India vs Australia 5th T20I: Indian bowlers have successfully defended a low score on turf like Chinnaswamy, Bengaluru, winning the game by 6 runs. A combined effort by the spinners and seamers has helped the young Indian team to win the series by 4-1 against Australia. With the spinner-duo of Axar Patel and Bishnoi taking the top wickets with economical spells, timely wickets by Mukesh Kumar and Arshdeep Singh restricted Australia from winning the game comfortably.
Axar Patel went for just 14 runs in his 4 overs, taking a wicket. His partner Ravi Bishnoi took 2 wickets for just 29 runs. While for seamers, it was Mukesh Kumar, whose back-to-back wickets and overall spell of 3 for 32 put India back in the game. It was Arshdeep Singh, whose composure in the last over made him defend 10 runs comfortably against the Australian captain Wade.
For Australia, Head and Short got a start, but couldn’t capitalise it, while McDermott scored a fine innings of 54 runs. Captain Wade couldn’t contribute much to the cause and choked to accomplish a favourable result. He could have easily carried Australia home.
Earlier, disciplined bowling by Australia restricted India to 160 at the loss of eight wickets. The score is below par, keeping in mind the previous games played at this venue. Australia did not let any Indian batsmen settle and cause any damage to them. They took three wickets in the partnership and did not let India score freely.
For India, Shreyas Iyer was the exception with his responsible batting, scoring 53 in just 37 balls. For Australia, every bowler took at least one wicket. However, Hardie and Sangha were the most economical bowlers.
After an extended stay and an exhausting long tour of India spanning from late September to early December, travelling across the country and a successful World Cup campaign, Australia are playing the last game here in India. The final edition of the five-game series occurs at M. Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bengaluru.
Earlier, Australia had won the toss and asked India to bat first. They introduced Nathan Ellis, and benched Chris Green in the game. India brought in Arshdeep Singh in place of Deepak Chahar. India has not yet tried Washington Sundar in the entire series.
India’s Playing XI: Yashasvi Jaiswal, Ruturaj Gaikwad, Jitesh Sharma (wk), Shreyas Iyer. Suryakumar Yadav, Rinku Singh, Axar Patel, Arshdeep Singh, Ravi Bishnoi, Mukesh Kumar, Avesh Khan
Australia: Josh Philippe, Travis Head, Ben McDermott, Aaron Hardie, Tim David, Matt Short, Matthew Wade (c) (wk), Ben Dwarhuis, Nathan Ellis, Jason Behrendorff, Tanveer Sangha
20 overs, With 10 runs to defend, Arshdeep has bowled a gem of the over! He got Wade out on the third ball, and bowled the remaining balls with utmost discipline! What a game! What a win!
12 overs, Australia 90/3. Ravi Bishnoi finishes his spell with 2/29 in his four overs.
11 overs, despite getting hit for a six, Muskesh Kumar bowls brilliantly. Just nine runs from the over.
Australia are 79/3 after 11 overs
10 overs, Despite going wicketless, Axar has bowled beautifully. Just 5 runs from his over. Australia at the halfway stage are 70/3.
Ben McDermott 25* (20)
Tim David 6* (8)
9 overs, six singles from Bishnoi’s over. India would look for another wicket to put pressure on Australia. Australia 65/3
8 overs, Axar goes for just 4 in his second over! He has shown discipline.
Australia 59/3 after 8 overs
7 overs, Hardie decides to take on Bishnoi. He hits it down the leg towards long on and finds Iyer waiting there. He is sent back! Bishnoi gets his second. India their third.
Hardie c Iyer b R Bishnoi 6 (10)
6 overs, just 2 runs from Axar’s over. The spin is effective on this wicket, and it might further help the spinners in their 8 overs.
Australia 50-2
4.5 overs, BIG WICKET!! Head is knocked over by Bishnoi!! A good ball drifting in, Head looks to cut it, but misses completely. He has to go!
T Head b R Bishnoi 28 (18)
Australia 48/2 after 5 overs
4 overs, an expensive over. 12 runs from it, including a monster six by McDermott.
Australia 40/1
2.3 overs, what a bowl!! Mukesh drags it back on! Length delivery outside off. Ball slows down before coming on to bat, and an inside edge assures Josh Philippe’s early departure.
Philippe b Mukesh Kumar 4 (4)
Australia 28/1 after 3 overs
1 over, 13 runs from it! Head goes after Arshdeep in the very first over!!
20 overs, India finish their inningis at 160/8. It would be early to say if it is a par score for this wicket and the ground.
Bishnoi sacrificed his wicket like the previous game.
R Bishnoi 2 (2) run out Josh Philippe
19.3 overs, what a delivery!! Well deserved wicket!! Tailing in to the middle stump, it was always going to be difficult. Iyer’s responsible innings comes to an end.
S Iyer 53 (37) b Nathan Ellis
India 156/7. Three balls remaining.
18.4 overs, Axar Patel gets a top edge while swinging the bat towards leg. Ball goes over short third man, and he is taken!
Axar P 31 (21) c Hardie b Behrendorff
18 overs, India couldn’t convert this over into a mega over! 10 runs from it.
Shreyas Iyer 41* (32)
Axar Patel 23* (18)
17 overs, Indian innings moving just average on a high-scoring ground! 3 overs to go now! They need to go at a better rate here.
India 124/5 after 17 overs.
16 overs, India are 115/5. They need better overs from here. They could only manage 7 runs from the over.
S Iyer 34* (27)
A Patel 12* (11)
15 overs, India are 108/5. They need to attack now without losing wickets. This is the last recognised batting pair!
13.1 overs, the aggressor Jitesh departs after an entertaining cameo. Sharma tries to hit the short ball towards the deep mid-wicket but with no power. A great catch to wrap up his innings.
Jitesh Sharma 24 (16) c Matt Short b Hardie
Axar in the next man in!
India 99/5 after 14 overs
12 overs, both the batsmen now have manifested to score quickly!
India 87/4
11 overs, 16 runs from the over. Finally, something to cherish! India would need a few such overs to get back on track.
S Iyer 22* (17)
Jitesh S 10* (7)
India 77/4 in 11 overs
9.1 overs, Rinku Singh finds a man in the deep. He slogs it towards deep long on! He has to depart! Sangha strikes! India is in deep trouble here.
Rinku Singh 6 (8) c T David b Sangha
India 55/4
9 overs, just 6 runs from it. India 55/3
6.5 overs, SKY punches the ball towards point straight to the man. The fielder makes no mistake.
Suryakumar Yadav 5 (7) c McDermott b Dwarshuis
6 overs, 42 runs and a couple of wickets. Eventful powerplay.
India 42/2 after 6 overs.
4.3 overs, back-to-back wickets for Australia. Dangerous Gaikwad departs! He couldn’t keep it grounded. Easy catch for Behrendorff at mid-off. Wicket for Dwarshius
Gaikwad 10 (12) c Behrendorff b Dwarshius
India 34/2 after 5 overs
4 overs, Jaiswal tries to take on Behrendorff on a pull off the short ball. He gets grabbed at deep square leg.
Jaiswal 21 (15) c Ellis b Behrendorff
A good over for India but a wicket in the end. India 33-1
3 overs, a six and a couple of runs. 8 runs from the over.
India 17/0
Ruturaj Gaikwad 6* (7)
Y Jaiswal 10* (11)