Cricket: India clinch 2-1 series victory in Brisbane after final T20I match abandoned due to rain
India return from Australia on a high ahead of Proteas series
After a disappointing ODI series, which they lost 2-1, India will return from Australia with their heads held high, having clinched the T20I leg of the tour after their final match against the Aussies was abandoned due to rain.
Put in to bat by Mitchell Marsh after losing the toss, India got off to a solid start with Abhishek Sharma and Shubman Gill smashing 23 off 13 and 29 from 16 deliveries respectively to get the Men in Blue to 52/0 by the fifth over.
Unfortunately, the heavens opened and forced the players off the field at 4.5 overs, and the thunderstorm persisted for a few hours before the umpires made the call to abandon the match - the second time that had happened in this series. Speaking after the final game, Marsh said:
“I can’t remember the last time we had so many rain interruptions but it was a great series with two really good teams going at it. India won the games when it mattered, so congratulations to them.”
India took the lead in the series on Thursday on the Gold Coast, when Washington Sundar (3/3 in 1.2 overs) and Axar Patel (2/20) led the team to victory, skittling the Baggy Greens for 119 in their chase of 167/8, while also confirming our cricket predictions.
India vs. South Africa: A rivalry rekindled
The victory in the T20I series against Australia would have given India a huge boost of confidence to carry into their multi-format series against South Africa, which gets underway on November 13 with the first of two Tests.
The Proteas are the reigning World Test Championship champions but arrive in India off the back of a very poor showing against Pakistan, who beat the Proteas 2-1 in their ODI and T20I series, while the Test leg ended tied at 1-1. Below, we take a look at the last five Test series between India and South Africa.
2023-24: The last time these sides faced off in the longest format came in the 2023-24 cycle in South Africa, and both teams secured one win apiece to end the series at 1-1.
2021-22: This series was also played in South Africa, and the host side notched up a 2-1 win.
2019-20: The Men in Blue welcomed the Proteas to India in 2019-20 and swept the series 3-0.
2017-18: Also played in South Africa, where the Proteas again reigned supreme and recorded a 2-1 home win.
2015-16: Another home series for India, and they won three of the four Tests, while the fourth ended in a draw.
