India secured an unassailable 3-1 lead in the five-match T20I series against Australia with a commanding 20-run victory in the fourth T20I at the Shaheed Veer Narayan Singh International Stadium in Raipur on Friday, December 1, 2023.
After winning the toss and electing to field, Australia restricted India to 174/9, with Axar Patel’s all-round performance being the highlight of the Indian innings. Patel top-scored with a well-made 33 off 24 balls and also claimed two crucial wickets with his left-arm spin.
Australia, in reply, got off to a decent start, but regular wickets from the Indian bowlers pegged them back. Glenn Maxwell was the lone bright spot for Australia, scoring a valiant 104 off 48 balls, but his efforts were in vain as the hosts bundled out the visitors for 154/7.
Match Highlights
- India posts 174/9, with Axar Patel’s 33 off 24 balls and two wickets being the key contributions.
- Glenn Maxwell scores a valiant 104 off 48 balls for Australia, but it’s not enough as they fall short by 20 runs.
- India wins the match by 20 runs and takes an unassailable 3-1 lead in the five-match series.
India vs Australia Scorecard
India: 174/9 (20 overs) Australia: 154/7 (20 overs)
Man of the Match: Axar Patel (India)
India vs Australia T20I Series
India leads the series 3-1 with one match to play.
Conclusion
India’s victory was a complete team effort, with contributions from all departments. Axar Patel’s all-round performance was particularly impressive, and he was rightly awarded the Man of the Match award.
Australia, on the other hand, will be disappointed with their performance in this match. They were always behind the chase and were never really in the game.
With India taking an unassailable 3-1 lead in the series, Australia will have to win the final match to avoid a whitewash.