George Bailey and Glenn Maxwell rode their luck to propel Australia to 8-295 in the fourth one-dayer against India, but neither could escape the 90s.
The pair combined for a 153-run fifth-wicket partnership to undo much of the good work of Indian quick Mohammed Shami (3-42 off 8), who cleaned up the Australian top order.
India now require 296 to level the best-of-seven series at 2-all.
The home side’s fielding cost them badly, dropping six catches including Bailey (98 off 94) twice and Maxwell (92 off 77) once – and both batsmen made India pay.
But not to the tune of three figures, continuing a frustrating trend of Australian batsmen not converting into centuries.
Together the pair put on Australia’s best fifth wicket partnership against India, bettering the 144 compiled by Michael Clarke and Brad Haddin at Bengaluru in 2007.
Bailey should’ve been out first ball, if not for Virat Kohli making a meal of a relatively simple edge from Shami.
He could’ve been dismissed a second time, but Ravi Ashwin spilled a much tougher chance at midwicket when Bailey was on 35.
Perhaps the luckiest break of all came when he was on 64 and appeared plumb LBW to occasional offspinner Suresh Raina – but was given a life by the umpire.
Compounding matters, Yuvraj Singh put down a tough chance off Maxwell when on 44.
Both would’ve dearly loved just one more life each however – but both fell to Vinay Kumar (2-52)
Bailey, firming for an Ashes spot at the Gabba next month, forced a good outfield catch by Rohit Sharma after top-edging a Kumar short ball, while Maxwell was trapped lbw.
Bailey’s series tally now stands at 318 runs at an average of 106.
Maxwell, batting with the bravado which earned him a $1 million IPL contract, switch-hit a six and a four off consecutive Ravindra Jadeja deliveries in his entertaining knock.
Mitchell Johnson (25) and James Faulkner (23no) produced some late hitting to push the total close to 300.
Earlier Shami, brought into the side in place of Ishant Sharma, enjoyed immediate success.
The 23-year-old cleaned up Australia’s top three inside the first ten overs, bowling a tight line outside off-stump while getting the ball to nip back in the most bowler-friendly conditions of the tour to date.
The dismissal of Phil Hughes, caught behind for 11, was sandwiched by terrific deliveries which jagged back off a length to clean bowl Aaron Finch (5) and Shane Watson (14).
