Sweden seal emphatic T20I series victory over Indonesia after engrossing finale
By: RF Hobson
Sweden clinched a resounding 7-1 series victory over Indonesia after a hard-fought 18-run win in the Bali Bash T20I finale.
Superbly defending their total of 166 for 8, Sweden bowled out the home side for 148 in the penultimate over to put the finishing touches on a dominant series. The triumph was made more significant because this was Sweden’s first tour outside of Europe and its first tour in Indonesia.
After winning the toss, Sweden elected to bat in the hopes of stemming Indonesia’s confidence following the home side’s breakthrough victory in game seven.
Stalwart Imal Zuwak and dangerman Ajay Mundra started fast but Sweden’s top-order was rocked by an invigorated Indonesian bowling attack. Mundra, Awais Amad, Zuwak and Wynand Boshoff trudged off within the first two overs courtesy of pumped-up seamers Ferdinando Banunaek and Gaurav Tiwari.
This left Zaid Ahmad and Yatharth Chauhan to claw the visitors back from near-total collapse, contributing two and three boundaries before the former was dismissed by Tiwari in the sixth over.
With Indonesia on a roll, Sweden briefly changed tack and opted for a more cautious approach but still managed to occasionally pepper the boundary.
Despite this, Chauhan was caught in the 12th over, giving replacement Saeed Ahmed a chance to rack up the runs with partner Avait Dhabe.
After steady batting, Dhabe was caught by Gede Arta off a delivery by Kadek Gramantika. The same thing happened to Ahmed two overs later, this time by Gede Priandana off a delivery by Danilson Howoe.
Sweden recovered in the backend thanks to a cavalier partnership by Zain Muzzafar and Zabiullah Zahid, contributing three sixes and a boundary to lift the visitors to a solid total by the end of their 20 overs.
In reply, opener Dharma Kusuma started with a flurry as Indonesia stormed out of the blocks. But he could not go on with it and fell in the third over to Avait Dhabe, who also dismissed Kavin Chadda for a golden duck with a terrific delivery that rattled the stumps.
Indonesia reverted to the defensive with Gede Arta and Gede Priandana holding firm, but they importantly struck big hits to restore their side’s hope.
Sweden’s bowlers kept piling on the pressure, which bore fruit in the ninth over with the exit of Arta.
His replacement Apriliandi Rahayu briefly rallied Indonesia, contributing two sixes and a boundary in the 10th over and giving Priandana space to bat steadily until he was caught by Wynand Bishoff two overs later.
Rahayu suffered a similar fate at the hands of Ajay Mundra off a delivery by Awaid Ahmad.
This left Twari and Sampath Kharvi to shoulder the burden of getting the home side over the line, which was made difficult after the latter was caught by Imal Zuwak in the 16th over.
Sweden’s accurate bowling at the death proved too much for Indonesia, who could only muster a single boundary and risky singles.
Indonesia’s brave chase and bid to finish a tough series on a high effectively ended when Zahid claimed Tiwari and Ketut Artawan in the 18th over.
Zain in the next over ensured Sweden’s brilliant tour was capped in fitting style after dismissing Gamantika and Banunaek, triggering scenes of jubilation for the 46th ranked team in T20I cricket.