Kuala Lumpur, September 16 :

Mitchell Johnson took four wickets in 12 balls before rain rescued India in their DLF Cup one-day match against Australia here on Saturday, which was abandoned.

The contest had initially been reduced to 29 overs after rain caused a 90-minute delay. India was 16-0 after five overs in reply to Australia’s 244 all out in 49.2 overs when the match was first interrupted. When they resumed they needed another 154 to win off 24 overs.

They threw away five wickets in the first three overs, four of them to Johnson. Rahul Dravid (2) was the first to go, trying to loft over cover but finding Damien Martyn instead. Irfan Pathan was bowled first ball and in the next over Virender Sehwag (8) was run-out in a mix up with Sachin Tendulkar.

Two balls later Tendulkar (12) joined Sehwag in the pavilion, nicking a Johnson delivery to wicketkeeper Brad Haddin. Johnson got his fourth minutes later when Yuvraj Singh edged to Brad Hogg for zero before more rain mercifully ended India’s torment and the game was called off. Johnson ended with 4-11 off four overs.

Earlier, all-rounder Shane Watson hit a career-best 79 and Michael Clarke helped himself to 64 in Australia’s innings. But India’s bowling was tight, with spinner Harbhajan Singh the pick of the bunch, taking 2-24. Munaf Patel grabbed 3-53.

The next match of the series is on Monday when Australia take on the West Indies.