Former Australia captain Steve Smith scored his first T20I half-century as an opener in the first T20I of the five-T20I series against India. Smith played the anchor role while Josh Inglis was the adventurous one during his maiden T20I century. Smith and Inglis missed out on breaking the record for the highest partnership for Australia against India in T20Is as the former got run out in a comical manner trying to sneak a non-existent single after attempting a scoop shot.
The run out happened in the 16th over of the innings. After hitting a boundary off Mukesh Kumar to reach his half-century, Smith tried to play a form of scoop shot by moving across the stumps. But he could not clear the short fine leg fielder Prasidh Krishna. Smith took some time to recover and run towards the non-striker's end while Josh Inglis rushed to sneak a single. Smith was nowhere close as Krishna's throw was collected by Mukesh and he hit the stumps.
Smith scored 52 runs from 41 balls including eight fours. He shared a 130-run partnership for the second wicket with Inglis. This is Australia’s second-highest partnership against India. It is also Australia’s fifth-highest partnership in the format.
While Smith rotated the strike, Inglis took the aerial route and decimated the Indian bowling attack in the middle overs. After Smith’s wicket, Inglis reached his century from 47 balls, the joint-fastest for Australia in the format alongside former skipper Aaron Finch.
The 28-year-old became the first wicketkeeper-batter to score a century against India in T20Is. It is also the second-fastest T20I century against India after David Miller who achieved the feat from just 46 balls last year.
He smashed eight sixes and 11 fours and eight sixes in his 110-run knock from 50 balls before losing his wicket to Prasidh Krishna in the 18th over of the innings. His knock helped Australia post 208/3 on the board. This is the joint-highest first innings score in India vs Australia T20I history. India had posted 208/6 against Australia in Mohali in 2022.
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