Team India got off to a winning start in the T20I series by beating Australia in the first T20I in Canberra on Friday by 11 runs. This was their ninth consecutive T20I win and their second straight at this venue after losing the first two ODIs in Sydney. Yuzvendra Chahal and T Natarajan were the architects of the Indian win after India scored 161 batting first. More about the match report in detail below.
India came into the first T20I in Canberra after losing the ODI series. They were asked to bat first by Australia after winning the toss. KL Rahul scored 51 at the top of the order and Ravindra Jadeja’a 23-ball 44 run cameo helped India get to 161 after their 20 overs. This happened after India scored only 15 runs in overs between 11 to 14. That was the phase that India lost quick wickets and Australia had an upper hand in the game.
For Australia, Moises Henriques picked three wickets and was the best of the lost. Mitchell Starc picked two wickets and Azam Zampa and Mitchell Swepson picked one wicket each. Swepson picked the prized wicket of Virat Kohli as he fell to leg-spin yet again.
India Beat Australia by 11 runs
India defending their target was quite a story. Yuzvendra Chahal came into the game as a concussion replacement for Ravindra Jadeja. It was his spell that changed the game for India as he took three for 25 including a wicket in the last ball of his spell. he dismissed Aaron Finch (35) and Steve Smith (12), the two key wickets to bring his team back into the game.
Natarajan, who made his T20I debut for India in the game, picked up three wickets as well. He picked up Glenn Maxwell (2), which was a big blow to Australia. D’Arcy Short (34) and Mitchell Starc (1) were his other two wickets.
Also Read: Aaron Finch Miffed With The Concussion Substitute In The 1st T20I
What Was the Turning Point in The Game?
Yuzvendra Chahal being roped in as the concussion substitute and his spell of three for 25 turned out to be the turning point in the game. It was also a masterstroke of a move to name him as the replacement for Ravindra Jadeja who earlier played a cameo despite taking a knock on his head.
Yuzvendra Chahal for his matchwinning spell was awarded the Man of the Match. This was the first time ever, that a concussion substitute was awarded the MOM in international T20 cricket. The second T20I will be played on Sunday in Sydney.
“I have played so many games and was mentally fit. 10-15 minutes before the start of the innings, I got to know I will play. The way Zampa bowled, I tried to do the same as well. It was a little harder to score in the first innings. 150-160 is a good score on this wicket. I bowled according to my plans” said Chahal after he was adjudged the Man of the Match.
Also Read: Ravindra Jadeja Suffers Injury Scare In The 1st T20I