Ind vs Aus 4th ODI, as it happened: Rain plays spoilsport in Ranchi

India and Australia did battle in the fourth ODI at  JSCA International Stadium Complex, Ranchi. Catch all the action as it happened: (Live Scorecard | Commentary)



QUOTES

MS Dhoni: Shami Ahmed was excellent, he hit the lengths well. Suresh Raina did well with the ball, but I'm sure our catching will improve. It's disappointing not to play a full game, but we can't control the weather.

George Bailey: We had enough runs on the board, Glenn Maxwell was excellent. It's nice to have a lead in the series, hopefully it won't rain in Cuttack.

20:50 (IST): 4th ODI between India (27/0, 4.1 overs) and Australia (295/8, 50 overs) called-off due to rain. Australia lead 7-match series 2-1.

20:22 (IST): The umpires will conduct one final inspection of the ground at 20:35 IST.

20:00 (IST): While the ground staff are working exceptionally hard to clear the water, it is still drizzling at the JSCA International Stadium.

19:44 (IST): The rain has reduced in Ranchi and the ground staff are clearing up the water. However the best that can probably be expected is a 20-over India innings.

19:25 (IST): If India's innings is reduced to 20 overs, they will have to chase 150 for victory which means another 123 runs in 15.5 overs.

19:11 (IST): It's pouring in Ranchi at the moment, resumption looks unlikely any time soon. Remember India need to resume their chase by 21:15 IST to complete their minimum 20 overs.

18:40 (IST): A slight symmetry by nature here. In the Australian innings, rain forced players off at 28/2 while India are at 27/0 currently.

18:20 (IST): Frustration for the players as rain halts play for the second time in Ranchi. India 27/0 in 4.1 overs, chasing 296 for victory.

18:11 (IST): Johnson testing the Rohit and Dhawan with pace and bounce. India 14/0 in 3 overs.

18:00 (IST): Shikhar Dhawan and Rohit Sharma walk out for the chase of 296. The batting line-up is strong and MS Dhoni and Co. would be expected to level the series.

17:30 (IST): Australia have posted a daunting total of 295/8, helped a lot by some poor catching by the Indians. It may not be a 300+ total but on a pitch helpful to seamers and spinners, it could be an uphill task. Both sides will feel pleased with their efforts. Its should be an exciting chase at Ranchi!

17:15 (IST): Mohammed Shami bowls the last over and ends with career-best figures of 3/42. India need 296 in 50 overs to beat Australia.

17:08 (IST): WICKET - Mitchell Johnson (25) st Dhoni b Ashwin, steps down the track and misses. Australia 281/8 in 48.5 overs.

17:00 (IST): A boundary, a six and a dropped catch compound India's misery. Australia 278/7 in 48 overs.

16:46 (IST): Its been a day of the 90s so far...

16:40 (IST): WICKET - Three quick wickets for India! Glenn Maxwell (92) lbw b Vinay Kumar, trapped in front of middle stump. Australia 238/7 in 40 overs.

16:35 (IST): WICKET - Two quick wickets for India! Brad Haddin (3) b Jadeja, misses a straighter one. Australia 232/6 in 38.3 overs.

16:30 (IST): WICKET - George Bailey (98) falls two short of his century, c Rohit Sharma b Vinay Kumar. He hoists one to deep mid-wicket with Australia at 224/5 in 37.1 overs.

16:25 (IST): Outrageous by Maxwell who connects two reverse-sweeps for a six and a four. Australia 224/4 in 37 overs.

16:17 (IST): Another drop here as Dhoni puts down Maxwell who attempts a late cut.

16:15 (IST): Australia are cruising here. Bailey and Maxwell are hammering the Indian bowling to pulp. Australia 200/4 in 34.2 overs.

15:55 (IST): A massive six gives Glenn Maxwell his 4th ODI fifty in 45 deliveries, Australia 163/4 in 29.2 overs.

15:55 (IST): Another drop, as Yuvraj puts down Glenn Maxwell, very tough chance to his left though. Australia 150/4 in 28 overs.

15:48 (IST): Bailey is proving a major hurdle for India! A couple of fours off Ashwin takes Australia to 138/4 in 28 overs.

15:43 (IST): A six and a single and George Bailey reaches his 11th ODI fifty, he has a stunning average of over 50 as well. Australia 126/4 in 26 overs.

15:30 (IST): Another let-off for Australia as Ashwin drops Glenn Maxwell at mid-wicket. Both batsmen at the crease have had one life each.

15:20 (IST): The game is now entering those middle overs where neither side wants to take too many chances. India have put themselves in a position of strength but the visitors still have the firepower to post a daunting total, 85/4 in 18 overs.

15:05 (IST): WICKET - Adam Voges (7) lbw b Ashwin, attempts a sweep and misses the ball completely. Australia 73/4 in 15 overs.

14:58 (IST): Oh well, Pakistan have been bowled out for 99 in their first innings versus South Africa! Here is the scorecard.

14:51 (IST): Vinay Kumar is brought into the attack and is smashed for a couple of boundaries and one six. Australia 54/3 in 10 overs.

14:46 (IST): Shami Ahmed, who has a career-best 3/21 in his first five overs, is consistently bowling at speeds over 140 kmph. Does this signal the end of the road for Ishant Sharma?

