India secured a convincing 4-1 victory over Australia as they successfully defended a challenging total of 160 on a track where scoring runs proved to be difficult. Shreyas Iyer played a crucial role in India’s innings, contributing 53 runs, while quick contributions from Jitesh and Axar added to the competitive total.
In Australia’s response, Travis Head wasted no time, initiating the chase with three consecutive boundaries that put pressure on the Indian bowlers. Despite an early loss with Philippe departing cheaply, Australia had a strong start, accumulating 40 runs in the first four overs. This prompted SKY to introduce spin into the attack.
Although Ravi Bishnoi conceded a six, Head fell victim to the wrist-spinner in the very next ball. The spinners then applied consistent pressure, resulting in a significant drop in the scoring rate as they bowled six consecutive overs.
After the match, Shreyas Iyer went on to say that everyone chipped in, and the way these guys stood up from game one, especially in the batting department, is mesmerising to see. I could see the calmness in him (Arshdeep) when he was bowling the last over. Kudos to the way he composed himself. When I saw 3 wickets falling down, I started to calculate what would be the best score on this wicket, and it wasn›t an easy wicket to bat on. Whenever we find ourselves in such a situation, it is important to assess the conditions and bat accordingly. Today was the right example of how we did it as a team.
Earlier, Australia won the toss and decided to bowl first at the M.Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bengaluru. India has performed admirably to reach a total of 160 on a sluggish and sticky pitch.
The last four overs saw a significant push with 45 runs, including 26 off the last two overs. Shreyas Iyer played a pivotal role throughout the innings and showcased his aggressive side towards the end.
Initially, Jaiswal posed a threat but succumbed to a short-of-length delivery while attempting a pull shot, leading to a succession of wickets. Setbacks for Sky and Rinku added pressure, but a partnership between Jitesh and Shreyas steadied the ship before Axar›s impressive innings. Shreyas strategically chose the right moments to go for boundaries instead of hitting sixes against the spinners. The Australians recognized the slow nature of the pitch and opted for numerous cutters. Throughout the series, Australia has struggled against spin, making the upcoming chase quite intriguing.