NEW DELHI: Australia's pace duo Ben Dwarshuis and Jason Behrendorff struck late in the innings, restricting India to 174-9 as the visitors aimed to level the series in the fourth Twenty20 in Raipur on Friday.
Rinku Singh's aggressive innings of 46 off 29 balls, along with crucial partnerships, including a 56-run fifth-wicket stand with Jitesh Sharma (35 off 19 balls), provided some resistance for India.
Opting to field first, Australia's disciplined attack, led by Aaron Hardie (1-20 in three overs), initially curtailed India's momentum.
However, Dwarshuis and Behrendorff's late strikes, with two wickets each in the 19th and 20th overs, denied Rinku his fifty and checked India's surge.
Yashasvi Jaiswal's brisk knock of 37 off 28 balls was cut short by Hardie, who took a wicket in his second over.
Leg-spinner Tanveer Sangha and left-arm quick Ben Dwarshuis further dented India's batting lineup.
Despite a quick 48-run stand between Ruturaj Gaikwad (32) and Rinku, Sangha's breakthrough broke the partnership.
Notably, Glenn Maxwell, the hero of the previous match with an unbeaten 104, and other recent ODI World Cup-winning players, including Marcus Stoinis, have returned home.
Travis Head is the sole player from the World Cup-winning team remaining in the Australian side.
(With AFP inputs)
