All-round Axar and Spinners Secure India’s Lead
CHENNAI: On the Carrara pitch in Gold Coast, described as a sub-continental wicket by captain Suryakumar Yadav before the toss, India were asked to bat first by Australia in the penultimate match of the five-match T20I series on Thursday.
The Indian team, unchanged from previous games, managed a total of 167 for 8. Though this score seemed just below par at the break, it ultimately proved sufficient.
Spin Bowlers Dominate on Indian-like Pitch
With the pitch favoring spin, the visiting Indian spinners controlled the game as Australia began their chase. Varun Chakravarthy, Axar Patel, and Washington Sundar combined to take six wickets, bowling out Australia for 119 runs in 18.2 overs.
Crucial Dismissals
Axar Patel, introduced into the attack in the fifth over as the hosts were scoring freely, quickly made an impact by dismissing opener Matthew Short. Though the umpire initially hesitated, Yadav’s review secured the wicket, marking India’s first breakthrough.
“The dismissal slowed down Australia's run rate, limiting them to just 30 runs in the next four overs,”
Efforts from wicketkeeper-batter Josh Inglis to accelerate the scoring failed as he was dismissed after advancing down the pitch and losing his middle stump.
Series Standing and Upcoming Match
India’s strong bowling performance earned them a significant 48-run victory, giving them an unbeatable 2-1 lead in the series. The final match will take place in Brisbane on Saturday.
Author's summary: Comprehensive bowling by Axar Patel and India's spinners on a sub-continental pitch fueled a vital win, putting India firmly ahead in the T20I series.