Match Report: Indonesia finds its groove, but ruthless Sweden seal T20I series after close win
By: RF Hobson
Gallant Indonesia seemed to have finally found their rhythm in game five of the Bali Bash but it was not enough as the hosts crashed to a five-wicket defeat against Sweden, who chased down the 166-run target with an over to spare.
After once again showing off their prowess at chasing, Sweden clinched the eight-match T20I series after moving to a commanding 5-0 lead.
This victory was not easy, however, against a rejuvenated Indonesia desperate to break their drought. Indonesian opening batsmen Gede Priandana and Gaurav Tiwari proved to be a winning combination for the host team, setting the pace by scoring regular runs and easily finding the boundary.
Local fans could be forgiven for thinking that this was a different team from the despondent side of the previous matches, as Indonesia looked more relaxed and confident at the crease and stared down Sweden’s bowling attack.
Their steady performance came to an end in the 8th over, with Priandana caught by Imal Zuwak off Zaid Ahmad after contributing five boundaries to Indonesia’s tally.
Tiwari, now paired with Gede Arta, took their team to new heights, putting the pressure on the visitors with steady runs on the board and confident big hits which found their intended mark.
Sweden’s ever-alert fielding buckled under the pressure which gave Indonesia an even further lead, characterised by frequent wide balls and a drop catch in the 12th over.
Arta and Tiwari continued their hard-hitting campaign, which peaked in the 15th over with the former hitting three sixes.
Desperate to halt the attack, Sweden called on Zain to work his magic. He was successful and claimed Arta’s scalp in the 16th over.
Tiwari, proving to be the anchor of Indonesia’s batting, soon joined Arta in the next over.
Captain Danilson Howoe and Sudhakar Jegannathan had big shoes to fill but kept up the pace until two rapid-fire wickets by Zain Muzaffar in the 19th over had Howoe exiting the crease and his replacement Artawan was then bowled for a duck.
Jegannathan and Kadek Gamantika had the duty of seeing out the final over with Indonesia’s efforts tallying up to 165 for 5 after 20 overs.
Sensing the danger, Swedish opening batsmen Ajay Mundra and captain Imal Zuwak went on the offensive, finding the boundary with ease and giving their side a massive head start.
The cavalier partnership was highlighted by Mundra notching his half-century in the 6th over.
But all this came to an end in the 7th over after Zuwak was bowled by Dharma Kesuma off a superb delivery by Sudhakar Jegannathan.
However, Mundra’s attack continued with new partner Zahid Ahmad as Sweden reached one run shy of 100 at the halfway mark.
Seeing the game slipping with dangerman Mundra still in the middle, Indonesia stepped up its bowling which paid dividends in the 11th over after Ahmad was caught by Kesuma.
An injury scare for Mundra in the 13th over could have done what the Indonesian bowlers were hoping to do but instead Saeed Ahmed was dismissed for just 3.
Powering through determined Indonesian bowling, Mundra was finally caught by Gede Art in the next over but only after contributing a hefty 74 runs for the Swedes.
Yatharth Chauhan and Wynand Boshoff picked up where Mundra left off and continued to smash boundaries as Sweden closed in on victory.
Indonesia’s bowlers stepped up the pressure yet again, this time with Chauhan being run out by Kadek Gamantika in the 18th over as the batsmen tried to sneak another run into their scorecard.
With Swedish victory in sight, Indonesian captain Danilson Hawoe sought to limit the visitors but it was too little too late.