India has taken a 1-0 lead in the five-match T20I series against Australia.
India vs Australia 1st T20I: India took 1-0 lead in the five-match T20I series against Australia after Rinku Singh blitz helped hosts clinch last ball thriller against Aussies at Dr. Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy ACA-VDCA Cricket Stadium in Visakhapatnam on Thursday.
After winning the toss, India invited Australia to bat first. Steven Smith and Matthew Short provided Australia a decent start before Ravi Bishnoi sent the dangerous Short back to pavilion.
However, Josh Inglis’ 110 off 50 deliveries and Smith’s 51 off 41 balls helped Australia to post a big 208 total on the scoreboard.
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The target of 209 was never going to be easy and India lost opener Rituraj Gaikwad (runout) in the first over.
Young Yashasvi Jaiswal’s short but blistering 21 off 8 deliveries set the momentum in India’s favour.
From there on, Ishan Kishan (58 off 39) and new skipper Suryakumar (80 off 42) took Australian bowlers for a ride out of the park.
However, Australians bounced back in the fag end of the innings with 3 quick wickets and the equation came down to 7 runs in the last over.
With Rinku Singh still on the crease, it was India’s game to lose and Sean Abbott left no stones unturned despite being hit for a boundary on the very first ball of the final.
The Australian held his nerve and removed all-rounder Axar Patel on third ball of the over.
India needed 2 off three but Ravi Bishnoi was on the strike. Bishnoi went for a quick single off the pad in a bid to bring Rinku on the strike but was runout.
The equation came down to 2 in 2 with Rinku on strike. He heaved a slower delivery towards midwicket for two but Arshdeep on non-striker’s end could not make it.
Rinku remained on strike with scores being level. A perfect situation for the left-hander and he launched the half volley at long on for a maximum to seal the deal for India.
Alas! Abbott overstepped and India won the match with a no ball and the six didn’t count to the scoreboard.
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