IND vs AUS Highlights, 1st T20: India beats Australia by 2 wickets; Suryakumar, Ishan shine

Rinku started the over with a boundary, a slice over the backward point and then a bye allowed the Indians to steal a single. There was drama at the end as Axar Patel got caught and bowled by Abbott after getting a top-edge and the bowler taking a good catch. Ravi Bishnoi got run-out the very next ball after failing to make ground at the non striker’s end. There was more drama as Arshdeep Singh failed to make ground while taking the second run with India needing one run in one ball with Rinku Singh on strike. And he finished in style with a smashing six! India win by two wickets.

Rinku Singh with a smashing drive through the vacant mid-off brings the 200 up for India and that was a cracker of a shot. The timing was absolutely brilliant, as India needs 7 runs in 6 balls.

A boundary to the deep point region, and that’s a brilliant shot from Surya. However, Behrendorff had the last laugh as Surya reached out to a wide knuckle ball and skied it high in the air, with Hardie taking a superb catch to end the Indian captain’s innings. Surya falls for a 42-ball 80, as India needs 14 runs from 12 balls. Axar Patel joins Rinku Singh.

Ellis pitches it up and SKY pummels it straight back for a four. Ellis misses his line next two balls, two wides. Another fuller one. This time it is powered over mid wicket for a six. Ellis goes short and SKY flicks it behinds third man for a four.

Third over for Stoinis. He starts with a wide. Length ball next and Rinku guides it behind point for a four. SKY too brings out the cut shot. He too gets a four for his efforts. India hurtling towards the target. Stoinis drifts onto Rinku’s pads. The leftie flicks it away for another four.

Sangha with his last over. Short from him and Tilak powers it to the mid wicket fence. First four for him! Tilak brings out the reverse hit now. Another four. Sangha floats it wide and Tilak goes after him. Top edge and Stoinis completes a brilliant catch.

Tilak Varma c Stoinis b Sangha 12 (10b 2x4 0x6)‘

IND 155/4 in 15 overs

SKY goes straight. He goes big. SIX!!! That is also his fifty. His side would love it if he keeps this going.

What a shot! Ishan nails Nathan Ellis into the top-tier way beyond the deep mid-wicket, a 93m six to bring the 100-run partnership and both batsmen are just two runs shy of their respective half-centuries. Top batting.

Australia is looking for a breakthrough but both Surya and Ishan are aware that the partnership needs to flourish for India to have a genuine chance to gun down the total. Ravi Shastri says there is no dew and Australian bowlers are relying on the slower ones and other variations to keep the batsmen in check.

After being taken to the cleaners, Sean Abbott has bounced back nicely giving just eight runs and with that drinks are on the field. India needs 103 runs in 60 balls with the partnership worth 84 off 45 balls. In the last five overs, India has scored 56 runs without losing a wicket.

The last 30 balls have gone for 68 runs and Ishan is on a song as he has got a measure of Sangha. The southpaw started the over with a slog-sweep to the mid-wicket boundary and then launched the spinner for two consecutive sixes - first over the deep mid-wicket and then over the cow corner to put the spinner under immense pressure. 19 runs from the over.

Behrendorff foxes Surya with a knuckle ball, and the batsman goes for the pull, but the ball lands just short of the fielder at long-leg. The 50-run partnership is up, and India is motoring on nicely matching the required rate of 10.29 rpo.

Tanveer Sangha, the right-arm leg-spinner started in a decent fashion, giving just six singles. Ishan Kishan almost dragged one to the fielder at deep but was lucky as the ball bounced just inches ahead of the fielder. Interesting passage of play.

India has bossed the PowerPlay and the run chase is right back on track with captain Surya leading from the front. The boundaries are flowing from the skipper’s willow with the fine leg boundary being peppered as well as the mid-wicket. The current and required rate are almost equal, and the partnership is 41 off 21 deliveries.

Ishan and Surya have broken the shackles with the southpaw targetting Sean Abbott with a flick over the mid-wicket for a maximum and then Surya exhibited his brilliantce with a lovely pick-up shot as the ball sailed over the mid-wicket and the 50 came up for India within the PowerPlay. 20 runs from Abbott’s first over and India is up and running in chase of 209.

Behrendorff is bowling a very disciplined line, extracting bounce and carry, hitting the back of length and beating Surya’s defence. While the Indian seamers largely struggled, Behrendorff so far made an impact by tying down the Indian batsmen. Surya, however, finished the over with a brilliant flick over the fine leg for a six. Trademark Surya!

