An 85 bout from India captain Virat Kohli was not enough as Australia beat the visitors by 12 runs in the third T20 International in Sydney to avoid a series cover-up. Half centuries of Matthew Wade and Glenn Maxwell and a three-course run by Mitchell Swepson helped Australia beat India, who won the series 2-1. Wade broke 80 of 53 deliveries, while Maxwell reached 54 when Australia set an 187 run goal for India, but with no batsman offering substantial support to Kohli, India was unable to chase the total, with Mitchell Swepson casting a spell to win. the match.
The defeat ended India’s 10-match winning streak in the game’s shortest format. It also put an end to India’s hopes of posting a 100% win record in T20I in the calendar year.
India got off to a good start after winning the draw and opting to pitch, with Washington Sundar attacking to eliminate Aaron Finch in the second over.
But Matthew Wade picked up where he left off in the second T20I, scoring freely with the support of Steve Smith. After Smith dropped 10th, Maxwell in shape joined Wade.
Wade soon raced towards their second consecutive half century when the duo took the attack on the Indian bowlers.
India was neglected in the field, Maxwell fell twice. Yuzvendra Chahal thought she had the right-hander, when she skipped a shot that was easily caught, but replays showed it was a no-ball as the spinner had gone over.
Wade fell 80 of 53 deliveries in the penultimate change, having reached seven limits and two six.
Maxwell was knocked down by T. Natarajan in the 20th over, after turning half a century. He hit three limits and three sixes on his 54 of 36 balls and Australia recorded 186/5 on the board.
At 2/34, Washington Sundar was India’s best bowler of the night.
India faced a setback right early in the chase, with KL Rahul hitting Glenn Maxwell directly on the second ball of innings.
Virat Kohli almost followed suit in the third over, but this time Steve Smith dropped the trap, giving Kohli a second life.
Kohli, who was knocked down again by Andrew Tye at his own bowling alley, made the most of his chances, scoring his 25th T20I half century, even as India lost Shikhar Dhawan, Sanju Samson and Shreyas Iyer in a short span to Mitchell Swepson.
Hardik Pandya offered some support in the form of firepower to the death, but missed a shot from Adam Zampa in the 18th to leave Kohli with a lot to do.
With 36 required in the final two overs, Kohli tried to go after Tye from the start of the 19, but he hit the first delivery to the point back where Daniel Sams took a brilliant catch.
Kohli reached four limits and three highs in his 85 of 61 balls, but the blow was not enough as Australia comfortably watched the match.
Promoted
Mitchell Swepson was Australia’s star with the ball, picking up three wickets for just 23 runs in his four overs.
After Australia won the ODI series 2-1, India now won the T20I series. The two teams will now meet in four test matches, starting on December 17.
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