of runs but this opening pair look compact, composed and they’re timing the ball beautifully, meaning there are runs from almost every delivery.
15th over: Australia 96-0 (Finch 40, Warner 50)
50 for Warner in his 100th ODI. Three dot balls from Axar before he drops short on a couple of occasions. First he’s pulled over midwicket for six, then carved through the offside for four. This pair at the crease could break records the way things are going.
14th over: Australia 85-0 (Finch 40, Warner 40)
Four from Pandya’s second over as both batsmen calmly consolidate.
13th over: Australia 81-0 (Finch 39, Warner 38)
Axar really rattles through his work, which is great for the over-rate, not so much for florid descriptions of the action. Three singles precede a well placed cut from Warner that beats the ring of four on the offside. He calmly follows up that boundary with a nurdled single. Excellent batting.
12th over: Australia 73-0 (Finch 37, Warner 32)
Hardik Pandya replaces Umesh Yadav. Pandya has been one of the stars of the series but he’s powerless to deny Finch in this mood. Another four through the covers to a delivery on the rise, and this one might be the purest of them all. It looked just like a back-foot push but it raced away beyond the reach of the cover sweeper. He repeats the trick a couple of balls later but the field had adjusted and only a single resulted.
After 100 ODIs:
Most runs - Amla (4808)
Highest ave - Richards (55.28)
Most 100s - Amla (16)#INDvAUS
11th over: Australia 64-0 (Finch 31, Warner 30)
Axar Patel into the attack for Mohammed Shami. Axar bowls left-arm orthodox with plenty of flight, and appreciable away drift to the left-handed Warner, indicating the ball is coming out nicely with plenty of revs. He’s not afriad to fire it in either when sees the batsman advancing. Just one run from an excellent start.
10th over: Australia 63-0 (Finch 31, Warner 29)
More shoddy fielding from India. Two ring fielders failed to commit to a square cut bouncing between them resulting in neither making the stop and Warner picking up four. Warner rides that momentum next ball with a crunching stand and deliver drive through extra cover.
9th over: Australia 50-0 (Finch 27, Warner 20)
50 up for Australia with a Warner nudge to square leg. Shami alternating over and around the wicket not to the left-hander.
Solid start from the Aussies in Bengaluru as the 50 comes up in the ninth over. Finch 27* and Warner 20*: https://t.co/0IVnsCCfck#INDvAUSpic.twitter.com/MrRkQhbw9C
8th over: Australia 49-0 (Finch 27, Warner 19)
Yadav finding a good line and length this over, as well as a hint of away movement in the air and off the pitch. Finch chases one early that then forces him into a defensive mindset but he can’t resist a nibble at another that streaks down to the third-man fence. On replay that was a genuine open-faced glide from the batsman.
7th over: Australia 45-0 (Finch 23, Warner 19)
Another first-ball four for Australia, this time from Finch, but it’s a thick inside edge to square leg from a drive aimed towards cover. Four more to Warner with a nifty pull off his hip to a Shami delivery too short for this surface. It might have been a set-up because a slower ball bouncer arrives shortly afterwards but Warner does well to control his aggression. A statement that carries plenty of weight in current circumstances.
6th over: Australia 36-0 (Finch 18, Warner 15)
Warner, aggrieved at observing the day’s first maiden from the non-striker’s end, smacks a lofted drive back over Yadav’s head that takes a bounce before crossing the rope.
5th over: Australia 29-0 (Finch 17, Warner 11)
Better from India, first maiden of the day. Shami giving Finch less width and when he does stray fractionally the field is well set.
4th over: Australia 29-0 (Finch 17, Warner 11)
Oof! That was very tidy from Finch, driving square to a Yadav delivery on the rise that skips merrily to the point boundary for four. Yadav overcorrects, strays onto Finch’s pads and that’s as easy as knocking the top off a cold one for the big lad from Colac.
3rd over: Australia 19-0 (Finch 8, Warner 11)
100 ODIs for Warner but none would have featured a more beautifully timed straight dive for four that heralded the start of Shami’s second over. Two balls later and the first genuine win for the bowler has Warner thick-edging onto his pads from one that just seamed into him a little. Shami stays on that tight line for the rest of the over and has another moral victory from the final delivery, finding Warner’s outside edge this time, but the ball races through the vacant third slip region and away for four.
2nd over: Australia 9-0 (Finch 8, Warner 1)
Umesh Yadav, with his face covered in war-zinc, shares the new ball with Shami. Not a lot to report from a solid wicket-to-wicket line but Kohli’s horrendous misfield to allow Warner his first run was not one for the superstar’s highlight reel.
1st over: Australia 5-0 (Finch 4, Warner 0)
Mohammed Shami to open for India on his recall to the side, right-arm over the wicket to Finch, bowling to two slips. Second ball is a juicy floating half-volley with a hint of away swing that Finch just eases into and admires all the way to the cover fence. A few other loose deliveries in an ordinary opening are not put away.
India have lost only once in last 16 International matches at Chinnaswamy since 2005. The loss was in a T20I v Pak in Dec 2012. #INDvAUS
The players are faced with the most clement conditions of the series so far. In southern India the temperature is in the mid-20s with overcast skies threatening the occasional shower during the day.
It’s David Warner’s 100th ODI today. To borrow a stat from Cricinfo: during his first 71 ODIs he hit five centuries and averaged 37. In his next 28 ODIs he’s smacked eight tons at an average of 60.
The venue here has undergone some renovations in recent times so nobody seems entirely sure what to make of the surface. Kohli admits he would have batted first too, indicating the dryness of the pitch suggests there may be turn later in the day.
As in Indore, Australia will bat first.
Australia win the toss. Elect to bat first in the 4th Paytm ODI at Bengaluru #INDvAUSpic.twitter.com/xICGvaxuPt
Maxwell dropped and Wade recalled. Not going too well over there, is it? #INDvAUS
For the hosts there are three changes with Kuldeep, Bumrah and Bhuvneshwar all given a spell with Umesh Yadav, Mohammed Shami and Axar Patel having a dart.
IND XI: A Rahane, RG Sharma, V Kohli, K Jadhav, M Pandey, MS Dhoni, H Pandya, A Patel, M Shami, U Yadav, Y Chahal
Couple of changes for Australia. Out go the injured Agar and the discarded Maxwell. In come the returning Wade and Zampa.
Australia XI: Warner, Finch, Smith (c), Handscomb, Head, Stoinis, Wade (wk), Cummins, Coulter-Nile, Zampa, Richardson #INDvAUS
One thing that must be pointed out early, while it’s all fun and games poking fun at England’s misfortune and the alleged misbehaviour of an apparent recidivist, the behaviour in question is no laughing matter. Former Australian international David Hookes died after an assault outside a Melbourne pub in 2004.
Sadly just viewed the damning video footage of the Ben Stokes incident It brought back horrific memories for me Nothing good comes of this
Seconds out, round four! In the blue corner, the undisputed champion of the series and the pound-for-pound best-ranked cricketing side in One Day Internationals - India! And in the gold corner, the challenger, 0-3 on tour so far, struggling to land a blow, it’s Australia!
Ok, enough with the lame boxing gags for now (for now, I must insist, not for good).
Jonathan will be here shortly. In the meantime, there’s a little something going down in the England camp less than two months out from the start of the Ashes, in case you hadn’t heard.
Related: Ben Stokes’s Ashes hopes in the balance after Bristol arrest
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