Team India have clinched the five-match T20I series against Australia with a 20-run win in the 4th game of the series at the Shaheed Veer Narayan Singh Stadium in Raipur. While Team India's batting effort was slightly under-par, their bowlers ensured a disciplined performance despite the tourists' strong start to their run-chase.
The coin fell in favour of Australian skipper Matthew Wade yet again, prompting to field first. Aaron Hardie got the better of Yashasvi Jaiswal in the final ball of the powerplay after the opener got India off to another electric start. Australia kept chipping away even as Rinku Singh kept the big shots coming.
The most notable partnership was between Rinku Singh and Jitesh Sharma as the pair added 56, but the hosts lost their way, falling from 167-4 to 174-8 in their stipulated 20 overs as Ben Dwarshius finished with 3-40 in his 4.
Australia lose their way after Travis Head's departure:
Travis Head was once again expected to set the tone as Australia were on their way to chasing a stiff total and he didn't disappoint. The left-hander took Deepak Chahar for a ride in his 2nd over, hammering him for 22 runs. Suryakumar Yadav introduced spin as early as in the 4th over to pull Australia back and it proved successful.
Ravi Bishnoi struck with his first ball, sending Josh Philippe back for a single-figure score. Both Bishnoi and Axar Patel gave the visitors very little breathing space, with the latter sending back Travis Head, who smashed 31, laced with 5 fours and a six. Bishnoi and Axar conceded only 33 runs between them and took 4 scalps.
After Bishnoi finished the last over of his spell, Australia looked to take the game on against the pacers, but the required rate was too much for an inexperienced middle order. Wade pulled all the strings, but his efforts went in vain even as he finished unbeaten on 36 off 23 balls, with India emerging as the victorious side.