Jaiswal perishes while trying to be aggressive as Matthew Short gets the Indian opener while the southpaw tried to drill the spinner over mid-off but hit it straight to Steve Smith who takes a comfortable overhead catch. Australia with two quick wickets is in complete control of the game as Jaiswal walks back for an 8-ball 21 with two boundaries and two sixes. Skipper Suryakumar Yadav walks in, and he has a job in his hands.

Jason Behrendorff starts with a maiden over as Ishan Kishan, although off the mark has been beaten consistently with Behrendorff testing the southpaw with some lovely out-swingers. A couple of shots went straight to the fielder.

Jaiswal started with a bang with a brilliant drive through the covers for a boundary and then came up with an audacious pull over the backward square region for a maximum. The southpaw took on Stoinis’ short ball challenge and drilled it into the stands. However, a horrible mix-up saw Ruturaj Gaikwad run-out and walk back for a duck. Ishan Kishan has joined Jaiswal.

Wade does the pep-talk and the Indian openers - Yashasvi Jaiswal and Ruturaj Gaikwad are out in the middle. It’s a left-right combination for India and the young combo will eye to get off the blocks quickly. Marcus Stoinis will start proceedings with the new ball. Here we go!

Well, India has to be at its best and the start from the openers will set the tone for the chase. It will be a record if India guns down 209 as it will be its highest run chase ever in T20Is.

Mukesh Kumar with the final over. Strong start to the over. Just three runs from the first four balls. Oh wait. Mukesh has overstepped for the fourth ball. But he salvages the situation with a yorker in the freehit. Mukesh closes out the over with two brilliant yorkers. No runs from the last two balls.

INDIA NEEDS 209 TO WIN THE FIRST T20I

Arshdeep with the penultimate over. Starts with a couple of wides. A length ball is smashed away for a four. But Arshdeep continues to stick to his line. David gets his swing under the ball for once. Flies deep into the stands.

Slow off cutter from Prasidh and Inglis holes out to the deep. End of a fine knock from the keeper batter.

Josh Inglis c Jaiswal b Prasidh Krishna 110 (50b 11x4 8x6)

AUS 187/3 in 18 overs

Stoinis takes a single of the first ball from the Arshdeep over. Wide yorker from Arshdeep and Inglis somehow manages to reverse scoop if for a four. Another wide yorker and Inglis slices it for another four. That is his hundred and it is the join-fastest by an Australian in men’s T20Is.

Short from Mukesh. Smith manages to put it beyond short fine for a four. Mukesh goes wide and Smith smashes it through covers for another four. His knock though comes to an end, due to a run out. Prasidh and Mukesh combining hands for the dismissal.

Steven Smith run out (Prasidh Krishna/Mukesh Kumar)

AUS 161/2 in 16 overs

Bishnoi with his final over of the day. Smith takes a single to bring up the hundred-run partnership. Bishnoi goes short and Inglis swats it away for another six. Inglis now makes room on the leg side to carve a fuller one over extra cover for another six!!! Another full one. This time Inglis thumps it over mid wicket for the third six of the over.

No stopping Inglis. He is waiting deep in the crease and Prasidh gifts a length ball, which is disposed to the leg side stands. SIX!!! The Indian pacer has had a torrid day so far.

Smith wants to join the party. Goes for a wild slog one the leg side against Axar. Not great timing. But still gets a four for it, thanks to Arshdeep’s drop at deep third. Inglis and Smith sneak in a couple of doubles to close off another good over for the Aussies.

Bishnoi with his third over. Flat from the leggie. Couple of singles to start the over. He goes full against Inglis, who smokes it over long on for a six to bring up his fifty. Next ball, he make moves the leg side, before clipping it over extra cover for a four.

Another full ball and another six over long on. Exquisite batting.

Axar back into the attack. Single first ball. Full against Smith, who advances to pump it straight back for a four. Short ball next and Smith adds a couple of runs.

Second over for Mukesh. Smith takes a single first ball to bring Inglis on strike. Yorker just outside the off stump line. Inglis somehow manages to squeeze it past point for a four. Length ball next and Inglis lofts it towards midwicket. Jaiswal puts in a diving stop to prevent a boundary.

The onslaught continues. Short from Bishnoi and Inglis is quick to pop back and pull it for a six. Another short ball and Inglis nudges it to deep third for a couple of runs. A chance for a run out. But Bishnoi fumbles the gather to give Inglis a life.

Prasidh’s struggles continue. He goes into Inglis’ pads and it is flicked away with ease for a four. Short and wide next up and Inglis carves it over backward point for the first six of the day. Slow full ball next and Inglis picks it early and chips it straight back for a four. Full on the off now and Inglis drives it on the up. FOUR MORE!!!

