NEW DELHI: Australia's skipper Matthew Wade expressed disappointment with his team's batting performance in the final overs, leading to a narrow 6-run loss against India in the fifth match of the series at M Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bengaluru.
Speaking at the post-match presentation, Wade credited India's bowlers for their effective display and acknowledged the challenge posed by the difficult pitch conditions.
"I thought we bowled relatively well. Disappointing the last five or six overs (with the bat). There's always a temptation to promote (himself), especially against the spinners. My job is to get the team home in situations like tonight. We have played some good cricket. McDermott has bounced back. You don't get harder conditions than this," commented Wade.
Australia, despite a strong start, faced consistent wicket falls at crucial intervals. The final over became the deciding factor, with Australia needing 10 runs in six balls. Arshdeep Singh's resolute defence secured a thrilling six-run victory for India.
In the match, a pivotal 46-run partnership between Axar Patel and Shreyas Iyer played a crucial role in India posting a total of 160/8. Australia's bowlers had initially put up a commendable performance, but the challenge intensified in the final overs.
Despite the loss, Wade recognized the bounce-back effort from McDermott and lauded the overall competitiveness displayed by the team throughout the series.
(With inputs from ANI)
