India secured a commanding 48-run victory over Australia in the fourth T20I held in Queensland, gaining a 2-1 advantage in the five-match series. After being asked to bat first, the Indian side posted 167 for 8.
Captain Shubman Gill anchored the innings with a composed 46. Contributions came from Abhishek Sharma with 28, Shivam Dube adding 22, and Suryakumar Yadav scoring 20, helping India reach a competitive total on a somewhat tacky surface.
In reply, Australia were bundled out for 119 in the penultimate over. Mitchell Marsh top-scored for the visitors with a brisk 30 off 24 deliveries, but none of the other batters managed to withstand India’s disciplined bowling attack.
The Indian spin trio of Varun Chakaravarthy, Axar Patel, and Washington Sundar exploited the surface effectively. Their variations and control limited Australia’s momentum, while the long boundaries worked to India’s advantage.
“The Aussies have the firepower to chase down the target, but the Indian bowlers have the tools to neutralize their explosive batting unit.”
The Indian bowlers maintained pressure throughout, capitalizing on the sticky conditions. Arshdeep Singh opened the attack against Matthew Short and Mitchell Marsh, setting the tone early for the tight defense of the total.
Author’s Summary: Axar Patel’s decisive all-round effort guided India to a 48-run win, giving them a 2-1 series lead after dominating both with the bat and the ball in Queensland.