Canberra, December 4: KL Rahul and Ravindra Jadeja's brilliant performance with the bat and a clinical bowling effort from Yuzvendra Chahal, Washington Sundar and debutant T Natarajan helped Team India register an 11-run win over Australia in the first T20I at the Manuka Oval, Canberra, on Friday (December 4).
Chahal - who wasn't included in the playing xi in the first place - came in as a concussion substitute after Ravindra Jadeja (44 off 23* balls) was ruled out of the match. The leg-spinner returned with impressive figures of 3/25 and Natarajan (3/30) were pulled the match in India's favour.
KL Rahul - who opened the innings with Shikhar Dhawan (1) - scored 39-ball 51 helped the tourists post a 161/7 in stipulated 20 overs.
Moises Henriques (3/22) was the pick of the bowlers for Australia as the right-arm medium pacer made a brilliant comeback. He was also supported well by Adam Zampa (1/20) and Mitchell Starc (34/2) to prevent the Indians from scoring big.
Although, the late impetus from Jadeja gave Men In Blue the momentum at the end of the innings. Later while chasing the target of 162, the Aussie openers, Aaron Finch (35) and D'Arcy Short (34), gave the hosts a brilliant start in the run chase. Chahal drew the first blood for India when he dismissed Finch in the eighth over. Later, the wrist-spinner also dismissed Steven Smith (12) early and brought the tourists back in the game. Debutant T Natarajan trapped Glenn Maxwell (2) in front and also dismissed Short and Mitchell Starc (1).
Here are the highlights from the 1st T20I:
Virat Kohli: There were no plans of having Yuzi in the game. Concussion replacements are a strange thing. Today, it worked for us. Yuzi showed character to squeeze the opponents. I thought they had a great start. They were cruising. The batters offered us a few wickets. That is T20 cricket for you. In Australia, you need to play hard and show intensity till the end. He batted beautifully in the last game. Natarajan looks like he can improve a lot. Chahar bowled well as well. Chahal got us back in the game. Hardik's catch was a game-changer as well.
Aaron Finch: The injury got progressively worse as the game went on (about his injury to the hip). Their doctor had ruled Jadeja out due to concussion. You can't be challenging a medical expert's opinion. We probably leaked too may runs at the death. Then while chasing, we didn't hit too many boundaries in the 6-over period.
Yuzvendra Chahal, Player of the Match: 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.
It's all over! India beat Australia by 11 runs and go 1-0 up in the three-match series. This is Team India's 9th consecutive T20I win.
What a debut for T Natarajan as he finishes with figures of 4-0-30-3.
After 19 overs, Australia reach 135/7. 27 needed from 6 balls. Shami to bowl the final over for India.
Wicket! Mitchell Starc (1) has been bowled by T Natarajan! That was a yorker! Australia - 127/7 in 18.1 overs.
Natarajan picks up his third wicket as Starc is bowled out for 1.
— BCCI (@BCCI) December 4, 2020
Australia 127/7 pic.twitter.com/HfW0HPJKLv
DRS! Moises Henriques goes upstairs immediately after umpire rules him LBW off Deepak Chahar. Surprisingly, it was the wicketkeeper KL Rahul who appealed. But the ball tracking confirmed in favour of the fielding side. Moises departs for 30. Australia 127/6 in 17.5 overs.
India's spinners tonight: 8 overs | 20 dots | 41 runs | Three wickets | ER 5.13
Concussion substitute Yuzvendra Chahal finishes with 4-0-25-3 and gets Wade with his final delivery.
Wicket! Yuzvendra Chahal strikes again. Matthew Wade (7) slog sweeps but fails to connect it well. Virat Kohli takes a simple catch in the deep. Australia - 122/5 in 17 overs.
Just 3 runs conceded by Washington Sundar from that over and Australia reach 116/4 in 16 overs. Sundar finishes his quota of 4 overs with just 16 runs. Matthew Wade and Moises Henriques will be key for the hosts.
Wicket! D'Arcy Short (34) mistimes Natarajan's delivery in the slot and Hardik Pandya takes another fine catch. Australia - 113/4 after 15 overs.
Overthrow from Manish Pandey and Sanju Samson fails to protect the ball. Australia get 5 extra runs, instead of 1.
9 runs conceded by Chahal from that over and Australia reach 104/3 after 14 overs.
Four! Hundred comes up for Australia as Henriques gets a boundary off Chahal.
After 13 overs, Australia reach 95/3. 10 runs came from that Shami over.
SIX!! Moises Henriques pulls Shami and gets a maximum. Brilliantly struck.
5 runs came from Natarajan's over. Australia 79/3 after 11 overs.
DRS! Big LBW appeal against Maxwell (2) from Natarajan but the umpire turns it down. Kohli goes upstairs. Ball tracking confirms Kohli was correct. Australia - 75/3 in 10.3 overs.
Wicket! Yuzvendra Chahal strikes again and this time he dismisses Steve Smith for 12. Samson takes a brilliant catch in the deep. Australia - 72/2 in 9.5 overs.
SIX!! Short ball from Chahar and Steve Smith heaves it into the stands at deep mid-wicket.
Wicket! Concussion substitute Yuzvendra Chahal gets the breakthrough for India. Hardik Pandya takes a brilliant catch diving forward. Aaron Finch falls for 35. Australia - 56/1 in 7.4 overs.
Chahal - the 12th man - has been brought into the attack. Australia - 54/0 after 7 overs.
Dropped, Dropped! Back-to-back breathers for Aussie openers. First Manish Pandey drops Finch at backward point and later Virat Kohli puts down a sitter to give D'Arcy Short a reprieve. Poor fielding for Indians on the tour continues. Deepak Chahar is utterly unlucky.
Australia have scored 53 in the powerplay.
After 5 overs, Australia are 45/0. Finch - 27* and Short - 16* are batting.
SIX!! Aaron Finch hits Shami over mid-wicket for a maximum.
After 4 overs, Australia reach 33 without any loss. This is a brilliant start for the hosts in the run chase of 162.
Washington Sundar is brought into the attack by skipper Virat Kohli in the second over.