Vishakhapatnam: A relatively fresh and new crop Indian side led by skipper Suryakumar Yadav will lock horns against Australia at the ACA-VDCA Cricket Stadium in Vishakhapatnam on Thursday.
Indian squad for the Australia T20 series is mostly made up of relative newbies in international cricket and many of these players were also part of the Asian Games gold medal-winning team. The team management and selectors will have a keen eye on these players as the T20 World Cup 2024 is just six months away. Australia, on the other hand, have decided to give time to get some runs under the belt while giving rest to a few key players including regular skipper Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood, Adam Zampa, and David Warner.
In the spotlight will be left-handed batter Travis Head who was also the Man of the Match for the final and had led the Aussies to the 6th World Cup title with his century.
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- 20th Over (IND 214/8)
Rinku Singh you beauty! Rinku did the job for India as Men in Blue won the thriller match here at Vishakhapatnam as he hit a six on the last ball. Don't need to bother running when you can hit them that far. Oh dear, it was a No-ball as well because Abbott overstepped on the last delivery. However, skipper Suryakumar Yadav(80) and Ishan Kishan's (58) fifties powered India in a run chase but both lost their wickets before finishing things off. Jaiswal(21 off 8 balls) played small much-needed cameos upfront to remove pressure from the other batters. - 19th Over (IND 205/5)
India need 14 runs off the 12 balls and Australia haven't bowled their overs in time, they are now two overs behind as per the innings timer and need to have five in the ring for the last two overs. Ellis bowled a wide delivery but then bowled three consecutive dot deliveries before conceding a single to Axar which brought pressure back on India. Rinku Singh hit a much-needed boundary to and now the equation is eight off seven balls. Rinku Singh keeps a strike with a single. - 18th Over (IND 195/4)
Suryakumar Yadav hit a six and two boundaries against Nathan Ellis. 18 runs came from the over. - 17th Over (IND 189/4)
He's just toying with Australia now! It was a good-length delivery and he just hammers it for a four. Is there a climax in the game? Suryakumar Yadav is now walking back to the pavilion after Behrendorff bowls a slower delivery, fuller on the length and Suryakumar Yadav tries to reach out with the bat but it came off the toe end and took the outstanding catch at mid-on. Only six runs came from the 17th over. - 16th Over (IND 171/4)
Indian batters are looking in a hurry to finish things off. On the first ball, Rinku Singh guided the ball between the gap of the short third man and the backward point, and then on the last balls played a Natraj shot to the fine leg for a boundary. Suryakumar Yadav also joined the party with a boundary by making room for himself and slapped it away for a boundary behind point. 16 runs came from the over. India needs only 33 off 24 balls. - 15th Over (IND 155/4)
Sanga bowls a flighted delivery and bowls it wide, again out of the left-hander's reach, Tilak Varma went for a big shot and it gets a top-edge as it goes straight up in the air and Stoinis makes no mistake. Another left-hander hit two consecutive boundaries before losing a wicket. India lost their fourth wicket and the second in the last two overs. 11 runs came from the over. - 14th Over (IND 144/3)
Abbott pitched it fully and on the middle stump, it was right in the slot of Suryakumar Yadav and lofted it over long-on to complete his fifty. It was just short and on the off-stump, angled back in, and cramped him for room as he looked to cut, he got a thick outside edge and Wade flung himself to his left, just got a bit of glove to it but he is safe. Nine runs came from this over as well. - 13th Over (IND 135/3)
It's a similar story to Yashsawi Jaiswal for Ishan Kishan, a left-hander on the strikes, spinner into the attack, and a batter hit a four and a six before giving an easy catch. Ishan departs after scoring a blistering 58-run knock-off 39 balls as India marches towards the target. 11 runs came from the over including a wicket.
