Australia won the toss and invited the Men in Blue to bat first, hoping to take advantage of the dew in the second half. However, India came up with a brilliant batting effort to take the dew out of the equation. They posted 235/4 on the board and then held the Aussies to 191/9.
Openers Yashasvi Jaiswal (53 off 25) and Ruturaj Gaikwad (58 off 43) added 77 in 5.5 overs. Jaiswal went absolutely berserk in the powerplay, slamming nine fours and two sixes. He clubbed Sean Abbott for three fours and two sixes off successive deliveries in the fourth over as India crossed the 50-run mark. Jaiswal perished to Nathan Ellis, but not before whacking the pacer for three consecutive fours.
After Jaiswal’s dismissal, Gaikwad and Ishan Kishan (52 off 30) carried on the great work, featuring in an 87-run for the second wicket. Kishan hit three fours and four sixes in his innings to ease to his half-century before perishing to Marcus Stoinis.
Suryakumar Yadav (19 off 10) hit two sixes in his cameo. Rinku Singh then starred again at the death, smashing 31 not out off only nine balls, clubbing four fours and two sixes.
Chasing 236, Australaia reached 31 in two overs, but Ravi Bishnoi (3/32) broke the dangerous stand by castling Matthew Short (19). A wonderful catch by Tilak Varma ended Josh Inglis’ stay at the crease for 2 off Bishnoi’s bowling. Glenn Maxwell (12) also perished before the powerplay, mistiming an attempted big hit off Axar Patel’s (1/25) bowling.
Marcus Stoinis (45 off 25), Tim David (37 off 22) and Matthew Wade (42 not out off 23) ensured Australia did not go down without a fight. Both Stoinis and Wade struck four maximums each. However, Prasidh Krishna claimed 3/41 as India eased to victory without much trouble.
Reflecting on his fine knock, Player of the Match Jaiswal said, “It was really special for me. I was trying to play all my shots. Was trying to be fearless. I was sure of my decisions. I have been told by Surya bhai and VVS [Laxman] sir to go and play freely. I have been asked to express myself.”
--By A Cricket Correspondent
