4th ODI India vs Australia: Match abandoned due to rain, Australia lead series 2-1

The fourth one-day international between India and Australia has been abandoned because of heavy rains clogging the outfield making it impossible for resumption of play.

Australia preserve their 2-1 lead in the series with three matches to go.

The fifth match is scheduled to take in Cuttack on Saturday October 26.

Chasing a target og 296, India were 27 for no loss in 4.1 overs when a thin drizzle forced the players off the field.

Thereafter buckets of rain poured down in Ranchi which was a one-day international for the second time in history.

Australia propelled by half centuries from George Bailey (98) and Glenn Maxwell (92) recovered to make 295 for eight after being put into bat by India.

Shami rocked Australia swinging the ball around to have them tottering at 32-3 after eight over.

Australia's innings was interrupted by a brief shower and they slid further to 71-4 in the 15th over.

However, Bailey and Maxwell rebuild the innings with a record 153-run stand for the fifth wicket.

Bailey cracked seven boundaries and three sixes in his 94-ball 98.

Maxwell smashed five sixes and seven boundaries in his 77-ball 92.

Australia looked like they would score in excess of 300 but were pegged back in the Batting Powerplay losing three wickets for 37 runs.

The tail also failed to wag with Faulkner failing to fire in the final overs.

Shami had the best return of three for 42 while Vinay Kumar and Ashwin two apiece.

Left arm spinner Jadeja was the only bowler to bowl his full quota of overs claiming one for 56 while Raina went for 38 in eight.

INDIA INNINGS

A thin drizzle has forced another stoppage after Dhawan glances Johnson to the fine leg fence. Ind 27-0 in 4.1 overs.

Rohit gets his first boundary edging McKay to third man. Ind 23-0 in 4 overs.

Dhawan cracks McKay over the infield to the cover boundary.

Dhawan hits the first boundary of the innings cracking McKay through point. Ind 12-0 in 2 overs.

Johnson bowls a fiery opening over bouncing one to the boundary. Ind 8-0 in 1 over.

AUSTRALIA INNINGS

Shami bowls a good final over conceding only one boundary as Australia finish on 295 for eight in 50 overs.

Ashwin claims his second wicket as Johnson is stumped to finish with two for 57 in nine overs. Aus 281-8 i 48.5 overs.

Mitchell Johnson st Dhoni b Ashwin 25 (31b 1x4 1x6)

Johnson swings Jadeja for a massive six into the crowd at midwicket as 14 runs come of the 48th over. Aus 278-7 in 48 overs.

Johnson also gets into the act sweeping Jadeja to midwicket for a boundary and survives next ball as Raina drops a skier.

Faulkner breaks the shackles cracking a boundary off Raina. Aus 264-7 in 47 overs.

The boundaries have dried up in the last six overs as Faulkner and Johnson struggle against spin. Aus 255-7 in 46 overs.

Australia have managed just nine in the last four overs bowled by Jadeja and Raina. Aus 247-7 in 44 overs.

The big question is whether Australia's tail can wag to get past 300 with third ODI match winner Faulkner and Johnson in the middle. Aus 243-7 in 42 overs.

Australia have been pegged back in the Batting Powerplay scoring 37 for the loss of three wickets.

Vinay is fortunate to get another wicket trapping Maxwell leg before for 92. Aus 238-7 in 40 overs.

Glenn Maxwell lbw b Vinay Kumar 92 (77b 6x4 5x6)

Maxwell hoists Vinay for a massive six over fine leg to move to 92.

Australia lose two wickets in quick succession with Haddin playing the wrong line to be castled by Jadeja. Aus 232-6 in 38.3 overs.

Brad Haddin b Jadeja 3 (4b 0x4 0x6)

Maxwell drives Vinay through the covers to finish the over. Aus 230-5 in 38 overs.

Haddin comes into middle playing his 100th ODI match on his 36th birthday.

The 153-run fifth wicket partnership between Bailey and Maxwell is a record for Australia against India.

Bailey tries to hit Vinay out of the ground but Rohit pouches a skier to fall two short of a century. Aus 224-5 in 37.1 overs.

George Bailey c Sharma b Vinay Kumar 98 (94b 7x4 3x6)

Maxwell is playing out of his skin smashing a six and a boundary off consecutive balls off Ashwin with reverse hits. Aus 224-5 in 37 overs.

Australia are 211 for four after 36 overs as drinks are taken.

Shami returns but Bailey helps himself to a consecutive boundaries through third man and covers to move to the 90s.

Maxwell survives on 69 with Dhoni failing to hold on to a chance as he tries to tickle Raina to third man. Aus 201-4 in 35 overs.

Bailey is on fire clobbering Vinay for a huge six to midwicket. Aus 198-4 in 34 overs.

Bailey slams a couple of boundaries off Raina finding the gaps easily. Aus 190-4 in 33 overs.

