KL Rahul’s knock was in vain as Western Australia stunned India with a 32-run win in Thursday’s second exhibition game in Perth. Western Australia posted 168/8 in their 20 overs due to gritty half-centuries by Nick Hobson and D’Arcy Short. Ashwin’s three-wicket haul helped India limit the flow of runs in Western Australia after the team got off to a blistering start to their innings. India started the chase vigilantly, with KL Rahul and Rishabh Pant trying to see the first swing and seam of the new ball. Pacers Jason Behrendorff and Matthew Kelly stuck to their line and height.
Both bowlers pitched with great control and continued to ask questions as the ball forced the batters to play cautiously. Pant tried to break the shackles, but was killed. Behrendorff sent him over for 9 in the fifth coming from 11 balls.
Deepak Hooda was promoted in their ranking given his rich form in the limited opportunities he has been given for the Indian team, which also includes a T20I century against Ireland. However, the batter failed to score and was sent back to the locker room by Lance Morris for a paltry 6(9).
The Indian squad was unable to exploit the field restrictions and ended the power play with 29/1.
Hardik Pandya came in to bat at number four and made an immediate impact as the all-rounder crushed two huge sixes within a fast space. However, the batter was unable to advance his innings and was ejected by Hamish Mckenzie for 17 (9).
Allrounder Axar Patel was sent out in pursuit of some quick runs, but the southpaw played a scratching 2(7) inning before bowing to Morris in the 13th leaving the team at 79/4 in the 13th over.
India’s recently designated finisher Dinesh Karthik then teamed up with Rahul to take India past the 100 run but was unable to finish the match unlike the previous few matches where he hit the winning runs. He was fired for 10 (14) in the 16th for wrestling India with 107/6 at the end of the 16 overs.
The men in blue needed 62 runs from the last four overs with Rahul still in the crease, reaching his fifty in 43 balls with Harshal Patel joining him at the crease.
Rahul played some powerful shots in the latter part of his innings, hitting 21 runs on the 17th and giving the team a glimmer of hope, but was rebuffed by Andrew Tye, ending India’s hopes of winning the match. The opener was rejected for 74 of 55 balls, including nine limits and two sixes.
India ended their inning at 132/8 to give Western Australia a 32-run victory.
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Short scores:Western Australia 168/8 (Nick Hobson 64, D’Arcy Short 52; R Ashwin 3/32) India 132/8 (KL Rahul 74, Hardik Pandya 17; Lance Morris 2/23)
(This story was not edited by DailyExpertNews staff and was generated automatically from a syndicated feed.)
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