India vs Australia, 3rd T20I, Top Performances: Tim David's 54 off 27, Suryakumar Yadav-Virat Kohli's 104-run stand and Cameron Green's 52 off 21 are top three performances. India beat Australia and clinch series by 2-1.
Brief Scores: Australia 186/7 (David 54, Green 52, Axar 3-33) lost to India 187/4 (Suryakumar Yadav 69, Virat Kohli 63, Sams 2-33) by six wickets
Player of the Match: SuryaKumar Yadav – 69 (36)
After a couple of last over finishes with each team getting one up on the other, the hosts India took on Australia in the 3rd and final game of the T20I series in Hyderabad on Sunday. In the end, India triumphed in a yet another final-over thriller and prevailed over the Aussies by 6 wickets, chasing a huge total of 187 runs.
The major talking point of the game has to be the positive batting approach of the Indian batters, and how they are able to master a tough run-chase given any condition through their calculative batting. In recent times, it is no secret that India’s top-order is known to score big runs in white-ball cricket and more often sets up the game for the middle-order to latch upon.
But in Sunday’s chase, India lost both openers early inside the powerplays and the asking rate was climbing up right from the start. But Suryakumar Yadav always kept the required run rate in check and allowed Virat Kohli to play deep. This shows the confidence India have while chasing down any target put in front of them and this one is not one-off which is a mighty good sign for the team going into the World Cup.
India earn a much-needed series win before T20 World Cup
After a series levelling win in Nagpur, India skipper Rohit Sharma who was the star for the team in that game, inserted Australia in to bat. Young all-rounder Cameron Green who shined in the 1st T20I once again showed his immense potential with the bat and proved why he is rated highly.
Green has seemingly taken his role as an opener like a fish to water and brought his half-century off just 19 balls. He smashed the potent India pacers, Jasprit Bumrah and Bhuvneshwar Kumar, all over the park. Though the visitors lost both their openers Finch and Green (52 off 21), they made 66 runs. However, Glenn Maxwell and Steve Smith fell in quick succession and it pushed back the scoring rate.
Josh Inglis joined hands with Tim David and brought some stability back to the innings. But it was shortlived as Axar Patel sent back the former and in-form Matthew Wade in the same over to keep India at the top. Just when we thought there would be an Aussie collapse, Tim David played a blinder of a knock to bring up his maiden T20I half-century (54) for Australia and was ably supported by Daniel Sams who made an unbeaten 28 off 20. The visitors ended up with 186 runs.
India chasing 187 to win the series lost KL Rahul early and the positive looking Rohit Sharma too fell for a lowly 17 off 14. Virat Kohli found it tough initially but picked up pace as the chase went on. Suryakumar Yadav then carried forward the momentum as the pair brought up their 100-run stand and respective half-centuries. In a fitting finale for a high-profile series, the game went to the last over and Hardik Pandya (25* off 16) finished it off with a ball to spare.
Let’s analyse the top three performances from the 3rd T20I between India and Australia.
Cameron Green produces an all-round show in Hyderabad (52 off 21 and 0/14 from 3 overs)
It is just his 3rd innings opening the batting for Australia in T20Is, but Cameron Green has already shown signs of his match-winning capability just with the bat. He gave the Aussies yet another rollicking start in the first six overs scoring 50 off just 19 balls (3rd fastest half-century for Australia). His stunning knock included classy and authentic cricket shots containing 7 fours and 3 sixes helping Australia reach 186/7.
With the ball, Green troubled most of India’s players with his pace and bounce giving away just 14 runs in his 3 overs. His performance surely will make some heads turn towards his non-inclusion in the World Cup squad.
Read More: Ind vs Aus, 2nd T20I, 2022-23: Rohit's 46*(20), Axar's 2-13 help India trump Aus; series level 1-1
Tim David storms his way to a maiden half-century for Australia (54 off 27 balls)
Tim David didn’t do much in the first two games with the bat but there was no doubting his hitting abilities. Australia were under considerable pressure with loss of quick wickets when he came in, David showed calmness when he built a partnership with Josh Inglis and then accelerated in the final overs showing his wide range of strokeplay when the team was in trouble at 117/6 after 14 overs.
David brought up his first half-century in Australian colours in just 24 balls and helped Australia post a competitive total of 186, which is a great recovery. His eventual knock of 54 comprised of 4 maximums and he was severe on all the India pacers.
Read More: ICC World T20 2022: Pacers aplenty for India, but who will partner Jasprit Bumrah in death overs?
Suryakumar Yadav and Virat Kohli’s century (104) stand flays the Aussies
When India’s number 3 and number 4 joined hands, India were reeling at 30/2 in the 4th over chasing a huge target of 187. Virat Kohli didn’t get his fluency at first, but Suryakumar Yadav was in his elements right from the start. However, once Kohli started to tee off, Yadav took over smashing the spinners all over the park. Suddenly, India reached 91/2 at the end of 10 overs and it looked a straightforward chase.
Surya brought up his 50 off just 29 deliveries before succumbing to Hazlewood after playing a stunning knock of 69 from 36 balls. Virat Kohli got to his half-century as well and departed making a well compiled 63 off 48. Their partnership of 104 from 62 was the key catalyst for a series-winning successful chase by India.
What’s to Come
India will take on South Africa next in a three-match T20I series starting on September 28 at the Greenfield International Stadium in Thiruvananthapuram, while Australia host West Indies for a two-match T20I series before the World Cup.
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