Maxwell smashes his second six off Jadeja which sails into the crowd at midwicket. Aus 179-4 in 32 overs.

The 100-run partnership between Bailey and Maxwell for the fifth wicket has come in just 103 balls.

Bailey survives a confident leg before appeal off Raina with replays suggesting it may got the inside edge. Aus 170-4 in 31 overs.

Maxwell reaches his fourth ODI half century off 45 balls in style sweeping the returning Jadeja for a massive six over midwicket.

Raina comes into the attack replaying Yuvraj as Bailey and Maxwell rebuild the Australian innings.

Australia's third fifty has come in just 42 deliveries.

Unadkat returns for his second spell but is despatched to the fine leg boundary by Maxwell.

Bailey slams a couple of boundaries on either side of the wicket off Yuvraj's first over. Aus 138-4 in 27 overs.

Dhoni brings Yuvraj into the attack with left arm spinner Jadeja bowling a good spell.

Bailey hoists Ashwin for his second six and completes his 11th ODI half century with a single next ball. Aus 121-4 in 25 overs.

Maxwell has given Ashwin the charge smashing him over extra cover for a six.Aus 108-4 in 23 overs.

Jadeja into the attack after 21 overs.

Bailey seems to be having a charmed innings having been let off on nought first ball by Kohli and on 35 by  Ashwin. Aus 100-4 in 21 overs.

Maxwell smacks Vinay to the square leg fence with Unadkat making a poor attempt to cut it off. Aus 96-4 in 20 overs.

Bailey (35) is dropped again by Ashwin off Vinay at midwicket with Australia 90-4 in the 20th over.

Maxwell gets his first boundary glancing the erratic Vinay to fine leg. Aus 85-4 in 18 overs.

Australia's innings is in tatters now as Ashwin strikes in his second over with Voges being trapped leg before attempting to sweep. Aus 71-4 in 14.3 overs.

Adam Voges lbw b Ashwin 7 (16b 1x4 0x6)

Ashwin into the attack replacing Vinay who went for 14 in his first over. Aus 65-3 in 13 overs.

Shami is straying in line and Voges glances him to the fine leg fence as Australia get a flurry of boundaries. Aus 58-3 in 12 overs.

Bailey is on fire cracking a couple of boundaries off Vinay and a six to midwicket. Aus 54-3 in 11 overs.

Vinay Kumar replaces Unadkat who has figures of 5-0-19-0 as Australia finish the Powerplay overs on 44-3.

Voges opens his account jabbing Unadkat through the covers. Aus 39-3 in 9 overs.

Shami has figures of 4-0-20-3.

Shami is on fire beating Watson through the gate to clip his off bail. Aus 32-2 in 8 overs.

Shane Watson b Mohammed Shami 14 (19b 3x4 0x6) 

Watson punches Shami through long for a well timed boundary as play resumes aftr the rain break.

A drizzle over the ground has sent the players scurrying to the pavilion with Australia 28-2 in 7.2 overs.

Bailey survives after edging the first ball from Shami with Kohli fail to latch onto it at third slip. Aus 27-2 in 6 overs.

Shami strikes again with Hughes edging a rising delivery behind. Aus 24-2 in 5.4 overs.   

Phil Hughes c Dhoni b Mohammed Shami 11 (17b 1x4 0x6) 

Watson gets cracking by htting a couple of boundaries off Unadkat. Aus 18-1 in 5 overs.

Excellent start by India with the new strike pair Unadkat and Shami swinging the ball around. Aus 5-1 in 2 overs.

Shami strikes a deadly blow beating Finch through the gate and rattling his stumps. Aus 5-1 in 1.5 overs.

Aaron Finch b Mohammed Shami 5 (10b 1x4 0x6)

Finch hits the first boundary of the match whipping Shami to midwicket.

Unadkat bowls a good first over with Finch just managing a single. Aus 1-0 in 1 over.

Hughes and Finch make their way into the middle as Unadkat is handed the new ball.

India won the toss and put Australia into bat in the fourth one-day international at JSCA International Stadium Complex, Ranchi on Wednesday.

Australia lead the series 2-1 after their spectacular victory in Mohali on Saturday.

India have made two changes with Mohammed Shami and Jaydev Unadkat replacing Ishant Sharma and Bhuvneshwar Kumar.

Australia are unchanged.

PLAYING XI

India: Rohit Sharma, Shikhar Dhawan, Suresh Raina, Virat Kohli, Yuvraj Singh, MS Dhoni (captain), Ravindra Jadeja, Ravichandran Ashwin,  R Vinay Kumar, Mohammed Shami and Jaydev Unadkat.
 
Australia: Aaron Finch, Phil Hughes, Shane Watson, George Bailey (captain), Adam Voges, Glenn Maxwell, Brad Haddin, James Faulkner, Mitchell Johnson, Clint McKay, Xavier Doherty

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