Australia vs India 2018, Match Report
Dinesh Karthik and Virat Kohli saw the team through. (Photo by Ryan Pierse/Getty Images)

India’s skipper Virat Kohli and Dinesh Karthik were able to help the team level the three-match series as the visitors won the third T20I by six wickets. The tourists were in a spot of bother at 108-4, however, a good alliance between Kohli and Karthik saw the team through. Thus, India was able to level the series 1-1 after Australia had won the first match by four runs.

Shikhar Dhawan and Rohit Sharma launched India’s innings in the topmost gear. Both the talisman batsmen found the middle of the bat to punish the Aussie bowlers. The fourth over and the fifth over of the Indian batting innings produced 20 and 22 runs respectively as both the batters batted with the long handle.

Australia vs India 2018: 3rd T20I, Sydney - Match Report
Virat Kohli. Getty Images

The series ended in a stalemate.

The southpaw Indian opener Dhawan scored a brisk 41 off just 22 balls to put India’s run-chase on course. The Indian team added 67 runs in the powerplay overs to put their noses in front.

However, Australia was able to bounce back after getting Shikhar Dhawan and Rohit Sharma in quick succession. Starc bowled a fine yorker trap Dhawan in front whereas Zampa slider got through the defence of Rohit Sharma.

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Earlier in the day, Australia had a perfect start as their out-of-form openers Aaron Finch and D’Arcy Short put together an alliance of 68 runs. Both the players got off to a cautious start as they tried to find the gaps. Australia scored 49 runs in the power play overs without any damage in the wickets column. Thus, the stage was perfectly set as Finch and Short laid down the platform for a big score.

Krunal Pandya, Australia vs India 2018
Krunal Pandya was the pick of the Indian bowlers. (Photo by Ryan Pierse/Getty Images)

Meanwhile, Indian fielding was once again sloppy like in the first T20I. India’s deputy Rohit Sharma could not hold on to a skier when Aaron Finch was on 22. However, the miss didn’t prove to be expensive as Finch perished in an attempt to play the sweep. Kuldeep Yadav was able to find Finch’s top edge and it was an easy catch for Krunal Pandya.

Subsequently, the hosts kept losing wickets at regular intervals to push themselves on the backfoot. Krunal Pandya didn’t have an ideal start as he was taken for 12 runs in his first over and also had his catch dropped. However, Pandya was able to provide a double strike as he trapped D’Arcy Short and Ben McDormett in front of the wickets.

Australia vs India 2018, Match Report
Dinesh Karthik and Virat Kohli saw the team through. (Photo by Ryan Pierse/Getty Images)

Glenn Maxwell who had a good first T20I never got his timing going as he found the fielder at long on boundary. Alex Carey was able to take Australia’s innings forward as the southpaw scored 27 runs off 19 balls. Australia’s all-rounder Marcus Stoinis applied the finishing touches to take Australia to 164 with his brisk 15-ball 25.

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Brief Scores: Australia 164-6 (20), D’Arcy Short 33 (29), Alex Carey 27 (19).

Krunal Pandya 4-36, Kuldeep Yadav 1-19.

India: 168-4, Virat Kohli 61 (41), Shikhar Dhawan 41 (22).

Adam Zampa 1-22 (4).

India won the match by six wickets and level the series 1-1.

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