Australia finally won the 3rd T20 game but India wins the t20i series by 2-1, salvaging some pride at the SCG. 185 was eventually enough to defend, and bowlers lived up to the task. India tried till the last but Australia prevailed.
Australia Bat First After Losing the Toss
Kohli won the toss and decided to field first on a ground that has produced record runs.
Australia were off to a good start despite losing captain Finch earlier, without opening his account. He played one straight to mid off of the bowling of Washington Sundar. Mathew Wade, taking confidence from 2nd T20I was innovating and striking well at the other end. His intent was clear which was to attack. Smith, batting at no 3, struggled to get scoring. He was let off by Rahul who had a huge chance to stump.
However, he was bowled of beauty from Chahal later. Then came Glen Maxwell, and some scintillating switch hits. India really had no answer to that. He got a life when he was caught off a no-ball by Chahal – a big let off by India. Shardul Thakur, coming in the 11th over, was greeted by a six off the first ball by Wade. While other bowlers leaked runs, Natarajan kept one end tight.
Wade and Maxwell Partnership
Wade and Maxwell stitched together a formidable partnership of 90 runs until Wade dismissed in the 19th over. Maxwell was dropped twice and made the most scoring 54 off 36 balls, with three towering sixes. Wade made an aggressive 80 off 53 till he missed a full ball by Thakur. Both were particularly aggressive in the middle overs, trying to take the attack to the Indian bowlers. Australia finished with 186-5.
For India, Natarajan was again the standout though he went for a few in the death. Thakur was the most expensive, leaking 43 off his 4 overs. India would need to work on Thakur, and see his future in T20I. Chahal had another off day, giving 41 off 4 overs. To be fair to him, he ran into Maxwell who was in a destructive mood. Sundar picked up 2 crucial wickets and looks like a good bowling all-rounder. At the end of the innings, India would have felt the target would be chaseable especially when they had chased down a bigger target in the earlier match.
Surprisingly, Australia opened their innings with Glen Maxwell the spinner. The move paid off when KL Rahul played one in the air to deep midwicket right off the second ball. India made a bad start. Australia sensed blood. It could have easily been two early wickets had Steve Smith held on to the catch at deep midwicket. That was first of the three lives Kohli would get in the innings.
India Lose Their Way but wins t20i series
Dhawan and Kohli tried to up the ante against the more disciplined Aussie bowlers. Dhawan was soon gone flicking one in the air on the on side. Sanju Samon, at no 4, did not do much either, scoring just 9 off 10 balls. The pressure on Kohli who was still scoring freely at the other end, and keeping India in the hunt. Shreyas Iyer did not last long either. He was LBW the first ball from Swepson.
Eventually, it was down to Kohli and Pandya, the last of the recognized batsman. Kohli and Pandya did try to score fast, but Australia looked in control, with asking rate creeping to 15. The 17th over was given to Zampa, with 43 required still. Zampa immediately got the wicket of dangerous Pandya, and India was in tatters. In the same over, Wade missed the stumping of Kohli. However, not much was lost as Kohli was out the first ball of the next over.
It was all over for India by then, and Australia looked set to win the match. Shardul Thakur put up a fight striking two sixes, but with 27 needed off the last over, all was done and dusted. Eventually, Australia won by 15 runs. Hardik Pandya was awarded Man of the Series.
Off to Tests Now
India would take some momentum from the white ball series and would be looking to make a statement in the Border-Gavaskar series. A completely different side would be there. Good luck to both sides.