New Delhi: Australia defeated India by 4 wickets in the first T20 match. Batting first, Australia set a huge target of 209 runs by the Indian team. However, the Indian bowlers proved helpless at the Mohali Cricket Ground. Captain Aaron Finch, Cameron Green, Steve Smith, and finally Matthew Wade played amazing innings for Australia.
The Australian team easily achieved the target of 209 runs given by the Indian team at the loss of six wickets with four balls to spare. For the team in the lower order, Matthew Wade played an important inning of 45 not out in just 21 balls with the help of six fours and two sixes. Earlier, opening the innings, Cameron Green managed to score the first half-century of his T20 International cricket career. He played a fine half-century innings of 61 runs in 30 balls for the team. With this, the Kangaroo team has also taken a 1-0 lead in the three-match series.
Earlier, half-centuries from all-rounder Hardik Pandya (71 not out) and opener KL Rahul (55 runs) made India a massive total of 208 for six against Australia in the first match of the three-match series. Apart from Hardik and Rahul, Suryakumar Yadav (46 runs) took full advantage of the batting-friendly pitch and entertained the audience with spectacular shots.
Hardik made the Indian innings more exciting by hitting three consecutive sixes on Cameron Green in the last over. This made 67 runs in the last five overs and India crossed the 200-run mark. Rahul’s strike rate has been criticized for some time now, but he responded by hitting four fours and three sixes in his 35-ball knock. Then while batting hard, facing 30 balls, he hit seven fours and five sixes.
Apart from these two, Suryakumar Yadav hit two fours and four sixes in 25 balls. Australia won the toss and invited India to bat. But captain Rohit Sharma (11) and Virat Kohli (02) returned cheaply to the pavilion. After which Rahul and Suryakumar played a partnership of 68 runs in 42 balls in which both of them hit many great shots. Rahul hit scintillating sixes on Josh Hazlewood in cow corner and then on Cameron Green at deep square leg.
Suryakumar also played his style and hit four sixes, including two consecutive sixes at long-on and deep midwicket on Adam Zampa. Then Hardik, playing responsibly, completed his half-century and scored runs openly against the Australian bowlers. Nathan Ellis took three and Josh Hazlewood took two wickets for Australia. Cameron Green gets a wicket. Australia made Tim David’s debut in the match.
