India v Western Australia XI Review: India wins the warm-up T20 match by 74 runs

India, back on their second tour of Australia after one year and aiming to break their losing streak, have started the tour on a positive note with a win against Western Australia in a tour game. Having gone without a win against Australia on the 2014/15 tour, it gives Mahendra Singh Dhoni the perfect opportunity to leave Australia on a high for possibly the last time in his celebrated career. It being a warm-up T20 game, both teams fielded some additional players.

Western Australia was without their top players who are busy with KFC Big Bash League commitments. William Bosisto, the Australian U-19 captain in 2012 led a largely inexperienced XI, featuring Perth Scorchers squad members Travis Birt and James Muirhead and WA contracted player David Moody, the nephew of former Australian player Tom Moody.

India won the toss and decided to bat first at the WACA. Rohit Sharma was run for 6 off 12 deliveries and failed to impress. Shikhar Dhawan and Virat Kohli batted solidly and took the bowlers on. Both batsmen finished with identical number of sixes as well as individual scores. While the southpaw’s 46-ball 74 included 8 fours and 3 maximum, the dashing right-hander took 44 balls to match Dhawan’s score and maximums. Kohli’s knock featured 7 hits to the boundary. MS Dhoni smashed 2 sixes in his unbeaten 14-ball 22 while Ajinkya Rahane was dismissed cheaply for 2 as India posted 192/4 in 20 overs.

Ryan Duffield was the most economical bowler for the home team with figures of 1/21 from his four overs.  Moody was hammered for 40 in 3 overs while Josh Nicholas and Liam O’Connor also conceded above 10 runs per over. Muirhead bowled 2 wicket-less overs conceding 17 runs.

The WA XI never threatened to get near the 193 required and finished on 6-118, with Travis Birt hitting an unbeaten 74 from 60 balls. Young paceman Barinder Sran claimed 2-22 for India while regular spinners Ravi Ashwin (0-20) and Ravindra Jadeja (2-13) looked solid. Axar Patel also took 2-13.

Of some concern for the visitors will be their efforts in the field, with four relatively easy catches put down. The most positive sign for India in the bowling department was undoubtedly Sran who was accurate, generated good pace and was getting some great bounce. India will play a WA XI in a 50-over match on Saturday as their final tune-up for the limited overs series.

Brief Scores:

India:  192 for 4 in 20 overs (S Dhawan 74, V Kohli 74; R Duffield 1/21)

Western Australia XI:  118 for 6 in 20 overs (T Birt 74; R Jadeja 2/13, A Patel 2/13, B Sran 2/24)