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ShareMohali: Australia rode on twin half-centuries from Cameron White and Ricky Ponting to reach 250 before India bowled out the visitors in the final over of the fourth cricket ODI here today.
Put into bat, Australia stitched together half-centuries from Ponting (52) and White (62) and cameos from Shane Watson (49) and Michael Hussey (40) to give their bowlers a chance to defend a decent total.
A win would not only help Australia level the series but also keep the team's number one ODI tag intact.
Going strong at 196 for three, Australia came unstuck towards the end and fumbled in the batting powerplay, which cost them four wickets earning just 27 runs, before eventually folding in 49.2 overs.
Ashish Nehra (3/37) was pick of the Indian bowlers, while Harbhajan Singh also grabbed a couple of wickets.
The spate of injuries to key players had forced Ponting to open in Delhi but the Australia skipper could afford to return to his usual number three spot today as Shaun Marsh replaced Adam Voges in the playing XI.
Marsh, who dons Kings XI Punjab jersey in the Indian Premier League and hence a popular with the locals, could not make the most of the opportunity and was back in the hut in the eighth over with just five runs against his name.
