Australia created history in the first T20I of the three-T20I series. Australia pulled off their highest run chase against India by chasing down the target of 209 with four wickets in hand and four balls to spare. Apart from Axar Patel, no Indian bowler impressed as Aussie batters dictated terms in the run chase.
The run chase got off to an ideal start with Aussie openers not holding back. Skipper Finch started positively with a few boundaries but got bowled by Axar Patel. Cameron Green opening in T20Is for the first time batted like he was giving a tryout for one of the Indian Premier League (IPL) franchises. Green and Steve Smith made full use of the powerplay overs and scored 60 runs off it.
Green took Yuzvendra Chahal to the cleaners. In the eighth over, he was dropped by Axar Patel in deep mid-wicket. He got to his half-century with a six in the ninth over. In the same over Smith was dropped by KL Rahul. Right after the halfway mark, Axar got rid of Green. The all-rounder scored 61 runs from 30 deliveries including eight fours and four sixes.
In the next over, Umesh was hit for a six and a four by Smith. The former Australian captain made a mistake and lost his wicket to Umesh Yadav. It was a faint edge off Smith's bat as he tried to guide the ball square of the wicket. In the same over, Glenn Maxwell got out trying to play a short ball from Umesh.
However, the two wickets did not have much effect on how Australia approached the run chase. Josh Inglis contributed with a 10-ball 17. Axar got another wicket in his last over and made the equation tough for the visitors.
However, Wade and Tim David held on to their nerves. Australia needed 40 off the last three overs. Harshal paid the price for dropping Wade off his own bowling. He was smashed for 22 runs in the 18th over including three sixes. In the penultimate over, Bhuvneshwar continued his poor run and conceded 16 runs. Australia needed just two runs off the final over. Chahal showed some glimmer of hope with the wicket of David (18) but Pat Cummins got off the mark with a boundary and helped Australia win the match by four wickets with four balls to chase. Wade remained unbeaten for 45 off 21 deliveries including six fours and two sixes.
Earlier, Finch won the toss and opted to field first. India lost two wickets in the powerplay overs. Skipper Rohit got out to Josh Hazlewood after scoring 11 runs whereas Nathan Ellis dismissed Virat Kohli. In the powerplay overs, KL Rahul and Suryakumar Yadav took on the bowlers as India had 46/2 on the board.
Rahul and Suryakumar laid a platform for a big score. During his 55-run knock, he became the third-fastest batter to score 2,000 T20I runs. Rahul batted with a strike rate over 150 and hit four fours, three sixes in his innings. It was Hazlewood who broke the third-wicket partnership.
Suryakumar was joined by Pandya in the middle. A rampant Suryakumar missed his half-century and got dismissed by Green in the 14th over. He scored 46 runs from 25 deliveries including tow fours and four sixes.
In the slog overs, it was all Pandya show. He swung the blade with flair and dominated each and every Australian bowler. He smashed as many as seven fours and five sixes in his unbeaten 71-run knock. Ellis was impressive in the death overs with the wicket of Axar (6) and Karthik (6). Hardik's T20I career-best knock helped India post 208/6.