Interesting fact: Ishan Kishan’s five sixes today is a record by a designated wicketkeeper in T20Is for India, bettering Rishabh Pant’s four during his 65* off 42 against the West Indies at Providence, Guyana in 2019. - 12th Over (IND 124/2)
It's a Six! Kishan brings up the 100-run stand with a six-over deep-mid wicket. Elis bowls a half-volley on the middle stump, Ishan Kishan creates the strong base and launches it into the stands. Four singles and a six came in the 12th. - 11th Over (IND 114/2)
Skipper Wade brings Marcus Stoinis back into the attack. Suryakumar Yadav shuffles across his stumps a touch looking to lift it over fine-leg just, but gets a top edge and it just past to the third man instead and he gets a boundary on it. Surya and Ishan take three singles and get an extra run with a wide delivery. Eight runs came from the over. - 10th Over (IND 106/2)
A nice comeback from Sean Abbott after conceding 20 runs in the first over. It could have been a good over from him if there were no extras. He bowls three wides as eight runs came from the 10th over. Half of the innings are done and India are on the top right now. - 9th Over (IND 98/2)
Ishan Kishan takes on leg-spinner Tanveer Sangha and hits him for two sixes and a four. Kishan covers up his score. Sangha concedes 19 runs in an over. India is on the driver right now and going well in the run chase. - 8th Over (IND 79/2)
Behrendorff pitches up outside off, Suryakumar Yadav throws his hands and gets a thick outside edge, and balls pass near to the diving wade as Ishan and Surya bring up their fifty partnership. 10 runs came from the over with a four. - 7th Over (IND 69/2)
Tanveer Sangha, right-arm leg break, comes into the attack. He bowls six good deliveries on a nice line and length as both batters give respect to each delivery and take six singles in an over. - 6th Over (IND 63/2)
Suryakumar Yadav showed no mercy on Australia bowlers as he hit two boundaries in the sixth over as well. First, he helps it away fine with a leg glance, well away from a short fine leg for a boundary, and then, Suryakumar flicks it nicely and finds the gap through midwicket for a boundary. Nine runs came from the sixth over. India finished powerplay on 63/2. - 5th Over (IND 54/2)
Huge over for India when it needed the most. Suryakumar Yadav hit a six and a four and then Ishan Kishan smashed him for a half dozen runs to bring up 20 runs over. Most expensive over so far in this innings. - 4th Over (IND 34/2)
Suryakumar Yadav and Ishan Kishan looking to consolidate the innings keeping the required run-rate in their mind. It was a good over from Behrendorff until Suryakumar played his trademark shot over the fine leg for a six. Nine runs came from the sixth over with three singles and a six. - 3rd Over (IND 25/2)
Ishan goes for a sweep, and Jaiswal gets low and hits it over square leg. he goes for a sweep again but this time, the ball takes a thick top edge! It goes high in the air and sails over the fine leg boundary for a six. Jaiswal looks to loft over mid-off but doesn't quite get hold of it, Smith made no mistake. India lost their wicket as Jaiswal walks back after taking off-spinner under the radar. 13 runs came from the over. - 2nd Over (IND 12/1)
It's a maiden! Behrendorff bowls six continuous balls on the full length and Ishan tries to meet the ball with the bat but can't connect any. Interestingly, it's the first maiden over of the match. - 1st Over (IND 12/1)
Yashaswi Jaiswal and Ruturaj Gaikwad are at the crease. Jaiswal is on strike. Stoinis will open the attack. Jaiswal opens his and team's account with a boundary. It's a six, Stoinis bowls it short and Jaiswal sends it into the orbit for a six. Ruturaj Gaikwad gets run out without facing a ball! Terrible mix-up between the two batters! Looks like Jaiswal was the one who called him for the second and then said "no" when he reached halfway down the pitch. 12 runs came from the over with a boundary and a six but India lost a key wicket of Gaikwad.
