Rahul used several strong smashes toward the conclusion of his innings, hitting 21 runs off the 17th over and giving the side some hope. However, Rahul was removed by Andrew Tye, destroying India’s hopes of winning the game.
Western Australia shocked India with a 32-run victory in the second practice match on Thursday in Perth, negating KL Rahul’s fruitless effort. In their 20 overs, Western Australia scored 168/8 thanks to the tenacious half-centuries of Nick Hobson and D’Arcy Short. After Western Australia got off to a fast start in their innings, Ashwin’s three-wicket haul assisted India in limiting the team’s run production. KL Rahul and Rishabh Pant of India began the chase cautiously, attempting to block the initial swing and seam of the new ball. Jason Behrendorff and Matthew Kelly, two pacemakers, kept to their lines and set distances.
Both bowlers had excellent control of their deliveries and kept posing questions with the ball, which caused the hitters to play defensively. Pant attempted to remove the chains, but he was killed in the process. In the fifth over, Behrendorff got rid of him for 9 off of 11 balls.
Given his strong performance in the few opportunities he has had for the Indian team, which also included a T20I century against Ireland, Deepak Hooda was pushed up their order. Lance Morris, however, sent the batter back to the dressing room for a pitiful 6 because the hitter was unable to make a mark (9).
The Indian team finished the power play with 29/1 after failing to take advantage of the fielding restrictions.
As the number four batter, Hardik Pandya made an impression right away by launching two huge sixes in rapid succession. Hamish McKenzie, however, was able to dismiss the hitter for 17 since he was unable to extend his innings (9).
In an effort to score some quick runs, all-rounder Axar Patel was sent to bat first. However, the left-hander played a shaky inning of 2(7) before being out to Morris in the 13th over, leaving the club at 79/4.
Then, Dinesh Karthik and Rahul worked together to help India surpass the 100-run mark, but unlike the previous few encounters where he scored the winning runs, this time he was unable to end the game. India struggled to 107/6 at the end of the 16 overs after he was removed for 10(14) in the 16th over.
Rahul, who was still at the crease and had taken 43 balls to reach his fifty, was joined at the crease by Harshal Patel, and the men in blue required 62 runs from the remaining four overs.
Rahul used several strong smashes toward the conclusion of his innings, hitting 21 runs off the 17th over and giving the side some hope. However, Rahul was removed by Andrew Tye, destroying India’s hopes of winning the game. The opener was out for 74 off 55 balls, which featured two sixes and nine boundaries.
With India’s inning-ending at 132/8, Western Australia won by a score of 32 runs.
Short scores: India 132/8 (KL Rahul 74, Hardik Pandya 17; Lance Morris 2/23) Western Australia 168/8 (Nick Hobson 64, D’Arcy Short 52; R Ashwin 3/32)
