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AUS vs IND, 5th ODI: Smith slams pitches as Australia eye clean sweep

'It will be a fitting finish for the summer if we can finish with five-nil,' says Steve Smith.

Sydney: Australia are looking for a one-day series whitewash over India in Saturday's final game, after being handed an unlikely win in the fourth tie when the tourists imploded with victory in sight.

Coach Darren Lehmann admitted he didn't think skipper Steve Smith's men would get "across the line" at Canberra's Manuka Oval on Wednesday when India were 277 for one chasing 348.

But after a spectacular Indian batting collapse -- in which the last nine wickets fell for just 46 runs -- Australia won by 25 runs to lead the series 4-0.

"The challenge now is to finish five-zip," said Lehmann.

The coach added that despite the wins in Perth, Brisbane, Melbourne and Canberra, Saturday's Sydney Cricket Ground match would still be hard-fought.

"Every game is important, whether it's five-nil, or 4-1, or 3-2 it doesn't matter when you are playing cricket for Australia, you actually want to win every game you play," he said.

"We've got a job to do and entertain the crowd along the way. For us it's a chance to show our skills off."

Smith said ending the one-day campaign 5-0 was "absolutely" the goal after Test series wins against New Zealand and the West Indies this season.

"It will be a fitting finish for the summer if we can finish with five-nil," the skipper said.

India captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni, who fell for a duck in Wednesday's match, said his side's positive start to the game showed that a series whitewash could be avoided.

"After the first three losses people were saying it's going to be difficult to come back, but in this game I thought we batted really well," he told ABC News late Wednesday.

"It also gives a glimpse of what you'll see in the Twenty20s, a lot of flamboyant cricket."

Smith disappointed with pitches:

Steve Smith chided curators on Friday, saying pitches for his team's home series against New Zealand, the West Indies and India have been too batting-friendly.

Smith set aside self-interest - he has scored more than 1,400 runs in all forms of cricket since December - to suggest grounds staff at the WACA in Perth and the Gabba in Brisbane should do their best to restore traditional pace and bounce.

In Australia's six Test matches against New Zealand and the West Indies this summer, teams surpassed 500 five times and four limited-overs internationals against India have produced more than 2,500 runs.

Smith said he was disappointed with pitches at the WACA and Gabba and "it'd be great if that (pace and bounce) was brought back. I think that'll make it a little bit more even between bat and ball."

( Source : AP / AFP )
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