India vs Australia 2019: 1st T20I - Vizag - Match Report

Australia was able to draw first blood in the ongoing two-match T20I series against India. The visitors won the opening match by three wickets after their bowlers restricted India to a paltry score of 126 runs in their allotted 20 overs. 14 runs were needed off the final over but Umesh Yadav could not safe runs in the final over.

Man of the match: 

Nathan Coulter-Nile was awarded the man of the match for his fine spell of 3-26. Coulter-Nile bowled with fire as he took the crucial wicket of India’s top-scorer KL Rahul. The gun paceman kept a tight grip ki proceedings.

Turning Point of the match

Glenn Maxwell was dismissed when 37 were still but the guests were still in a hunky dory position. However, the hosts were able to bounce back.

Jasprit Bumrah bowled a brilliant penultimate over in which he scalped two wockers and gave away only two runs. But Umesh Yadav could not defend them as Jhye Richardson and Pat Cummins smashed one boundary each in the final over.

India vs Australia 2019: Australia’s innings:

Australia got off to a horrible start in their run chase of 127 runs. The visitors lost two early wickets to give a sniff to the Indian team. The in-form batsman Marcus Stoinis was left hanging in the middle of the match when D’Arcy Short was ball watching.

Meanwhile, Australia’s skipper Aaron Finch was dismissed for a golden duck when Jasprit Bumrah was able to plumb the right-hander in front of the wickets. Finch went for the review but the call returned as the umpire’s call.

Consequently, Australia was tottering at 5-2 after the completion of two overs. However, Glenn Maxwell and D’Arcy Short were able to rescue their team out of the troubled waters. Maxwell batted like Maxwell as he was able to hit the ground running. The combative right-hander catapulted his attack on the Indian bowlers as he was at his best.

Maxwell scored his sixth T20I fifty as he was the aggressor in the association with Short. On the other hand, Short took a backseat to Maxwell’s onslaught. Maxwell and Short added an alliance of 84 runs before the latter skied one to KL Rahul at long on while facing Yuzvendra Chahal.

Furthermore, the mix-up between Peter Handscomb and D’Arcy Short led to the latter’s wicket. Handscomb called back for the second but stopped in the middle of the wicket to leave his partner hanging in between.

Moreover, Ashton Turner could not get open his account when he exposed his stumps to Krunal Pandya when he tried to play a paddle sweep. Pandya was right on the money and ball smashed into Turner’s middle stump.

India vs Australia 2019: India’s innings:

India brought in KL Rahul in place of Shikhar Dhawan as the former got his chance to prove his mettle. Meanwhile, India could not get off to a good start as they lost the wicket of Rohit Sharma early. The stylish batsman went for paddle sweep when Adam Zampa was within the 30-yard circle at fine leg. However, Rohit Sharma got a toe end of the bat and Zampa took a simple catch.

However, KL Rahul and Virat Kohli added 55 runs for the second wicket. KL Rahul made most of the powerplay conditions as he lofted the ball towards the off-side to get his boundaries. Rahul who could be India’s back-up opener in World Cup scored his fifth T20I fifty. The right-hander scored six fours and one six in his knock. On the other hand, Virat Kohli who was returning after getting the rest was able to hit the ground running.

Meanwhile, Kohli could not clear the long-on fielder after he advanced down the track against Adam Zampa. Subsequently, Rishabh Pant was dismissed via a run-out when he took an early start after hitting the ball towards the point fielder. However, Jason Behrendorff timed his jump to perfection and Pant was left hanging between the wickets.

KL Rahul could not clear Aaron Finch at the mid-off region when he advanced down the track and looked to clear the in-field. However, Rahul could get his timing right as he was sent back by Nathan Coulter-Nile.

Meanwhile, MS Dhoni could not provide the finishing touches to the Indian innings. Dhoni chewed 37 balls for his knock of 29 runs as he could not hit the ground running. The talisman batsman could not find the boundaries as India kept losing wickets from one end.

On the other hand, Nathan Coulter Nile was the pick of the Australia bowlers. Coulter-Nile scalped three wickets and gave away only 26 runs in his four overs quota. Furthermore, Jason Behrendorff, Adam Zampa, and Pat Cummins took one wicket each. Cummins conceded only 19 runs in his allotted four overs as he kept a tight grip on the proceedings.

Here is India’s scoreboard: