Raipur, Dec 1 (UNI) Rinku Singh and Jitesh Sharma’s fireworks in the death helped India post 174/9 against Australia in the fourth of the five-match T20I series at Shaheed Veer Narayan Singh International Cricket Stadium here on Friday.
Rinku and Jitesh stitched a very crucial 56 runs partnership for the fifth wicket in five overs. They took the score from 111/4 to 167 in 18.4 overs.
Just when the duo was looking to accelerate, Australia came back and restricted India to 174/9.
India got off to a good start, making fifty runs in six overs. Jaiswal got off the mark with a boundary in the second over after India scored just a run in the first.
The Mumbaikar helped himself with another boundary in the same over of Jason Behrendorff who conceded 11 runs.
Jaiswal then sent Ben Dwarshuis to the cleaners to gather 12 runs with three cracking boundaries in the third over.
He also tore apart Chris Green with a boundary and a six, ending his first international over by giving away 14 runs.
Aaron Hardie broke the 50-run opening partnership between Jaiswal and Ruturaj Gaikwad by getting the Mumbai batsman caught by Ben McDermott, after scoring 37 off 28 balls with 6 boundaries and a six.
Iyer did not last long, and was caught by Chris Green off leg-spinner Tanveer Sangha for 8 off 7 balls.
India were in serious trouble with the scorecard reading 63/3 with Suryakumar nicking one behind the stumps to Wade for 1 off 2 balls. But Gaikwad and Rinku added 58 runs for the 4th wicket, and brought some respectability by helping the hosts reach 111 runs in 13.2 overs.
Jitesh came in and smacked debutant Chris Green for two sixes in the 15th over. After a sedate 16th over by Tanveer Sangha, Hardie conceded 13 next before Rinku’s heroics saw India get some stability.
Dwarshuis claimed a brace in the 19th over before Jason Behrendorff finished well.
For Australia, Dwarshuis picked 3/40 and Behrendorff and Sangha two wickets each, and a wicket by Hardie.
India would be disappointed with the last two overs, just 13 runs scored and 5 wickets lost.
In reply, Australia were 45/2 in 5 overs. Josh Phillippe and Travis Head were back into the hut after scoring 8 and 31, respectively. Ravi Bishnoi and Axar Patel were the wicket-takers.
Australia won the toss and sent India into bat.
Captain Suryakumar made four changes in Team India and Australia skipper Mathew Wade made five changes.
India pacer Mukesh Kumar came in for Prasidh Krishna, Deepak Chahar for Arshdeep Singh, Shreyas for Tilak Varma and Jitesh Sharma for Ishan Kishan.
Chris Green made his international debut for Australia, and was handed the cap during Australia’s team huddle.
Australia need to win this match to stay alive in the series, with India leading the series 2-1. Suryakumar would want to seal the series 3-1 by winning this match.
