Published on 12:00 AM, March 11, 2019

Ashton-ishing Turner

Australia batsman Ashton Turner hit a blistering unbeaten 43-ball 84, laced with five fours and six sixes, to lead the visitors to a series-equalling four-wicket win against India in the fourth ODI yesterday. Photo: AFP

Peter Handscomb's maiden century and a blistering 84 from Ashton Turner helped Australia chase down a record 359 against India to level the series at 2-2 in the fourth ODI on Sunday.

Turner's 43-ball blitz in Mohali gave Australia the win by four wickets with 13 balls to spare in their highest ever run chase. The Baggy Greens' previous best was a race to 334 against England in 2011 in Sydney.

A 192-run second-wicket partnership between Handscomb, who smashed 117 off 105 balls, and Usman Khawaja, who made 91, was key to take the series into the final ODI in Delhi on Wednesday.

Turner, who made his debut in the opening ODI and playing just his second match, also built crucial partnerships including an 86-run stand with Alex Carey, who made 21

The 26-year-old Turner, who replaced an injured Marcus Stoinis in the playing XI, hit 5 fours and 6 sixes to smash the bowlers to all parts of the ground.

"The plan was to take the game as deep as we could. Ashton playing his second game and playing a match-winning knock and Peter playing such a knock and Usman coming to form was wonderful," skipper Aaron Finch said.

"We have seen him do that a lot in Big Bash. It was a world-class knock and to take on two of the best death bowlers in the world was outstanding," Finch added in praise of man of the match Turner.

India opener Shikhar Dhawan blasted 143 runs off 115 balls, laced with 18 fours and two sixes, as his side romped to 358 for nine in the fourth ODI against Australia at Chandigarh yesterday. PHOTO: AFP

Earlier Shikhar Dhawan struck a career-best 143 to guide India to 358 for nine after electing to bat first.

The hosts rode on a 193-run opening stand between Dhawan and Rohit Sharma, who made 95, to post a big total.

Australia were 12 for two in their chase after Bhuvneshwar Kumar bowled Finch for nought and fellow paceman JaspritBumrah got Shaun Marsh for six.

Bumrah took three wickets but the Indian spinners were at the receiving end of some attacking play in dew-laden conditions and sloppy fielding.

Rishabh Pant, doing the keeping duties in place of the rested Mahendra Singh Dhoni missed a chance to stump Turner on 38 and the innings also witnessed a few dropped catches.

"It became too wet to bowl, it was very difficult to bowl in the right areas. Crucial (about the stumping chance), we were sloppy in the field and should've grabbed our chances," said captain Virat Kohli.

"But Ashton played one hell of a knock, Handscomb and Khawaja played well too but Ashton's innings was the game-changer."

Australian pacer Pat Cummins returned his best-ever figures of 5-70.

Dhawan, who has been struggling to get big scores in recent times, struck form as he reached his fifty in 44 deliveries to take the attack to the opposition.

The right-left batting combination of Sharma and Dhawan mixed the right dose of caution and aggression to lay the foundation for India's big total. 

SCORES IN BRIEF 

INDIA: 358 for 9 in 50 overs (Dhawan 143, Sharma 95, Pant 36; Cummins 5-70, Richardson 3-85)

AUSTRALIA: 359 for 6 in 47.5 overs (Handscomb 117, Khawaja 91, Turner 84; Bumrah 3-63, Yadhav 1-64)

Result: Australia won by four wickets.

Player-of-the-match: Ashton Turner.