Closed out nicely by Australia, they’ve done it easy in the end. So it won’t be ten on the trot for India, and the visitors arrest a terrible slide away from home, their first away triumph after a dozen losses in a streak that lasted nearly a year.
The Australian quicks were fantastic in the defence of 334. Kane Richardson finished with 3/58 after conceding two sixes in his first over, fighting back across multiple spells. It was much the same for Cummins (1/59) and Coulter-Nile (2/56) who were asked to keep chopping and changing, all getting better as the night went on.
India flew out of the blocks with Rahane (53) and Rohit (65), the two putting on 106 in the opening 18 overs. But the first wicket fell the ball just after the drinks break, and at no stage thereafter were the hosts able to score consistently enough at the required rate.
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Sharma’s run out was a big moment, Smith making a genius stop at backward point to leave the opener well short in a mix-up with Kohli. The captain wasn’t far behind, bowled by Coulter-Nile; one of various instances where Smith was rewarded with a wicket immediately after making a bowling change.
Pandya threatened to again tear Zampa apart, and for a time exposed the leggie, but despite having put together better performances he held his nerve at a crucial passage to win the wicket of the huge-hitter on 41.
Jadhav (67) and Pandey (33) kept the home side in it either side of a 23-minute rain delay – the players going off for reasons best articulated by the umpires – but once they fell, and Dhoni couldn’t work miracles, the result was assured.
So that gets Australia on the board and denies India a whitewash. Not a bad effort for Smith’s side, Warner and Finich laying the groundwork with a sensational 231 stand earlier in the day. The series concludes on Sunday. We’ll be back then. Bye for now!
WICKET! Axar c Maxwell (sub) b Coulter-Nile 5 (India 306-8)
“I think that’s just about it” suggests Brett Lee. You’d hope so for Australia, NCN picking up Axar holing out to the first ball of the last over, India needing 29 from five balls. A second wicket to him. Another who has more than earned his keep tonight.
They can’t get Cummins away, not in a meaningful way in the context of the final result, which seems assured now. Smith has the DLS sheet out of his pocket again, but he’s all set now. A leading edge from Axar should have gone to hand with any luck – he deserved another. Brilliant final spell here from the attack-leader. Especially after a poor start. Five from it, giving him 1/59 for the night. Well bowled. In theory, 29 to win in six balls. NCN to finish it off.
Shami can’t get his first ball away, so it is only the one scoring shot from the over. Albeit a Dhoni six, but he was done next ball. 34 from two overs. Not unheard of in the T20 era, but with two new batsmen who have faced a ball each. Cummins to bowl the penultimate set.
Richardson has all-but won the game for Australia. And he’s deserved it too, dotting up Dhoni with a series of cutters and slower balls. The champion batsman got him away over the cover rope with a muscular slap, but chopped on when trying to repeat the dose. A wicket well-earned. India now need 34 from 13 balls with their masterful chaser no more.
Brett Lee has made up a term, saying it was “fairy rain” that had them come off earlier. Anyway, not him: the cricket. Dhoni. DHONI. Clever, gets out of the way when Cummins strays, helping the ball on its way. Next ball he charges. Nearly chops on! Wade makes a good save. Nearly chops on again. All happening, to borrow from WM Lawry. Cummins a third time too quick to Dhoni, who can’t get him to the rope. Six runs and a wicket; Australia have won that over. India now need 40 from three overs.
Seven and a wicket from the over, so it is advantage Australia. 46 left from 24 balls. Dhoni gets two from his first ball, running hard and creating some pressure, which forces the misfield on the rope. Pandey striking them beautifully as well. “It was like Usain Bolt finishing a race” Harsha says of Dhoni.
Maybe it is a good outcome for India? Richardson has earned that wicket, four balls into another fine over of late-innings bowling. Jadhav threw his hands at a ball outside the off-stump, not getting enough of it, Finch doing the rest at the cover boundary. But before the ball had even been caught the crowd were chanting DHONI. The man they obsess over more than any other comes to the crease with 49 needed from 26 balls. And if you want anyone walking out right now to chase it down, it is him.
Cummins back. Pandey gets just enough on it to bunt two behind point to start. They’ll take it. But it is Jadhav who makes the bigger dent when the chance comes, flaying through point with control. He’s premeditating deep in the crease, but the width is thre. Cummins bites back with a rapid off-cutter, that he just keeps out. He then lands the yorker of the night. Deserve a wicket with that; absolutely perfect, to the man who was on the advance as well. More class to finish it, dropping back to crash into Jadhav’s thigh pad. All up, eight from it. 53 in five overs the new equation.
