India vs Australia warm-up match: Senior speedster Mohammed Shami, who hasn't played a single T20 International game for team India since last edition of T20 World Cup, strengthened his claim for a spot in India XI for T20 World Cup 2022 in Australia by bowling a match-winning heroic last over to help India beat Australia in a warm-up match at Gabba's Brisbane on Monday.
Shami was initially not named in India's playing XI for IND vs AUS warm-up match, but skipper Rohit Sharma brought him in to bowl the 20th over with Australia needing 11 runs for the win. Not only did Shami successfully defend 11 runs but also picked up three wickets for just four runs to power India to a six-run win at Gabba.
The 20th over of Australian innings started with Shami conceding two doubles of the first two balls. On the third ball, Shami bagged the priced scalp of Pat Cummins as he got him caught out at long on with Virat Kohli completing a one-handed stunning catch. Shami then got Ashton Agar run-out at non-striker's end to put the Aussies in panic mode. Now, seven runs were required off last two balls. Shami bowled an in-swinging beauty to send Josh Inglis back to the pavilion off the penultimate delivery and unleashed a fiery yorker to bamboozle Kane Richardson to bowl out Australia for 180.
After losing the toss, Team India, batting first, set a target of 187 runs for Australia to win. KL Rahul (33-ball 53) and Suryakumar Yadav (33-ball 50) scored half-centuries for India. Kane Richardson bagged the maximum four wickets for Australia. Captain Aaron Finch emerged as the star performer for his team, scoring 76 runs off 54 balls. In the end, Australia was bundled out for 180 runs in 20 overs.