No result India 52 for 0 (Gale 29*, Abhishek 23*) vs Australia
India registered a straight 2-1 win over Australia in an anti-climax after the fifth and final T20I was abandoned due to heavy rain and thunderstorms in Brisbane.
After he was sent to bat, there was intrigue as to how the top Indian team would perform on the Gabba surface with so much bounce and carry. But with their opponent Josh Hazlewood on Ashes prep and again not in the line-up, Abhishek Sharma and Shubman Gill plundered 52 runs before play was halted after 4.5 overs.
Abhishek was lucky to be dropped twice, but Gill was in nice touch as he smashed 29 off 16 balls.
The series ended the same way it started after rain ruined the opening T20I in Canberra. Australia dominated the second match in front of 82,000 fans at the MCG, thanks in large part to Hazlewood’s spread, but India eventually prevailed in the series after their spinners gained a stranglehold on the slower surfaces in Hobart and the Gold Coast.
India will return home thrilled before defending their T20 World Cup title on home soil.
“The way everyone contributed in every match was a complete team effort with bat, ball and on the field,” India captain Suryakumar Yadav said.
“You saw what happened when the women’s team won the World Cup in India, after receiving incredible support. When you play at home there is pressure but at the same time there is a lot of excitement.”
In the final blow in the format ahead of the T20 World Cup, Australia’s aggressive batting style against quality spin attacks has come under scrutiny although recriminations are unlikely amid Ashes hysteria.
“I don’t think I can remember the last time rain disrupted it so much,” Australia captain Mitchell Marsh said. “I think there are a lot of lessons to take forward, and a lot of positives. The resilience of our group and the lineup that we are trying to build in a World Cup year has been amazing.”
Earlier, a smiling Marsh once again won the toss, but his mood quickly soured after India’s opener.
There was no stability for left-arm fast bowler Ben Dwarshwis as Abhishek hit a trademark boundary at mid-on in the fourth delivery of the match.
He tried to repeat the dose on the next ball but missed high in the air as Glenn Maxwell settled underneath him after retreating from mid-on. A resigned Abhishek had already begun to walk off only for the unthinkable to happen, as Maxwell dropped a straight catch.
While Abhishek was living dangerously, Gill was in sublime touch as he hit four boundaries off Dwarshuis’ second over and the highlight was a brilliant cover drive. Gill had the kind of leadership that had eluded him during a difficult tour – which began with an ODI series defeat in his debut as captain in the format – and he looked determined to finish the season on a high.
Abhishek, 11, received another life when he was dropped by Dwarshwais who ran off fine leg before compounding Nathan Ellis’ misery by smashing it over midwicket for a six.
As is usual in Brisbane this time of year, the bad weather took hold and the players left due to lightning before torrential rain hit the ground to the great disappointment of the sold-out crowd.