19 runs from the over

Mukesh Kumar into the attack and Smith takes him on straight away. Full on the off and full-faced cover drive from Smith. FOUR!! Mukesh brings the line onto the stumps to stem the run flow.

Axar gets a second over. Better control this time. Just a single from the first four balls. Fifth ball, Inglis makes room on the leg side to slice one past extra cover for a four.

Ravi Bishnoi too gets a crack in the PowerPlay.

DROPPED!! Length ball and Smith smashes it straight back. It is striaght at Bishnoi, who could not hold onto it. But Bishnoi is not to be denied. Wrong one and Short swipes at it. Misses it completely. Off stump rocked back.

Matthew Short b Ravi Bishnoi 13 (11b 3x4 0x6)

AUS 35/1 in 5 overs

Axar Patel into the attack. Offers width and Short punishes it. Punched through covers for a four. Axar goes full onto the pads and Short sweeps it over short fine for another four.

Arshdeep starts his second over with a bouncer against Smith. Beats the Aussie batter. Arshdeep pitches it up next and Smith smacks it through the covers. But only a single as India has a cover there. Just two singles from the over.

Prasidh Krishna goes wide first ball and Smith happily puts it away for a four with a well-timed cut shot. FOUR!! Praisdh repeats his mistake and Smith one again smashes it through the covers. Another four.

Prasidh goes back of the length against Short, who smokes it to the mid wicket fence. FOUR MORE!!

Steve Smith and Matt Short open the innings for Australia. Arshdeep with the first over of the series. Dot ball to begin with. Arshdeep pitches it up and Smith crashes it through covers for the first four of the day. A couple of leg byes and a single add on to Australia’s tally.

“We will bowl first. The wicket looks good, dew should come later and should make the pitch better. It’s a little difficult, but there’s always light at the end of the tunnel. Lots of positives and looking forward to the series. The guys have played a lot of franchise and domestic cricket, just told them to express and enjoy themselves.”

Matthew Short, Steven Smith, Josh Inglis, Aaron Hardie, Marcus Stoinis, Tim David, Matthew Wade(w/c), Sean Abbott, Nathan Ellis, Jason Behrendorff, Tanveer Sangha

Ruturaj Gaikwad, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Ishan Kishan(w), Suryakumar Yadav(c), Tilak Varma, Rinku Singh, Axar Patel, Ravi Bishnoi, Arshdeep Singh, Mukesh Kumar, Prasidh Krishna

India wins toss, opts to bowl first

We are just moments away from the all-important toss, and it will be a crucial one given the fact that the team bowling second will encounter some dew as the evening progresses.

The first T20I between India and Australia can be live streamed in Jio Cinema. The match will also be telecasted live on the Sports18 and Colors Cineplex TV channels in India.

Matthew Wade (Capt.), Aaron Hardie, Jason Behrendorff, Sean Abbott, Tim David, Nathan Ellis, Travis Head, Josh Inglis, Glenn Maxwell, Tanveer Sangha, Matt Short, Steve Smith, Marcus Stoinis, Kane Richardson, Adam Zampa

Suryakumar Yadav (Capt.), Ruturaj Gaikwad, Ishan Kishan, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Tilak Varma, Rinku Singh, Jitesh Sharma (wk), Washington Sundar, Axar Patel, Shivam Dubey, Ravi Bishnoi, Arshdeep Singh, Prasidh Krishna, Avesh Khan, Mukesh Kumar

Wicket-keeper: Kishan, Wade

Batters: Jaiswal, Suryakumar, Head

All-rounders: Maxwell, Washington, Axar

Bowlers: Ellis, Prasidh, Zampa

Captain: Jaiswal

Matthew Short, Travis Head, Glenn Maxwell, Matthew Wade (c and wk), Tim David, Marcus Stoinis, Sean Abbott, Nathan Ellis, Adam Zampa, Kane Richardson

Yashasvi Jaiswal, Ruturaj Gaikwad, Tilak Varma, Ishan Kishan (wk), Suryakumar Yadav (c), Rinku Singh, Washington Sundar, Axar Patel, Arshdeep Singh, Prasidh Krishna, Ravi Bishnoi

A very warm good evening to all our readers. It’s barely a week since the heart-crushing World Cup final defeat but Team India is ready to take on the mighty Australia, this time in a five-match T20I series with the first one starting in the East coast of Visakhapatnam. Stay tuned as we get you all the latest updates.