Richardson back and begins with the most immaculate slower ball, beating the bat of Pandey. Another change up next, from the side of his hand. Nails a yorker, too. Richardson has barely done a thing wrong since his first over. Missed a full toss to finish, so it is only five from the set. Bowled, Richo. 61 from 36 needed. Might be time to throw one a wicket away in order to get Dhoni in.
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Alternative lyrics: “You’ve got the most immaculate Ian Harvey Slower Ball”
PANDEY! NCN on a good length at the stumps but the right-hander plays a glorious stroke into the crowd at midwicket. What remarkable timing! Flick of the wrist has sent it 80+ metres. “Bring the length back” we can see Smith mouthing on the TV. Not wrong. He does and it’s over. Ten from it though, just what they needed since coming back out.
Commentators are very adamant that there was no real rain across the 23-minute delay. Given it was so brief, no time lost from the game. It ends up a very good over for the hosts either side of the break, Pandey finding the gap at cow corner to end Zampa’s set. I reckon they might go elsewhere from that end at this stage. He has one over left.
“It is bordering on ridiculous that we are off the field.”
Says the commentator on TV. Apparently not a lot of rain, but Smith has an umbrella up anyway on the Australian balcony. Like that. Like that a lot. Brad Hogg says that a storm must be on the way. Either way, they are off and the covers are on.
RAIN DELAY! Australia ahead by two runs on DLS. (India 251-4)
Well! Pandey smashes Zampa through cover for four… and then the umpires take them off. Covers on. It narrows the margin from four runs to two in the space of the ball, but DLS dictates that they would need to br 253-4 at this stage in order to be ahead. Plenty of time for them to get back on there if/when it stops. The waiting game begins, Australia with their noses ahead.
NCN has been fantastic tonight. Both he and Richardson have showed their experience, good T20 lengths to prevent potent swings. Now I’ve written that, to the final ball the big quick does attack the stumps, Jadhav needing no hesitation to clip through midwicket. It could be an important boundary too, with a bit of rain about. India now only four runs behind the par score with DLS. Smith has the piece of paper out of his pocket clarifying that fact between the overs. Jadhav to 50 with the shot as well.
Full bunger from Zampa; the first of those we have seen from him in a while. Wipes his hands on the towel in the best traditions of spinners who have just been hit for four, suggesting it is slipperly. Pandey away, nevertheless. He’s using his feet again later in the over, but can’t find a gap. Lovely dot to finish, a leg before dismissal turned down. No consideration of a review. Looked pretty good? Anyway, it’s seven from the over as the gap between runs needed and balls left grows further. And perhaps as importantly, the end of the period where only four are allowed outside the circle. Ten overs, 95 runs. If they get there from here, it’ll be quite the win. In their interests to get Dhoni in ASAP.
NCN’s turn again. Was able to breakthrough almost immediately earlier on. Jadhav instead wants to score, and has to. He’s down the track and flicking at the point of contact, down to the gap at midwicket for four. A timely boundary. But the big quick keeps banging it in short of a length, conceding only two further singles. A run a ball won’t do it from here, now needing 9.27 an over.
NOT OUT! He dragged the foot, but was grounded at the point of contact. Top over from Zampa, two runs to go with the wicket. Beats the bat between times. The leggie was sloppy in his first spell, smashed in his second but could be the matchwinner in the end.
Superb from Zampa! Back into the attack but only his second ball of the spell to his nemesis Pandya, who cannot help himself first ball of the new over. Tries to thrash a ball outside the off-stump but doesn’t pick the added bounce, a fat top edge going high to Warner running around from long-off. Good catch under the lights. A lot to like about Zampa’s resilience there. Australia – dare I say it – should win from here.
Richardson won’t get a ton of love for the tour he is having, but I’ve enjoyed his work. Just bangs it in short of a length with any number of different grips. No room for proper swinging of arms there, singles to sweepers through tucks and sweeps the best option. A fifth single ends the over with a relatively quick single to Dave Warner, but he doesn’t hit. They were probably home. They cut to Hilton Cartwright mid over banging a couple of kitchen knives together. Sure. Turns out they were to clean the spikes of one of his teammates between overs. Pretty useful service from the 12th Man there.
I like this a lot: Zampa is back. He’s operating at Jadhav rather than his nemesis Pandya in the first instance. Really good start with an lbw appeal, then a big turning leg break. Four dots on the trot when he misses a full toss! The pressure relieved with a single. Right. One ball to come, one run from it so far. Zampa v Pandya. Surely he goes at him? He does not. That’s a high-quality dot, pitching leg on the perfect length, denying a big swing. Pandya keeps the strike with a single. 116 from 85 means the required rate is now 8.2 an over across 14.
