Raipur: After a series of underwhelming performances, Team India all-rounder Axar Patel produced his A game and helped his side dash Australia by 20 runs in the fourth T20I in Raipur on Friday. The win helped India take an unassailable 3-1 lead in the five-match series, which was also their 14th T20I series win at home.
Additionally the team also scripted a new record of winning the most T20Is, overtaking neighbours Pakistan in the process. The outcome helped India register their 136th T20I win, while Pakistan have 135 wins under their name. They are followed New Zealand (102), Australia (95) and South Africa (95).
Despite losing five wickets for seven runs from their last nine balls to stumble to 9-174, the Indians wrapped up a 20-run win to take an unassailable 3-1 lead in the five-match series.
Spinners Axar Patel (3-16) and Ravi Bishnoi (1-17) combined superbly to halt the chase from the Aussies, who had come out of the blocks fast. World Cup hero Travis Head – the only member of the title-winning Aussie side still left in India – continued his impressive form with the bat to help the visitors race out to 0-40 from three overs.
However, the introduction of India’s spinners changed the tide of the contest, with Bishnoi kicking off a stunning 3-12 burst when he bowled Josh Philippe for eight. Patel then removed dangerman Head for 31 after the opener top-edged a slog sweep to Mukesh Kumar. The Aussie top order was left reeling when Patel grabbed the wicket of Aaron Hardie for eight a short time later.
Aussie skipper Matthew Wade (36no) swung hard late on but the home side’s spinners bogged the visitors down and took key wickets to help guide their side to a historic win. By restricting Australia to 7-154 to wrap up the series 3-1, the Indians set a new record for most wins in men’s T20i matches – overtaking Pakistan with their 136th victory.
