Ranchi:
The fourth ODI between India and Australia was today called off because of rains at the JSCA Stadium in Ranchi on Wednesday.
Chasing 296, India were 27 for no loss in 4.1 overs in when heavens opened up for the second time during the match.
The match was stopped at 6.18 pm because of light drizzle which later intensified to frustrate both the teams.
There was some hope in the middle as the rain had stopped after one hour and the groundsmen and super soppers were pressed into action.
The mopping exercise by the groundsmen continued for more than one hour but the two onfield umpires took the call after inspecting the ground at 8.30pm.
The match was called off after the umpires found out that the ground was too water logged to continue the proceedings.
By virtue of the abandoned match, Australia continue to lead the seven-match series 2-1.
The fifth ODI between the two sides will be played at the Barabati Stadium in Cuttack on Saturday.
India had begun their stiff chase on a positive manner with Shikhar Dhawan (14 not out) hitting three boundaries while Rohit Sharma (9 not out) struck one as India were going at 6.48 runs per over when the match was halted for the second time in the day.
Light drizzle had interrupted the game for about 30 minutes when Australia were 28 for two after 7.2 overs.
Earlier, Australia rode on a record 153-run partnership between George Bailey and Glenn Maxwell to recover from a jittery start and post a challenging 295 for eight.
Skipper Bailey (98) and Maxwell (92) missed their respective centuries but ensured that Australia recover from a difficult 71 for four to 224 for five through the team's highest partnership against India for the fifth wicket.
Brought in place of Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Mohammad Shami's fiery first spell (6-1-21-3) ripped apart the Australian top order after India put the visitors into bat.
But the Aussies hugely benefited thanks to the butterfingered Indian fielders who dropped as many as six catches and the ground fielding was equally sloppy.
Bailey was dropped twice (on zero and 35) in what could have been regulation catches, while Maxwell too got reprieve on two occasions (on 44 and 69) at the JSCA Stadium.
As if it was not enough, Mitchell Johnson, on 15, was dropped by Raina, while in the last ball of the innings Shikhar Dhawan let one loose from James Faulkner as Australia posted a competitive target under overcast conditions.
With his personal best figures of 3/42, Shami was the pick of the Indian bowlers, while Vinay Kumar and Ravichandran Ashwin took two apiece and were expensive with economy rates of 6.50 and 6.33 each.
Jaydev Unadkat, who replaced the struggling Ishant Sharma, went wicketless.
Shami extracted swing from the pitch, bowling at around 140-145kphs to trouble the Aussie openers.
He castled Aaron Finch (5) with an inswinger that went through the gap between bat and bat in the second over, while left-hander Phillip Hughes took an outside edge with the India skipper taking a fine catch.
Shami's two-wicket burst, which reduced Australia to 24 for two in the sixth over, meant that for the first time in the series the opening duo failed to notch up the 50-mark.
The Bengal pacer almost had a third to his name in the next ball but Virat Kohli dropped Bailey at the third slip with the Aussie skipper yet to open his account.
Teams:
India: MS Dhoni (Capt.), Rohit Sharma, Shikhar Dhawan, Virat Kohli, Suresh Raina, Yuvraj Singh, Ravindra Jadeja, Ravichandran Ashwin, Jaydev Unadkat, Shami Ahmed, Vinay Kumar.
Australia: George Bailey (Capt.), Phillip Hughes, Aaron Finch, Shane Watson, Adam Voges, Glenn Maxwell, Brad Haddin, James Faulkner, Mitchell Johnson, Clint McKay, Xavier Doherty.
