Carrara Oval, Queensland – India defeated Australia by 48 runs in the fourth T20I at Carrara Oval on Thursday, taking an unassailable 2-1 lead in the five-match series. The victory was fashioned by a dominant bowling performance, particularly from the spin duo of Axar Patel and Washington Sundar, who stifled the Australian batting lineup.
After winning the toss and electing to bat, India posted a total of 167 for 8 in their 20 overs. Shubman Gill top-scored with a sluggish 46 off 39 balls, while useful contributions came from Abhishek Sharma (28), Shivam Dube (22), and captain Suryakumar Yadav (20). India's innings, however, lacked momentum in the middle overs, with wickets falling at regular intervals. Nathan Ellis was the pick of the Australian bowlers, taking 3 wickets for 21 runs.
In response, Australia were bundled out for a mere 119 in 18.2 overs. The home side's chase began strongly, with openers Matthew Short (25) and Mitchell Marsh (30) putting on a brisk partnership. However, Axar Patel struck a crucial blow by trapping Short LBW. This triggered a collapse, with Australia losing their last seven wickets for just 28 runs.
Axar Patel was named Player of the Match for his all-round performance. He not only contributed a valuable 21 runs off 11 balls at the end of the Indian innings but also took 2 crucial wickets for just 20 runs in his 4 overs. His wickets included the dangerous Matthew Short, which shifted the momentum in India's favor. "I batted at No. 7 and had a chance to look at the wicket. There was some unexpected bounce, so I waited for my position and just hit," Patel said after receiving the award.
Washington Sundar then sealed the victory by dismissing Adam Zampa, finishing with impressive figures of 3 for 3 in just 1.2 overs. Sundar's late burst earned him accolades for his impactful performance. Shivam Dube also contributed significantly, taking 2 wickets for 20 runs. Dube removed Marsh and Tim David in consecutive overs. Arshdeep Singh, Varun Chakaravarthy, and Jasprit Bumrah chipped in with a wicket each.
Captain Suryakumar Yadav praised his bowlers for their outstanding performance, especially considering the presence of dew. The Indian bowlers, particularly the spinners, exploited the slow nature of the pitch, preventing the Australian batsmen from settling. India also executed their plans well by building pressure with dot balls and tight fielding.
The win gives India a 2-1 lead in the series and ensures that they cannot lose the series. The fifth and final T20I will be played in Brisbane on Saturday.
