Cricket 2022: Aussies collapse to horrible defeat as fans outraged after being locked out of game
Australia has suffered a stunning fade out on the eve of its T20 World Cup campaign despite a solid Aaron Finch dig — while Scotland shocked a two-time winner in the competition proper.
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There were no crowd allowed at the Gabba and the Australian cricket team vanished as well in a stunning fade out in their final hit out before the World Cup.
India (7-186) beat Australia (180) despite the fact the home team needed 11 off the last over of the innings with four wickets in hand after having made just five off the previous over.
Aaron Finch managed a robust 76 off 54 balls but Australia completely butchered its run chase, losing four wickets off the final four balls of the innings.
Crafty swing man Mohammed Shami bowled one of the great death overs and Virat Kolhi conjured two sensational pieces of fielding as Australia fell apart in the final two overs.
Kohli flew to his right to pick up and throw in one motion at midwicket to pick off Tim David in a spectacular 19th over run out then, in the final over, took a sensational one-handed catch at long-on to snare Pat Cummins.
Shami was supposed to be underdone coming into the squad as a late replacement for the injured Jasprit Bumrah and that was his only over of the innings.
Trial match and all, it was a reminder to title holder Australia that anything can happen in the crazy world of T20 cricket.
Australia lost both matches against England in its just completed series, which meant this was its third loss in a row.
The host nation is performing solidly without looking in pristine form.
Finch, whose form has been the focus of more discussion than climate change in recent times, reached the rope seven times and cleared it three more for the sort of cobweb-snapping innings which will lift his spirits.
His confidence seemed to grow by the minute in an innings he needed to restore belief in his form.
“You have to be really clinical towards the back end of the innings — it is something we have not capitalised on in the last three or four run chases,’’ Finch said.
“I thought our bowling was fantastic to drag them back after a blistering start. All in all I think we are ready.
“It’s nice to hit a few in the middle. It would have been nice to get us over the line but you don’t win the World Cup in a practice game.’’
Steve Smith was given a chance to press for inclusion in the top XI but could manage just 11 off 12 in what could be his final T20 innings for a few weeks unless someone falters ahead of him.
The game confirmed that Mitchell Marsh, so maligned for much of his international career, is vastly improved player and ready to have another strong World Cup.
His 35 off 18 after he was sent out as an opener was a reminder that he can be a Mr Fixit if Australia has problems anywhere in the order.
Kane Richardson’s 4-30 was also an eye catching performance from a sturdy, underrated professional while Ashton Agar (1-36) showed he is ready to step in if Australia wants a second spinner.
The statistics tell Australia that run chases are the way to go in T20 cricket but there is also a school of thought that batting first is worth a try in Australia.
No crowds are permitted for World Cup warm-up matches which is probably a good thing if you are an Australian fan for the last over fade-out was not pretty.
World Cup outrage: Fans locked out of Aussie T20
Heartbroken Indian cricket fans have expressed their anger at being banned from watching their side play in Brisbane this week.
The International Cricket Council has made the surprise decision to ban crowds from warm-up games in the T20 World Cup, a move which left several groups of Indian fans in disbelief at the Gabba today.
“What ... are you serious? That‘s crazy,’’ said one Indian fan in Vulture St when informed that fans would be locked out from Australia-India T20 trial game at the Gabba.
India do not play a World Cup game in Brisbane and that heightened the regret of several fans who arrived as early at 10am for the 2pm start today.
“Because India is not playing in Brisbane surely they could have let the fans into the practice matches,‘’ said Tanmay Pandhe.
“I am a student but I work as well and I took a day off to come here and take a chance and see if we got let in. I felt India should have played at least one match here.‘’
The ICC‘s focus is encouraging people to attend the fully ticketed official games rather than have their loyalty splintered by support games, much to the chagrin of local fans.
“Warm up matches do not carry T20 international status and the schedule for warm up matches is not guaranteed,‘’ an ICC spokesperson said. ”For this reason, and taking into account a number of other operational considerations, warm up matches are not ticketed for the public.”
It is understood several World Cup ambassadors with deep connection to the Indian community have told Cricket Australia they had received strong objections from Indian fans about the ban.
The closest Indian fans got to their players at the Gabba was watching them from the other side of the practice nets when they arrived in the team bus.
Several times they waved to their idols but were so far away they did not attract the players attention.
A steady stream of Indian fans arrived at the ground to be informed the stadium had been locked down as superstars Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli paraded their wares inside.
Brisbane resident Harish Gowda, who hails from Bangalore, brought his wife Suman and children Rahul and Rishika to the Gabba expecting to be let in.
“I just don’t get it,’’ Gowda said. “Having a crowd all helps to build up the excitement.’’
India play another warm-up match, against New Zealand, at the Gabba on Wednesday.
There was a feeling among Brisbane locals that following the poor crowds of around 4000 and 8000 for the two official T20s against the West Indies at Metricon Stadium and the Gabba the more excitement and interest could be whipped up about visiting teams, the better.
Former New Zealand commentator Simon Doull said in commentary: “I’m sure if they were allowed they would be here. Any opportunity for Australian and Indian fans to get into the ground I think they would take it.’’
Hobart’s first World Cup clash, one for the history books
- Ryan Rosendale
It was the first T20 World Cup clash in Tasmania and it will be one long remembered as the day Scotland caused an almighty upset over two-time tournament champions the West Indies at Bellerive Oval.
Just a day after Namibia defeated Sri Lanka in a boilover in Geelong, the Scots decided to take the shine of cricket’s newest cult heroes with a resounding 42-run victory.
It was a win set-up by opener George Munsey in a man of the match performance with the big hitter delivering a batting masterclass early and despite a slight drop-off after a rain delay, his strike rate shrunk from 150 in the opening six overs to 114 in the last, he finished unbeaten on 66 from 53 balls.
Sent into bat by the Windies, openers Munsey and Michael Jones (20 off 17) were busy in the power play, combining for 54 before the covers came on and rain halted play.
They were off half an hour later, just before DLS came into play, and with it a swift change in play for the men in maroon.
Veteran Jason Holder took the wicket of Jones two balls in, clean bowling the opener to claim the first wicket of the day.
Matthew Cross (three off five) was next to go, caught down the ground by Shamarh Brooks off the work of Holder, who finished with figures of 2-14.
Munsey was the linchpin as others around him fell with Calum McLeod producing a nice cameo effort with 23 off 14 thanks to four minor boundaries.
With the Windies set a reachable target of 150, Scotland came out breathing fire early and despite opener Kyle Mayers knocking a quick 20 off 13 balls, finishing with a strike rate of 153, he was caught by Munsey in the third over and the 2016 champions never recovered.
A combined 71 was made by the top and middle-order with the masterclass bowling attack of Mark Watt (3-12), Michael Leask (2-15) and Brad Wheal (2-32) tearing through the Windies attack in 18.2 overs.
The Scots were exceptional in the outfield, denying a number of potential boundaries to limit the West Indies to 118 runs to claim the first win of Group B.
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