Manish Pandey’s six to finish off the game carried more than one statement. For it provided the icing on the cake on what was the most one-sided match of the Quadrangular series avenging the shattering defeat against the same Australia A that had snatched victory from them with a last-ball six two days ago.
This six from the India B captain Pandey had no such pressure that Jack Wildermuth had a couple of days ago but it was more significant as it ensured the Quadrangular trophy for India B.
India B’s top-order made light work of the 225-run target after their spinners had Australia A in all sorts of trouble to win the Quadrangular series with a resounding 9-wicket win in the final at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru.
Manish Pandey top-scored with an unbeaten 73 off just 54 balls after he had already made 95*, 21* and 117* in the tournament. Yes, Pandey was not dismissed for even once in the entire tournament. But in the final, the main job was done by his teammates even before he had walked out to bat.
On a two-paced track which was not exactly suited for Australia’s fast bowlers, to say the least, the India B batters, miles ahead in both skill and experience compared to their opponents, reached the target in 36.3 overs.
Pandey’s Karnataka teammate, Mayank Agarwal who is slowly reaching the ‘what else do I need to do’ stage, played another quality innings to provide the perfect start to the India B innings. That his partner Ishan Kishan (13*) was retired hurt in the seventh over of the chase and the new man Shubman Gill was out caught off a no ball in his first ball, had no bearings on Agarwal.
The Karnataka lad made room for himself by clearing his front leg and lofted the good length ball bowled at a fair clip by the fastest bowler of the tournament - Billy Stanlake – for a six over covers in the very next over to stamp his authority.
Agarwal made a powerful 69 off 67 balls before getting bowled by Ashton Agar. 19-year-old Gill, made full use of the reprieve he got, gave good support to his captain after Agarwal’s dismissal, putting an unbeaten 120-run stand for the second wicket. Gill remained unbeaten on 66 off 84 balls.
Earlier, the Indian spinners held the Australians by the scruff of their neck, making full use of the dual nature of the pitch. The Australian top-order tried to sweep their way out, more in hope than with a concrete plan behind it but failed miserably.
D’Arcy Short was the only one who looked comfortable while he was in the crease but once he fell to Deepak Hooda on a ball which got stuck into the pitch for 72, the Australian batting fell apart.
Indian spinners Jalaj Saxena, Deepak Hooda and Shreyas Gopal shared six wickets between them with Gopal being the most successful one, returning with three wickets for 50 runs in his full quota.
The new ball bowlers – Siddharth Kaul (2/24) and Navdeep Saini (2/33)– came in to polish off the tail and Australia A were bowled out for 225 in 47.5 overs.