Brisbane, Nov 21: Shikhar Dhawan's brilliant knock of 76 went in vain as India ended up losing the rain-hit first Twenty20 International against Australia by 4 runs via DLS method here on Wednesday (November 21).
Chasing a revised target of 174 from just 17 overs, India had a daunting task from the word go but Dhawan - who scored 92 in the previous T20I against Windies - had almost sealed the deal for the Indians. Dhawan continued from where he left against West Indies back home. The Delhi cricketer scored 76 off 42 deliveries to keep the visitors in the hunt. Once Dhawan was dismissed, the Indians' hopes of coming out victorious turned bleak as they could score 169 in the stipulated 17 overs.
He didn't get the support from the other end and kept hammering the Australian bowlers all round the park. Rohit Sharma (7), KL Rahul (13) and Virat Kohli (4) were dismissed cheaply as the top order failed to click in the monumental run chase but Dhawan seemed unfazed with the fall of wickets at the opposite end and was doing the bulk of the scoring.
India scoring more than Australia yet losing. Australia ke score par laga GST bhaari pad gaya. But a good thrilling game to start the series.#AUSvIND
— Virender Sehwag (@virendersehwag) November 21, 2018
The southpaw's innings was laced with ten boundaries and two sixes as he batted at a strike rate of 180-plus. After Dhawan's departure in the 12th over India had a huge task at hand. The 51-run stand between Rishabh Pant (20 off 15) and Dinesh Karthik (30 off 13) kept the visitors in the hunt, though.
The duo struck 25-runs from Andrew Tye's second over - the most expensive over of the match - to turn the tides in their favour again. When the 15th over also produced 11 runs it seemed the visitors would just pull this one off.
Australia 158
— Aakash Chopra (@cricketaakash) November 21, 2018
India 169
Winner—Australia 😊🙌
How often does that happen? Completely understand why it happened....but can’t resist a smile thinking about the oddity. #AusvInd
With 18 needed from 10 deliveries, Pant attempted a ramp shot and ended up throwing his wicket and the hosts found their window of opportunity to script a comeback. With 13 needed from the last 6 deliveries, Marcus Stoinis defended the total for the hosts to hand them a win after four successive defeats. This win against India would give the young Australian side a lot of confidence as they had plenty of positives to take.
Adam Zampa was the pick of the bowlers for the Australians as he finished with figures of 2/22 from his quota of 4 overs. The leg-spinner got the big wickets of Rahul and Kohli to put the visitors under pressure.
Such a closely fought game, too bad it dint go our way. This is going to be a cracking series. #AusvsInd
— Ashwin Ravichandran (@ashwinravi99) November 21, 2018
As for the Indians, their bowling and fielding was a major let down as Krunal Pandya (4-0-55-0) and Khaleel Ahmed (3-0-42-1) were too expensive. Kuldeep Yadav was the pick of the bowlers for India as he finished with 2/24.
Glenn Maxwell's power hitting ensured the hosts post a decent total on the board after India captain Virat Kohli invited Aaron Finch to bat first. Maxwell scored 46 off 24 deliveries as his knock was studded with four huge sixes, three of them came off consecutive balls off Pandya.
Congrats on the win Australia a bloody good tough and courageous win. This Indian team are a very strong outfit and super competitive too. It’s going to be a great summer of cricket ! See you at the MCG Friday night 👍
— Shane Warne (@ShaneWarne) November 21, 2018
Marcus Stoinis (33* off 19) and Maxwell were poised to take the hosts to a big total before the skies opened up in the 17th over when the scoreboard read 153/3 in 16.1 overs. Rain stopped the play for nearly an hour which saw it reduced to 17 overs per side.
India were required to bowl 5 more deliveries after resumption of the play. Jasprit Bumrah ensured the Aussies add just 5 more runs to their total and even accounted for the wicket of dangerous Maxwell on the very first delivery when the play resumed.
Earlier, D'Arcy Short (7 off 12) departed cheaply but Aaron Finch (27 off 24), and Chris Lynn (37 off 20) ensured the hosts kept scoring at a decent rate. Kuldeep accounted for the wickets of Finch and Lynn to bring his team back in the game. But Maxwell and Stoinis' power hitting in the middle overs propelled the hosts to a decent total.
As it happened:
It's all over! Australia have defeated India by 4 runs via DLS method in the 1st T20I and went 1-0 up in the three-match series and the credit goes to Glenn Maxwell, Marcus Stoinis and Adam Zampa. Good start for the hosts as they've ended the four-match losing streak in T20Is. As for India, Shikhar Dhawan (76), Dinesh Karthik (30) and Kuldeep (2/24) were the top performers.
Wicket! @DineshKarthik too falls on the very next delivery and Stoinis gets two wickets in as many deliveries, he's on a hat-trick and the Aussies have inched closer towards win. India - 163/7 in 16.4 overs. 11 needed from 2 balls.
Wicket! Krunal Pandya tries to clear it but failed to get the distance as it was an off-cutter. Maxwell takes a superb catch at mid-on. India - 163/6 in 16.3 overs. India need 11 from 3
13 needed from 6 balls for India.
Wicket! Rishabh Pant plays a confused ramp shot and gets caught at point by Behrendorff. He departs for 20. India are 156/5 after 15.3 overs, need 18 more from 9 balls.