14:43 (IST): Meanwhile over in Abu Dhabi, after losing the first Test, South Africa have struck back with a vengence. Imran Tahir has picked up a five-for as Pakistan are reeling at 76/9 in 32 overs in their first innings. Follow all the action from the Pakistan versus South Africa 2nd Test.

14:38 (IST): WICKET - Play resumes after a 30 minute rain delay and Mohammad Shami strikes again! The ball zips through Shane Watson's (14) bat and pad and the off stump is knocked down. Australia 32/3 in 8 overs.

14:20 (IST): Play is set to resume in another 15 minutes, the rain seems to have cleared up.

14:06 (IST): A slight drizzle forces the game to halt. The players are still on the field but the covers are on. Australia 28/2 in 7.2 overs.

14:00 (IST): George Bailey was dropped first ball by Virat Kohli. Shami almost had his third. How crucial will that drop be, Bailey has been in excellent form!

13:54 (IST): WICKET - Shami Ahmed gets his second. Phil Hughes (11) edges a delivery to MS Dhoni and India get rid of both openers. Australia 27/2 in 6 overs.

13:54 (IST): TRIVIA - MS Dhoni is now in his 146th ODI as India captain that puts him level with Sourav Ganguly. He has a long way to go to catch Mohammad Azharuddin, who skippered India in 174 ODIs.

13:45 (IST): It has been an excellent start by Indian pacers Shami and Unadkat. The line and length has been perfect with no room available to the Aussie batsmen.

13:35 (IST): WICKET - Mohammad Shami gets the breakthrough, Aaron Finch (5) the man to depart. Ball goes between bat and pad and Finch's off stump is knocked down. Australia 5/1 in 2 overs.

13:20 (IST): Australia meanwhile have unsurprisingly gone in to the match with an unchanged side.

13:15 (IST): It's a balmy 24 degrees celcius in Ranchi, with a haze surrounding the ground, excellent weather for one-day cricket.

13:10 (IST): So, Ishant and Bhuvneshwar have been given the axe. The duo have been replaced by Jaydev Unadkat and Shami Ahmed in the playing XI. It's no surprise that Ishant has been made to cool his heels, after his horrific 30-run over in Ranchi. However Bhuvneshwar can consider himself a bit unlucky having been the most economical of Indian pace bowlers in this series. His death bowling would have gone against him through.

13:05 (IST): MS Dhoni finally wins the toss and India will bowl.

12:55 (IST): The question on every Indian fans lips is whether India will make changes to their stuttering bowling line-up. Ishant Sharma, Vinay Kumar and R Ashwin could all face the axe with Jaidev Unadkat, Shami Ahmed and Amit Mishra waiting in the wings.

12:45 (IST): ODI cricket is well and truly alive. The contest between bat and ball may not have been fair, but India and Australia have thrilled and entertained in the first three games. There are four more to go, with Ranchi all set to welcome hometown hero and skipper MS Dhoni.

PREVIEW
Bogged down by the profligacy of their bowlers, especially Ishant Sharma, India would be under pressure to bounce back when they take on Australia in the fourth ODI in Ranchi on Wednesday, hoping to tide over their death bowling miseries.

Trailing 2-1 after the loss in the third ODI in Mohali, India who retained the same eleven in the first three matches may be forced to tinker with the bowling line-up which has failed to live up to expectations.

Defending a huge target of 304, India were on course for a comfortable win in the third one-dayer at Mohali with 44 needed from the last three overs, but a wayward Ishant leaked 30 runs in the 48th over with James Faulkner smashing four sixes and two fours to turn the match in Australia's favour.

Introduction of two new balls, coupled with change in field restriction with fielders in the deep being reduced to four from five, has hit the Indian camp as the pacers are struggling to cope up with the alteration of rules.

Known for their lack of pace and swing, Indian pacers rely more on reverse swing on the flat pitches after the ball becomes old but the new rule has unsettled the hosts badly.

While batsmen have been in top form, it's the bowlers who have conceded 300-plus runs in all the three ODIs with poor spells in the death overs, something that would be the team management's main concern.

Ishant and R Vinay Kumar have been expensive with both conceding seven-plus runs per over but the latter has been at least among wickets and that might go in his favour. At 5.37, the third pacer, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, has been 'economical'.

After the disgraceful 48th over in Mohali, Ishant may not retain his place in the team and could be replaced by left-arm medium pacer Jayadev Unadkat, who is expected to bring some variety to the monotonous pace attack.

SQUAD

INDIA: Mahendra Singh Dhoni (captain, wicketkeeper), Rohit Sharma, Shikhar Dhawan, Virat Kohli, Suresh Raina, Yuvraj Singh, Ravindra Jadeja, Ravichandran Ashwin, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, R Vinay Kumar, Ishant Sharma, Ambati Rayudu, Amit Mishra, Mohammad Shami and Jaydev Unadkat.

AUSTRALIA: George Bailey (captain), Phillip Hughes, Aaron Finch, Shane Watson, Adam Voges, Glenn Maxwell, Brad Haddin (wicketkeeper), James Faulkner, Mitchell Johnson, Clint McKay, Xavier Doherty, Nathan Coulter-Nile, Callum Ferguson and Moises Henriques.