Under overcast conditions in Bengaluru, India and Australia resumed their rivalry in the fourth game of the five-match ODI series.
The hosts have already captured the series after three comprehensive victories but are looking to become the first Indian side to win 10 one-dayers in a row.
On the other hand, the Aussies were coming into the game on the back of 11 consecutive losses away from home in the format, looking to stem the tide on the backdrop of increasing criticism from all quarters.
Virat Kohli made three changes to the side from Kolkata’s win, with Umesh Yadav, Mohammed Shami and Axar Patel coming in for Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Jasprit Bumrah and Kuldeep Yadav.
Steve Smith, meanwhile, brought in Matthew Wade for the out of sorts Glen Maxwell and leg-spinner Adam Zampa for the injured Ashton Agar.
Australia win the toss. Elect to bat first in the 4th Paytm ODI at Bengaluru #INDvAUS pic.twitter.com/xICGvaxuPt
— BCCI (@BCCI) September 28, 2017
The Aussie skipper won the toss and elected to bat first on a flat and dry pitch at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium and his decision bore fruit immediately when openers Aaron Finch and David Warner put on a brisk 231-run stand for the first-wicket, the second highest ever partnership for the opening wicket against India.
Warner, playing his 100th ODI, was the aggressor in chief as he brought up his 14th ODI century in just 103 balls after slapping part-timer Kedar Jadhav through the off-side for a boundary.
Finch continued where he left after his century in Kolkata as the Indian bowlers found the going tough against the two Aussies.
The visitors breached the 200-run mark fairly quickly in the 32nd over of the innings. Warner hit four massive sixes before being caught at long-on off the bowling of Jadhav for a well made 124.
A 💯 in his 100th game! Quality from @davidwarner31 #INDvAUS pic.twitter.com/COAksxC50x
— cricket.com.au (@CricketAus) September 28, 2017
His partner fell soon after, six runs short of another century after mistiming a Umesh Yadav’s slower delivery to be caught by Hardik Pandya at mid-on.
Australia suffered a mini-collapse when skipper Smith clipped a Yadav delivery on the pads straight into the hands of his opposite counterpart Kohli to leave the visitors at 3-236 after a strong start.
Yadav, who had been expensive in his opening spell, picked up his third wicket of the day when he had Travis Head caught superbly by Ajinkya Rahane at deep square-leg just before Australia breached the 300-run mark.
100 ODI wickets for Umesh Yadav! India battling back strongly v Australia in Bangalore.
LIVE: https://t.co/xRQiY5Fi4k #INDvAUS pic.twitter.com/a0PxIn4ijL
— ICC (@ICC) September 28, 2017
The Indian pacer also completed 100 ODI wickets in the process of picking up those three wickets.
Peter Handscomb delivered some lusty blows towards the end when at one point it seemed Australia would squander the strong start just like they had in Kolkata.
After a 30-ball 43 cameo, he became Yadav’s fourth victim being clean bowled after missing his big slog in the penultimate over of the innings.
A couple of lofty blows from all-rounder Marcus Stoinis in the last over off Mohammed Shami mean that the visitors finished their innings at 5-334 though they would have ideally liked to cross the 350-run mark.
