Australia 8 for 348 (Finch 107, Warner 93, Smith 51, Ishant 4-77) beat India 323 (Dhawan 126, Kohli 106, Richardson 5-68) by 25 runs
Scorecard and ball-by-ball details
Aaron Finch and David Warner laid a solid platform with an opening stand of 187 © AFP
In turn imperious then inept, India tripped over in sight of the finish line at Manuka Oval to gift Australia a fourth victory from as many matches. John Hastings and Kane Richardson were the architects of a staggering passage of implosion by the visitors – losing 9 for 46 after centuries from Virat Kohli and Shikhar Dhawan had taken India to a mere 72 runs shy of victory with 75 balls remaining.
Hastings and Richardson claimed a combined 6 for 16 from 28 balls to ensure the afternoon work of Aaron Finch, David Warner, Steven Smith and Glenn Maxwell was not wasted, on a Manuka surface the Australian captain had hoped would become more difficult to bat on under lights.
For a time Smith was facing Australia’s first defeat of the summer and an end to their record streak of ODI wins, but he marshalled his men grandly as India self-destructed. Their loss maintained another proud record for the hosts – never have Australia failed to defend a tally of greater than 300 on home soil.
Full Report to follow
Daniel Brettig is an assistant editor at ESPNcricinfo. @danbrettig
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Source: ESPN Crickinfo