Kane Richardson’s turn to see if he can put in another tight spell. He’s improved through the night so far. He’s missed second up with a yorker, clipped by Pandya past square leg. Hasn’t faced many balls of late but a reminder that he can finds the rope at will. No further runs though. That’s fine bowling. 117 from 90 needed now. When do they go hard? Dhoni to come. Pandey too.
There it is again, Jadhav decides to take a proper swing and makes wonderful contact after charging Stoinis. He’s right on top of the medium pacer. It’s into the crowd at long-off. Expect to see more of that after drinks with 7.6 an over still needed. Well set for a quality finish. Just as they are on the final day of the county cricket, as they scrap it out for who stays in the top flight. Follow that with Will on the other blog.
Will Macpherson (@willis_macp)
Hope for Middlesex: Dawson flashes at The Other Ryan Sidebottom and is caught at first slip! Five more for Warks… Dawson made 9 from 95.
Cummins a fine job in this set. Pandya hasn’t much strike of late an takes one first ball to mid-off. They had to motor, but got there comfortably in the end. He’s right on the money to Javhav throughout the rest. Until the very last ball… another wide from Cummins down the legside. Is this going to happen again, where India get out of the over with runs at the back end? Nup. Just a single to third man. Jadhav keeps the strike. Three from it. Bowled, Patrick.
Harsha Bhogle (@bhogleharsha)
This is going to be a good finish. The wickets of Rohit and Kohli have thrown an opportunity towards Jadhav and Pandya
Now they’re both coooking. Second over in a row where the bowler has done a fine job until the final two balls. This time Stoinis drops short and is slapped by Jadhav to the rope at midwicket. Next, it’s short enough again for the batsman to thrash through point. 200 up with the shot. Required rate still hovering around 7.7. Doing that nicely at the moment, without many risks.
Ali Martin (@Cricket_Ali)
On a practical level, no Ashes tour for Ben Stokes as things stand. But Alex Hales free to play in SA domestic T20 league
Less effective from Cummins this time around, starting well before spraying a wide down the legside that Wade can’t glove, two added. Jadhav gets one away to third man off an edge next ball; the bottom of the bat by the looks of the replay. Then keeps the strike in that direction as well, with a single. Nine from it.
The full statement on Stokes and Hales is out:
Ben Stokes and Alex Hales will not be considered for selection for England international matches until further notice.
Each remains on full pay pending further ECB investigation and the on going Police investigation into an incident in Bristol in the early hours of Monday 25 September.
Andrew Strauss, Director of England Cricket, will today refer the internal disciplinary procedure for these two players to the Cricket Discipline Commission, chaired by Tim O’Gorman.
These decisions, fully supported by ECB Chairman Colin Graves, were made following the release of footage viewed by ECB for the first time on Wednesday night.
Stoinis! Didn’t look like we were going to see him again in this match going straight off the ground reaching for his groin. Used here in favour of Zampa. Tough call to take the young spinner out of the attack rather than giving him a chance to force the error, but there we have it. Jadhav up the business end for the bulk of this over though, picking up the eight they require to keep with the rough required rate. Highlight a boundary pulled through midwicket into the gap from a fairly loose delivery. Stoinis not quick enough to get away with that, especially on a track without much life in it for the most part.
An email in reply to Mahendra Killedar all the way back in the 3rd over, from Kandukuru Nagarjun: “Botham, Flintoff and Stokes are entertainers on and off the field, eh? Can’t quibble with that, but as ever, the late great Tony Greig gets short shrift. The best of them off the field, and not bad on it either.”
Some breaking news reports: Stokes and Hales have been suspended by England while the investigation takes place into the Bristol incident. More as it comes to hand.
Cummins back for NCN, Smith rotating the quicks at that end. He’s quick from the get-go, smacking into Pandya’s thigh. Looks like it must have been fleshy based on the response. Have a bruise for that, mate, the bowler would have informed. Superb piece of bowling to finish the over, beating Jadhav with a beauty outside the off-stump. He didn’t get any movement in his opening spell with the new ball, but that is genuine outswing. Change has worked well, only two from the over. 160 from 128 needed.
