‘Was eager to make last minute chance count’

MOHALI: Middle-order batsman Ashton Turner, whose spectacular knock of 84 runs took Australia over the line against India in the fourth ODI at Mohali, said he was raring to perform for his team.

“I feel like I have had a great opportunity to hit lot of balls in the nets and get used to the conditions behind the scenes. I had a lot of confidence, I was ready to go if I was given the chance,” the International Cricket Council (ICC) quoted Turner as saying.

Turner, who came in as a last minute replacement for Marcus Stoinis, played a remarkable knock dispatching the Indian bowlers.

“I turned up at the stadium and got to know that Marcus Stoinis, who went through a fitness test, has got a broken thumb. He is a pretty tough bloke, so I thought he would get up and play and I would be running drinks again. It was a last-minute [situation], to transition my mind from not playing to playing,” Turner said in the post-match ceremony.

Australia recorded their highest ODI chase of all time as they chased down India’s 358 with 2.1 overs to spare. Peter Handscomb scored his first ODI century and Usman Khawaja played a knock of 91.

But the match changing innings was played by Turner who played a crucial inning of 84 runs off just 43 deliveries.

As a result of this win, Australia levelled the five-match series 2-2 against India.

Australia would look to give their World Cup campaign a boost by winning the ODI series against India.

Australia take on India in the final ODI of the five-match series on Wednesday at the Feroz Shah Kotla Stadium on New Delhi.