It's one thing to choose the wrong shot and hit the ball in the air. But why did Rishab Pant not run and at least get Kartik back on strike. That's basic cricket!
— Joy Bhattacharjya (@joybhattacharj) November 21, 2018
11 runs came from the 15th over bowled by Marcus Stoinis. India need 24 more from 12 deliveries.
6 4 Wd 1 2 Wd 4 6 ! 25 runs came from that over bowled by Andrew Tye. Pant and Karthik hit a six each in that over. The six on the final delivery of the over was a dramatic one as Maxwell caught it but his feet landed outside the fence. India - 139/4 after 14 overs, 35 required from 18 balls.
0,0,2,1,1,1! Just 5 runs conceded by Adam Zampa from that over and it seems he might just have sealed the fate of the match in Australia's favour. India are 114/4 in 13 overs. 60 needed from 24 balls.
Zampa might have sealed the fate of this game in that over. 🙏 https://t.co/v0BCSSrucr
— Aakash Chopra (@cricketaakash) November 21, 2018
Wicket! Shikhar Dhawan (76) tries to clear Stanlake over deep point but finds tall Behrendorff near the boundary ropes. India have lost their fourth wicket and their set batsman in the run chase. Dhawan had hit the bowler for a maximum two balls before but failed to get the elevation to clear the fence. India 105/4 and they are still 69 runs short of the target.
Wicket! Adam Zampa gets the big wicket of Virat Kohli. The Indian captain was looking to free his arms the the asking rate was mounting but he failed to clear the ball and Chris Lynn takes a simple catch to end the Indian skipper's innings at 4. India - 96/3 after 11 overs.
9 runs came from that over bowled by Stoinis. India are 93/2 after 10 overs. The required rate is climbing.
India are 84/2 after 9 overs, they still have a mountain to climb.
Wicket! KL Rahul has been stumped by Carey off Adam Zampa. The batsman was on the line and the third umpire took his time to check if there was anything behind the crease, which he never found and ruled in favour of the bowling side. but Rahul has to depart for 13 and India lost a wicket at a very critical juncture of the run chase. India 81/2 in 8.2 overs.
1,6,2,4,0,4 = 17 runs came from that over bowled by Behrendorff. Dhawan is looking in sublime touch. India 78/1 after 8 overs.
Fifty! 9th T20I half-century for Shikhar Dhawan and it came off 28 deliveries. Top innings from the southpaw.
8 runs came from the 7th over for India as they reach 61/1. The Men In Blue require 113 more runs to win from 60 deliveries.
Four! 5.4 - Shikhar Dhawan charges down the ground and dispatches Andrew Tye for a boundary. Four! 5.5 - Dhawan gets a fine edge of the ball and the ball races towards the third-man region for another four. The bowler doesn't seem happy with that. 12 runs came from that over and India reach 53/1 after 6 overs.
Dhawan averages 13.3 and scores at 102.6 against leg spinners in T20Is - the least among all the bowler types he's faced in the format. Can Zampa make the breakthrough?#AUSvIND
— The Cricket Prof. (@CricProf) November 21, 2018
5 overs have been bowled and India reach 41/1 against Aussies. The previous over from Behrendorff saw a wicket on the first ball and 10 runs from next five deliveries.
Wicket! Rohit Sharma failed to connect Behrendorff well as he was looking the bowler to hit over midwicket. Aaron Finch takes a running catch and India have lost their first wicket. Rohit departs for 7. India - 35/1 in 4.1 overs.
India 35/0 after 4 overs. That's the end of powerplays for India. They still have a long way to go in this big run chase.
7 runs came from the second over that was bowled by Jason Behrendorff. Dhawan got a boundary in that over as well. India - 18/0 after 2 overs.
3,4,0,4,0,0! 11 runs came for India from the first over bowled by Jason Behrendorff. Dhawan opened his account with a boundary and got a lucky four as well.
Indian openers Rohit Sharma and Shikhar Dhawan are out into the middle to start run chase of 174 runs in 17 overs.
End of the innings! Australia reach 158/4 in 17 overs in the rain curtailed game. Superb bowling from Jasprit Bumrah as he leaks just 5 runs from the next five balls and picked up a wicket. India have been given a target of 174 to chase.
Wicket! Bumrah Strikes on the very first ball as play resumes. Glenn Maxwell (46) is caught by Bhuvneshwar as he tried to pull the bowler but found a fielder. Australia - 153/4
Maxwell and Stoinis are back into the middle as play resumes and Bumrah starts with the ball.
Typical Gabba track!!
Typical Gabba wicket. Lovely carry, ball coming on but little sideways movement. Batsmen able to hit through the line as Pandya and Khaleel learnt.
— Harsha Bhogle (@bhogleharsha) November 21, 2018
UPDATE: Play set to resume at 8:05pm local time. It will be 17 overs per side, so Australia will face five more balls with the score 3-153
Ashwin-Neesham continue the banter.
🤭.. We will bat soon enough 🔥
— Ashwin Ravichandran (@ashwinravi99) November 21, 2018
Funny banter between R Ashwin and Jimmy Neesham.
Cos it's raining mate.
— Ashwin Ravichandran (@ashwinravi99) November 21, 2018