PANDYAMONIUM! Knew it had to come soon, Zampa the man he targets just as he did to begin the series. He just flat-bats the first of two sixes, deep midwicket cleared by a long way. Zampa tries to deceive him into a false stroke outside the off-stump, but he goes again! Over extra cover for six more. Well, that’ll do. TV graphic shows that Pandya has 50 runs from 26 Zampa balls at him in this series. Feels about right. He fights back with a good final ball, landing his topspinner and forcing respect. Will Smith keep backing Zampa? Has the runs to play with to buy the wicket, doesn’t he?
Pandya clips a couple out to the sweeper to begin. Working into his innings. Javhad does likewise later in the over. A really close catching midwicket next to the pitch introduced, suggesting that they are going to attack Pandya’s stumps with seam. Six from it. But they need a bit more than that 177 to get at 7.7 an over from this point. “There are too many runs to get to rebuild,” observes Harsha. In other words, Pandyamoooodium probably coming soon.
Good time to bring Zampa back. He struggled earlier, but two new men. And Pandya will go at him, no question about that. Loves attacking spin of any kind and has already taken Zampa down in this series. It’s a really good over too, eating Pandya outside the off-stump with a slower delivery well outside the off-stump, keeping him honest either side with top-spinners directed at the woodwork. Should be a good contest between these two over the next few overs.
Harsha on the TV is gutted that Kohli has departed. But India still in decent enough nick with ample depth and experience in these chases. Jadhav, the new man, off the mark with a steer to third man. Pandya keeps the strike with a tuck. Two runs and the huge wicket from it. Perfect return to the attack from NCN.
Fantastic bowling change! NCN returns to the attack and second ball has Kohli! The captain chops on from the crease. Undone trying to get a bit cute, not a lot of footwork. Cinnaswamy, momentarily, silenced.
Right, it is Pandya at four, as he was at Indore. The internet nearly exploded when he was elevated up the list in that game on Sunday. He was the matchwinner. Kohli the first to find the boundary here though, a superb cover drive. His best shot yet. Pandya’s turn comes though – BIG over long-on, in keeping with what we have seen throughout from the emerging star of the game in this series. Can’t let these two get into a groove. They’ve done well to get the openers, but Australia can’t rest.
What a mess! Kohli to backward point, well stopped by Smith who makes a wonderful take and throw at the ‘keeper’s end. It misses, but they are both ball-watching, ending up at that end. It gives Head, who is backing up, sufficient time to get it down to the non-strikers’ end for Richardson to take the bails. One brings two! On reflection, utterly brilliant from Smith to make the stop to begin with. Full five, one hand, the works.
Earlier in the over, Kohli played a glorious clip from middle stump through the onside for four. Stat flashes up on TV that he is the fastest to 2000 ODI runs as captain. That’s in 36 matches, the next quickest ABDV in 41.
A graphic comes up on TV showing how closely Head’s deliveries have been. Very consistent for a spinner usually identified as a part-timer. But he’s a better bowler than that. Doesn’t stop Rohit though! Nothing wrong with the penultimate ball of this over but Rohit comes down the track to meet the ball at the pitch and hits him over his head for six. That’s one way to hit a bowler of their line and length. Good response from Head though, straight back on it to end the set.
Richardson again. Was a good change getting him on for Zampa, who was struggling early. Four singles to the sweepers but nothing more. Pattern of his match in Indore too, battled early on but once the South Australian found his groove became very hard to get away. Essentially filling the John Hastings role and doing it well.
Head stays on. And Stonis gets his first workout there, having to chase hard behind the ‘keeper after the captain Kohli executes a little glide. Big dive, but can’t stop it. First boundary for Virat. And he’s dropped last ball of the over! That could be a very big moment in the context of this game. Head has earned the return catch taken off the back foot from Kohli, so it wasn’t going too quickly. He dives to his left and it doesn’t stick. Proooobably should have done better there. Either way, it’s a legit dropped catch. The champion survives. Australia on top at the moment.
Dileep Premachandran (@SpiceBoxofEarth)
If you close your eyes and just listen, the ovation Kohli gets when he goes out to bat these days brings back memories of No.10. #INDvAUS
Right, so Richardson has got the incision. Clutch take from Finch. But that brings Virat to the middle, and we certainly know it with the huge response from the crowd. They love him in Bangalore, that’s for sure. Off the mark with a single to third man to end the over. Two from it. Just what Australia needed. Oh, and the camera cuts to Marcus Stoinis… he’s back on the field! Given the way he left, that’s quite surprising.
WICKET! Rahane c Finch b Richardson 53 (India 106-1)
First ball after drinks! Rahane makes room to slap down the ground and nearly goes the whole way but Finch completes a good catch running around at long-on. Super hand from the opener. But now a chance for Australia to force their way into this the old-fashioned way: quick wickets.
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