India has taken a 1-0 lead in its five-match T20 series against Australia after clinching a tense two-wicket victory at Dr YS Rajasekhara Reddy Visakhapatnam’s ACA-VDCA Stadium on Friday morning AEST.
Captain Suryakumar Yadav cracked a trademark 80 (42) to help the hosts chase the record 209-run target with one ball to spare, courtesy of a late blitz from Rinku Singh.
Earlier, World Cup champion Josh Inglis (110 from 50 balls) blasted a maiden international century to steer Australia towards 3-208 from its 20 overs.
The second T20 between India and Australia gets underway at Thiruvananthapuram’s Greenfield Stadium on Monday morning, with the first ball scheduled for 12.30am AEDT.
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Inglis innings not enough to down India | 03:38
SMITH BREAKS FOUR-YEAR DROUGHT IN UNFAMILIAR ROLE
Steve Smith opened the batting for the first time in international career overnight, scoring 52 (41) against an inexperienced Indian bowling attack. It was his first T20I half-century since November 2019, breaking a four-year drought in the game’s shortest format. Meanwhile, to find his previous T20I fifty outside Australia, you’d have to go right back to March 2016.
The right-hander, who was dropped on 15 by spinner Ravi Bishnoi, feasted on anything wide from India’s quicks, but for the most part played second fiddle to Josh Inglis during a record 130-run partnership for the second wicket.
After being dropped from Australia’s T20 side last year, Smith showed the national selectors what they were missing by blasting back-to-back hundreds for the Sydney Sixers in the Big Bash League.
The New South Welshman was supposed to open the batting during the recent white-ball tour of South Africa, but he was ruled out of the series with a wrist injury.
He finally got his chance to audition for the opener position in Visakhapatnam, but failed to clear the boundary rope throughout his knock.
Travis Head and David Warner remain Australia’s most likely opening pairing for next year’s T20 World Cup in the West Indies and United States, but Smith will no doubt get several more opportunity to push his case over the coming fortnight.
SHORT CAN’T SEIZE RARE OPPORTUNITY
World Cup final hero Travis Head was understandably rested for the series opener against India, opening the door for Matthew Short to slot into the starting XI.
The Victorian, who got his first taste of international cricket during the recent white-ball tour of South Africa, was named Player of the Big Bash League last summer, also notching multiple hundreds for Victoria in the Marsh Cup.
However, the right-hander couldn’t deliver for Australia in Visakhapatnam on Thursday, bowled by spinner Ravi Bishnoi for 13 (11). He seemingly didn’t pick the leggie’s wrong-un that beat the inside edge and crashed into his pegs.
Short is at risk of being replaced by Head ahead of the second T20 in Thiruvananthapuram, but this won’t be his last appearance in canary yellow.
BEHRENDORFF IMPRESSES ON NATIONAL RETURN
Since starring for Australia during the 2019 World Cup in England, Behrendorff has only been selected for one ODI and four T20Is.
The left-armer has dominated the domestic scene over the past five years with Western Australia and the Perth Scorchers, but untimely injuries have limited his opportunities at international level.
After Mitchell Starc was ruled out of the T20 series in India due to workload management, it opened the door for Behrendorff to step up as Australia’s premier quick.
And the 33-year-old delivered in spades on Thursday, leaking just 6.25 runs per over in a high-scoring contest at Dr YS Rajasekhara Reddy ACA-VDCA Stadium.
After bowling a maiden during the Powerplay, Behrendorff knocked over Indian captain Suryakumar Yadav in the 18th over to keep Australia’s hopes of victory alive.
With the exception of national stalwarts Starc and Josh Hazlewood, there may not be a more effective Powerplay bowler in the country.
‘In your face’ – Stoinis rubs it in | 01:08
ELLIS’ CLUTCH MOMENT ON FORGETTABLE NIGHT
It may not have been Nathan Ellis’ finest performance in Australian colours, but the penultimate over of India’s run chase in Visakhapatnam demonstrated his value to the national T20 side.
Indian captain Suryakumar Yadav and wicketkeeper Ishan Kishan feasted on Ellis’ bowling throughout the middle overs, with the Tasmanian leaking 35 runs from his first 16 deliveries.
However, the right-armer bounced back in the 19th over, effectively varying his pace and length to frustrate India’s batters at the death. He conceded just seven runs from his last over to keep the match alive heading into the final six deliveries.
Ellis finished with 0-44 from the series opener, but he remains one of Australia’s most consistent T20 bowlers in death overs.
