Watch: Axar Patel took a flat, one-handed catch at the boundary to dismiss Australian captain Mitchell Marsh during the Super Eights clash in St Lucia.
India were put in to bat and scored quickly despite losing Virat Kohli for a duck. Captain Rohit Sharma led the way with the bat, taking 29 runs off a Mitchell Starc over and slog-sweeping Pat Cummins for a 100-metre six on his way to 92 off 41 balls. Contributions from Suryakumar Yadav (31), Shivam Dube (28) and Hardik Pandya (27*) helped the Men in Blue to 205-5.
In reply, Australia were also rocked early as David Warner nicked an Arshdeep Singh outswinger to slip. But captain Mitchell Marsh came to the crease and along with Travis Head guided Australia out of the Powerplay, putting on 81 in 47 balls. But on the last ball of the ninth over, Marsh had to make his way back.
Watch: Rohit Sharma yells at Rishabh Pant for casually batting away ball
Having employed the sweep to good effect, Marsh tried to access the same area off the back foot, going back to a length delivery from Kuldeep Yadav, and attempting a pull shot. He connected well, and it seemed as though the ball might carry over the ropes. But Axar Patel, stationed at the deep square leg boundary, timed his jump to perfection to pluck the ball out of the air with his weaker right hand, reeling it in and getting a much-needed breakthrough for India.
It did not end there for Axar, though. He had a further say in proceedings with the ball, inducing a reverse sweep from Marcus Stoinis which went straight to Hardik Pandya. Pandya juggled the ball before catching it, but it meant India continued to chip away. They got another crucial wicket in the 17th over when Jasprit Bumrah foxed Travis Head with a slower ball to dismiss the opener for 76 and put hopes of an Australian chase almost completely to bed.
Watch Axar Patel take a brilliant one-handed catch to dismiss Mitchell Marsh:
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