India vs Australia 3rd T20I Highlights: Suryakumar Yadav and Virat Kohli power India to a six-wicket win in series decider
India beat Australia by six wickets in the third and final T20I to clinch the three-match series 2-1 in Hyderabad on Sunday.
HYDERABAD: It all boiled down to the last three overs. The Australians, who were 140 for six at the end of 17 overs, were 46 in the final over. Indians, who started the chase very nicely and needed just 32 to win the series, overcame a brave fight and in the third and final T20I at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium they scored a staggering six goals on Sunday.
Virat Kohli hit some welcome form with a 48-ball 63 (3×4, 4×6) and despite falling with just five needed from five balls, the Delhi batsman secured victory. Hardik Pandya remained unbeaten on 25 as the Indians replied with 187 for four with a ball to spare. In the end, the difference between the teams was a balanced show by the Indian batsmen in the middle overs.
Powered by Scorecard | How it happened But the victory was actually set up by a Mumbaikar for whom the sky is not the limit. Suryakumar Yadav stole the thunder from the Australians. Suryakumar came into bat with India chasing a tricky 188, sensitively placed at 30 for two, and he and Virat Kohli put on a match-winning partnership of 104 runs from 62 balls for the third wicket.
The Indians did not get the start they wanted as KL Rahul (1) and skipper Rohit Sharma (17) fell with just 30 on the board. But Virat Kohli and Suryakumar Yadav rose to the challenge as they slowly clawed their way back into the innings. Kohli did most of the scoring initially before Suryakumar joined the party.
The Australians, who had looked on top until then, began to wither under the pressure. After 10 overs, the Indians were 91 for two – five runs more than the Australians at that stage of their innings. Once Suryakumar warmed up, Kohli played second fiddle and allowed his junior to take over the Australian attack.
The Indians opened up in the seventh inning as the runs came in a steady stream. Suryakumar raced to his half-century off 29 balls with four fours and three sixes. When he departed in the 14th over, he had got 69 off 36 balls with five fours and as many over the fence. Kohli completed his half-century off 37 balls with three fours and three sixes.
Earlier, the Aussies got off to a sensational start as Cameron Green hit a 21-ball 52 with seven fours and three sixes as the visitors were bundled out for 66 in the over. After his departure, the Australians floundered as the Indians clawed their way back. From a strong 62 for two, the visitors slumped to 84 for four in the 10th over.
They were 86 at the halfway mark – adding just 24 in the last six overs. Glenn Maxwell (6) did not last long as he was run out by Axar Patel as he tried to steal a second. Steve Smith (8) did not contribute much as he was stumped by Yuzvend Chahal’s Dinesh Karthik.
Josh Inglis (24) and Tim David repaired the damage with 31 runs for the fifth wicket before Patel struck twice in his final over to put Indians on top again. It was left to David and Daniel Sams to guide the visitors to a respectable total.
David raced to a 27-ball 54 with two fours and four sixes, while Sams remained unbeaten on 28 off 20 balls. India’s woes at the death continued as Bhuvneshwar Kumar conceded 21 in the 18th over, Jasprit Bumrah 18. Had it not been for Harshal Patel’s miserly last over in which he gave away just seven runs, the Australians would have had more on the board. Share on Twitter
