It was a great start to the series as the Australian cricket team sealed a thriller winning the first T20I by just 4 runs against Indian Cricket team played at Gabba, Brisbane on Tuesday. Australia posted 158 for 4 in 17 overs in a rain-curtailed match. Despite Dhawan, Pant and Dinesh Karthik knock, India fell short of the target by just a few runs.
Indian captain Virat Kohli won the toss and decided to bowl first. It was a good bowling effort by Indian new ball bowlers of Bumrah and Bhuvneshwar Kumar. Captain Aaron Finch and Darcy Short played few good shots. Khaleel Ahmed struck dismissing Darcy Short for 7 runs. Finch and Short added 24 runs in 4.1 overs.
VIDEO: Glenn Maxwell takes on Krunal Pandya; Slams him for 3 Consecutive sixes
At the end of the first six overs, Australia scored 38 for 1. Chris Lynn smashed the Indian bowling line up with big sixes. Kuldeep Yadav struck to dismiss Australian captain Aaron Finch for 27 off 24 balls. Both Finch and Lynn added 40 runs for the 2nd wicket.
Kuldeep Yadav struck again dismissing dangerous Chris Lynn for 37 runs. Glenn Maxwell and Marcus Stoinis took on the Indian bowling line up with some clean hitting. Australia scored 153 for 3 in 16.1 overs when rain arrived. After the rain break, Australia had to play 5 balls. It was a superb over by Bumrah who took the wicket of Maxwell for 46. At end of 17 overs, Australia posted 158 for 4.
Chasing a revised target of 174 runs in 17 overs, Shikhar Dhawan looked in sensational form smashing the Australian bowlers. The power play overs were reduced to 5 overs. Rohit Sharma was dismissed for just 7 runs. At the end of 5 overs, India scored 41 for 1.
After the power play overs, Dhawan continued to bat in an aggressive fashion. KL Rahul was sent at number 3 and could only score 13 runs. Dhawan and KL Rahul added 46 runs for the 2nd wicket. Dhawan reached his half-century off 28 balls. Adam Zampa picked wickets of KL Rahul and Indian captain Virat Kohli in quick succession.
VIDEO: Glenn Maxwell hits the spider cam off Krunal Pandya’s delivery
With India needing 60 runs off last 4 overs, Dinesh Karthik and Pant played with aggressive intent adding 51 runs in quick time. Pant was dismissed in the 16th over for 20 runs. With 13 runs required off final over, Krunal Pandya took 2 runs off the first ball and then it was late as Dinesh Karthik was dismissed. India fell short of the target by just 4 runs.
Australia 158 for 4 in 17 overs ( Glenn Maxwell 46, Chris Lynn 37, Stoinis 33*, Kuldeep Yadav 2/24, Bumrah 1/21) beat
India 169 for 7 ( 174 target) in 17 overs ( Shikhar Dhawan 76, Dinesh Karthik 30, Pant 20, Adam Zampa 2/22, Stoinis 2/27) by 4 runs via DLS Method
Indian captain Virat Kohli said: It was a great atmosphere to play the match as a lot of Indian fans came to support us. Shikhar Dhawan played brilliant knock and Dinesh Karthik also showed his class at the end. We don’t have much time with the next match at MCG.
Australian captain Aaron Finch said: The batsmen did a brilliant job in the middle overs with the bat. Also, the bowlers did a great job also. Stoinis had clear plans and was confident of executing the plans.
Man of the match Adam Zampa said: Felt very pleasing. Getting the wicket of Virat Kohli was special with the way he was playing before this. Need to continue bowl well in upcoming matches.
Australia takes a 1-0 lead in the 3 match T20I series. The 2nd match will be played on 23rd November at MCG.
