Image Credit- Getty
India defeated Australia 4-1 in the Twenty20
International Series as left-arm quick Arshdeep Singh produced an outstanding
final over. Spinners Ravi Bishnoi and Axar Patel enjoyed a turning pitch in
Bengaluru.
With rain always a possibility, Australia’s chase of
161 was a see-saw match played against type at Chinnaswamy Stadium. After a
late rally from skipper Matthew Wade, Australia needed ten runs off the final
over to tie the match.
Wade was furious because Arshdeep’s short delivery on
the first ball went uncalled after it had flown past him. Arshdeep’s clutch
bowling sealed India’s thrilling triumph as Wade fell on the third ball
following another dot delivery.
India rallied from 46 for 3 after being called in to
bat, led by 53 off 37 balls by Shreyas Iyer.
Although the fifth and final game was essentially a
dead rubber, both sides’ T20 World Cup preparations went on. Along with it,
Australia’s trip of India came to a conclusion, capping their success in the
2023 ODI World Cup.
India got off to another fast start from opener
Yashasvi Jaiswal, but they were unable to finish the powerplay. Iyer had to
rebuild the innings after the top-order collapse that followed his departure on
the final ball of the fourth over.
Given the circumstances, he exercised caution and
managed just 12 off 15 balls before hitting Dwarshuis for six over mid-off.
Axar assisted Iyer in finding his groove as they combined for 46 runs at the
sixth wicket.
After scoring just eight runs in his series debut at
Raipur, Iyer recovered to finish a well-timed innings by hitting seamer Nathan
Ellis for a six in the final over.
In response, Australia got off to a fast start, with
opener Travis Head determined to complete his remarkable tour of India. In the
first four overs, Head drove Australia to 40 for 1, smashing three consecutive
boundaries off Arshdeep.
In response, Bishnoi removed Head’s bail in the fifth
over, forcing India skipper Suryakumar Yadav to call him on. Australia was
under pressure from the spin pair as Axar, who was unbeatable in Raipur,
entered the assault.
Aaron Hardie was taken by Bishnoi, and in the
fourteenth over, Axar took his lone wicket by getting rid of Tim David. The
spinners were out, but in the 17th over, Mukesh Kumar changed the game by
quickly claiming Ben McDermott and Ben Dwarshuis with back-to-back deliveries.
Wade made a valiant attempt to lead Australia to a
consoling win, but Arshdeep showed resilience under duress by launching a
barrage of yorkers in an outstanding last over.