T20: Cameron Green & Matthew Wade ruin Pandya’s celebrations
Australia beats a high total in the first T20I thanks to an all-61 arounder’s and a ‘keeper’s undefeated 45.
Before the game, Aaron Finch and Rohit Sharma made aggressive and entertaining promises. Both were presented to the raucous crowd at IS Bindra PCA Stadium as Australia defeated India by four wickets in the first of three T20Is by overcoming a score of 208 with four balls remaining.
Matthew Wade demonstrated why he is so important to his squad in the shortest format of the game by playing a crucial part in their T20 World Cup semi-final victory against Pakistan in Dubai last year.
Australia was the second-favorite team in the game with 64 needed in 35 balls, but the 62-run sixth wicket stand between Wade and debutant Tim David changed the course of the game in the visitors’ favor. Wade had 45 off 21 balls and was still unblemished.
All-rounder Cameron Green, who has never opened in international cricket previously, was elevated to the top of the order as Australia skipper Aaron Finch’s partner earlier. Green, who was just playing in his second T20I, hit a 30-ball 61 that included eight fours and four sixes. He did have a reprieve on run 42 when Axar Patel laid down a straightforward catch, but the teenager set the Australians on the course to pursuing the imposing target.
Australia remained in the match because to Green and Steve Smith’s 70-run second wicket partnership. But after Green was removed by Axar, who had a tremendous night with the ball, Australia lost steam before Wade took over and led them to victory.
Rishabh Pant was chosen as the finisher instead of Dinesh Karthik, but Hardik Pandya stole the show for India with a scorching knock. With a lovely late cut, he completed a 25-ball fifty, just his second in T20Is.
Pandya displayed his entire arsenal of strikes. He was at his most destructive when he pulled, cut, drove, and played strokes from both sides of the wicket. In the innings’ final over, Green was run out for 21 runs with the last three balls being hit over the rope. With seven fours and five sixes off just 30 deliveries, Pandya maintained his undefeated record. He didn’t let up even when India was bleeding wickets at the other end.
His explosive performance made sure India reached 208 for 6 in 20 overs to end the innings.
KL Rahul demonstrated his purpose on a belter of a track in Mohali the day after brushing off the strike rate discussion. At the other end, he lost his senior partners Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli, but during his 32-ball fifty, he shed the accumulator label.
After Josh Hazlewood defeated him with a jaffa, Rahul made a hesitant start before picking up the pace. By using his pads while bowling, the Australian did aid his case, and the Indian opener made the most of the opportunities.
Rahul holed out to Nathan Ellis at deep square, and Hazlewood finally got Rahul. He misjudged the knuckle ball, lost his balance, and whipped the ball directly to the fielder.
Suryakumar Yadav once again demonstrated why he will be one of India’s strongest suits in the T20 World Cup after failing to reach a well-deserving half-century.
In his 25-ball 46, he pounded the Australian bowlers like a tonne of bricks. From the first ball, India’s “Mr 360 degrees” launched an all-out assault. He began with a fluid cover drive off Pat Cummins and then executed a calculated swat over fine leg for a six.
Hazelwood kept his best for leggie Adam Zampa, who he blasted for back-to-back sixes, one over long-on and one over deep mid-wicket, if the casual six over mid-wicket off Hazelwood was regal. But just as Yadav started to quicken the pace, he left while attempting a cheeky shot.
The fact that Axar has stepped up for India must be a huge comfort for skipper Rohit Sharma, who recently acknowledged that Ravindra Jadeja’s injury is a major setback for India.
Axar was one of the backup players who was brought in as a replacement and quickly showed his value by collecting three wickets. With the third ball of his spell, he gave India the advantage by destroying Finch for 22. However, the twelve overs the Indian pacers combined to bowl saw 150 runs given away.
Umesh Yadav, who was 34 and had more than ten years of experience yet appeared to be a rookie on the circuit. He takes wickets and is a quick bowler. His selection over Deepak Chahar, a standby for the T20 World Cup, raised more questions. If his inclusion in the Indian team was unexpected after Mohammed Shami tested positive for Covid, his selection over Chahar was even more puzzling.
T20: Cameron Green & Matthew Wade ruin Pandya’s celebrations
Umesh, who was playing in his first T20 international encounter in three years, bowled out Glenn Maxwell (1) and the threatening-looking Smith (35) in the space of three deliveries to turn the tide of the game in India’s favour. But it wasn’t sufficient.
The Australian batsmen humiliated Harshal Patel, who was making his injury-related comeback. His 22-run 18th over was the key to the game decisively swinging in the visitors’ favor. With the pitch having nothing to offer, Bhuvneshwar Kumar appeared tired. 52 runs were given up in the veteran pacer’s four overs.
