India’s stand-in captain Hardik Pandya won the toss and decided to field first. The Indian bowlers started strongly as Mohammed Siraj gave the initial breakthrough by dismissing Travis Head for 5. All-rounder Mitchell Marsh, who opened the batting for Australia alongside Head, looked impressive with his attacking shots, putting pressure on the Indian bowling unit.
Steve Smith hit bad deliveries away for boundaries, and at the end of the 10th over, Australia had scored 59 for 1. Hardik soon dismissed Smith with the help of a brilliant catch by KL Rahul. Smith and Marsh had added 72 runs for the 2nd wicket. Marsh showed his intent and reached a half-century off 51 deliveries, keeping the momentum going for Australia.
Ravindra Jadeja removed the dangerous-looking Marsh for 81 (65). Marsh and Labuschagne had added 52 runs for the 3rd wicket. A sensational catch by Ravindra Jadeja ended the innings for Labuschagne, leaving Australia in trouble. Josh Inglis looked impressive against Jadeja and Kuldeep Yadav. After surviving the DRS call, Shami struck to dismiss Inglis, taking an inside edge onto the stumps. Inglis and Green added 30 runs for the 5th wicket.
Shami was brought back into the attack for his next spell and kept asking tough questions to the Australian batters. He produced a beauty to dismiss Green, shattering the stumps in the 30th over to leave Australia in deep trouble.
Here’s the video:
Shami was outstanding with the ball as he also sent back Marcus Stoinis cheaply.
It was a superb display of fast and spin bowling by the home team as they bundled out Australia for just 188 in 35.4 overs. Shami was the pick of the bowlers, with three wickets for 17 runs in 6 overs.
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