ICC T20 World Cup 2024: Axar Patel’s spectacular catch earns him ‘fielder of the match’ medal
Xtra Time Web Desk: In a thrilling encounter at the T20 World Cup 2024, India emerged victorious over Australia with a 24-run win in the Super Eights match on Monday. The highlight of the match was the exceptional fielding performance by India's bowling all-rounder, Axar Patel, who was awarded the 'Fielder of the Match' medal for his game-changing catch.
During the ninth over of Australia's innings, Axar took a spectacular catch to dismiss Mitchell Marsh, shifting the momentum in India's favor. The catch, taken with his non-dominant right hand, came off a well-placed length ball by Kuldeep Yadav that Marsh attempted to pull behind square. Axar's brilliant effort ensured no mistake was made, solidifying India's control over the match.
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India's fielding coach, T Dilip, commended the team's unwavering dedication to every catch during the medal presentation. The medal was handed over by Nuwan Seneviratne, the Indian team's throwdown specialist, whom T Dilip praised as an 'unsung hero' for his crucial behind-the-scenes contributions.
"Phenomenal effort, boys. Everyone, well done. When it comes to fielding in the Caribbean, we will always test our mettle... from boundary to infield, we covered every gap, but the masterpiece was the commitment for every catch that we have done. With this kind of determination, whether it's adjusting to the wind or speed in the outfield, we were top-notch. Lastly, we clearly show that we are here to dominate," T Dilip stated.
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Recapping the match, Australia chose to bowl first after winning the toss. India's captain, Rohit Sharma, delivered a stupendous performance, scoring 92 runs off 41 balls, including 7 fours and 8 sixes, at a strike rate of 224.39. His captain's knock propelled India to a formidable total of 205/5. Contributions from Suryakumar Yadav (31 runs off 16 balls) and Hardik Pandya (27* runs off 17 balls) bolstered the innings, setting a challenging target for Australia.
Mitchell Starc and Marcus Stoinis led the Australian bowling attack, each securing two wickets in their respective spells.
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During Australia's chase, Travis Head played a dangerous innings, scoring 76 runs off 43 balls. However, his effort was curtailed by Jasprit Bumrah, who dismissed him in the 17th over. Mitchell Marsh added 37 runs off 28 balls, but it was not enough to reach the 206-run target against a formidable Indian bowling lineup.
Arshdeep Singh spearheaded India's bowling attack, claiming three wickets in his four-over spell, contributing significantly to India's 24-run victory. Rohit Sharma's stellar performance earned him the Player of the Match accolade.
