Australia beat India by 4 runs in 1st T20I

Speed Post News Network

Patna : Australia beat India by 4 runs in November 21, 2018, evening, at The Gabba, Brisbane, Australia, to take  1-0 in the three-match T20I series. India won the toss but opted to bowl. Batting first, Australia were 153/3 in 16.1 overs when play was stopped due to rain. Thereafter, the match was reduced to 17 overs per side and after resumption Australia scored 158/4 in 17 overs but under D/L Method India were given a target of 174. India scored 169/7 in 17 overs.

Barring opener Shikhar Dhawan no other to top order India batsmen including captain Virat Kohli, vice-captain Rohit Sharma, and Lokesh Rahul clicked on the day. Dhawan scored 76 in 42 balls with 10 fours and 2 sixes while Rohit Sharma made 7, Virat Kohli 4, and Rahul 13. Krunal Pandya made 2.

Yet Dinesh Karthik and wicketkeeper Rishabh Pant took the match to wire scoring 30 and 20 runs respectively. Karthik made 30 in 13 balls with 4 fours and a six while Pant made 20 in 15 balls with a four and a six. India required 11 runs in the 17th over but could hit only one four in the over.

For Australia, spinner Adam Zampa took 2/22 in 4 overs while all-rounder Marcus Stoinis took 2/27 in 3 overs. Andrew Tye took 1/47 in 3 overs. Fast bowler Billy Stanlake, 24, and fast medium bowlers Jason Behrendorff took one wicket each.

Earlier, Australia made 158/4 in 17 overs with Glen Maxwell scoring 46 in 24 balls with 4 sixes while Chris Lynn scored 37 with 1 four and 4 sixes taking advantage of very poor bowling by Krunal Pandya and K Khaleel Ahmad. Pandya leaked away 55 runs in his 4 overs without taking a wicket. Maxwell hit him for 3 consecutives sixes in his third over. Khaleel Ahmad took 1/42 in 3 overs. Kuldeep Yadav took 2/24 in 4 overs.