India players dismissed for a diamond duck in T20Is
Jasprit Bumrah vs SL, Pune, 2016
Amit Mishra vs ENG, Nagpur, 2017
Ruturaj Gaikwad vs AUS, Visakhapatnam, 2023
END OF FIRST INNINGS
- 20th Over (AUS 204/3)
So despite that five-run final over, Australia finished with a formidable 208. Josh Inglis was the star of that innings with a blistering hundred which he brought up off just 47 balls. He went hammer and tongs right from the outset, coming in at the fall of Matthew Short in the fifth over. Steve Smith gave Inglis company for the most part as the duo shared a partnership of 130 for the second wicket. However, while Inglis smacked it all around the park, Smith struggled to get going, making a 41-ball 52 before being dismissed. His knock might come back to hurt Australia on what is a belter in Visakhapatnam. - 19th Over (AUS 204/3)
It was a good over from Arshdeep until Tim David hit a massive six over covers. Arshdeep goes a wide yorker but misses on the length, David throws his hands at it and smashes it. Arshdeep bowls a back of a length outside off and gives a room and David slaps it hard through extra cover for a boundary. Arshdeep concedes 16 runs in an over with three wides. - 18th Over (AUS 188/3)
Two quick wickets for India in the back end of the innings. Can India restrict Australia inside the 210-run mark? Finally some relief for India with Inglis' wicket. It's a slower ball on the pads, Inglis lofts it across the line, but couldn't connect it properly and Jaiswal fumbles twice but holds on to it. Stoinis hits it in the air after being early through the shot. However, Bishnoi, running back from mid-off, couldn't hold on despite making good ground to get to it. Eight runs came from the over, a good over for India considering the situation of the game. - 17th Over (AUS 179/3)
First international hundred for Josh Inglis! He has played a masterclass innings here at Vishakhapatnam. It was a low full toss wide of off, Inglis reaches out and slices it fine past the keeper. It races to the boundary as Inglis gets to the milestone in just 47 balls. It's been a blistering knock. He hit four boundaries in an over as 18 runs came from the third over of Arshdeep Singh. - 16th Over (AUS 161/2)
Mukesh Kumar bowls a slower one, short pitch on length, on the middle stump, Smith is deceived slightly but manages to pull it over short fine for a boundary. Smith brings up his fifty with a boundary towards point. Smith gets run out on the next ball after his fifty. Smith nudges it towards fine leg but Inglis comes a long way down for the single, smith tries to reach but falls short of inches. Much was a wicket for India as Australia lost their second. Still, 10 runs came from the over including a wicket. - 15th Over (AUS 151/1)
Bishnoi was taken to the cleaners again, and 21 runs came from his last over of the spell. Inglis hits three sixes and over again. Inglis, Smith brings up century partnership in quick time. Inglish nearing his century while Smith closes to his half-century. - 14th Over (AUS 130/1)
Inglish hammers it away for a boundary towards square leg, good length ball on middle and leg. Smith mistimes and the ball is in the air and again it falls wide of long-on. Another 10-run over for Australia including a boundary and singles, double twice each. - 13th Over (AUS 120/1)
Boundaries continue to flow for Australia. Smith goes for a sweep and gets a top-edge and it still went for a boundary. Smith slogs it over the on-side on a straight ball, gets a big edge, drops wide of Prasidh, running across and back at short third man. - 12th Over (AUS 110/1)
India needs a wicket here to make a comeback in the game. Australia is on top at this point in time, with another big over as Inglis hit Bishnoi for two sixes and a four. Inglis also brings up his fifty with a first six of the over. It just came off the 28 deliveries with six boundaries and three sixes. - 11th Over (AUS 83/1)
Half of the innings are done. Smith comes down the track and swings back over the bowler's head and safe shot for a boundary. Axar drags the length back on off, Smith rocks back and then pulls it wide of long-on, and a sliding save keeps them down to a couple. Single to end the over, nine runs came from the over. - 10th Over (AUS 83/1)
Mukesh Kumar is back into the attack. Full and just outside off - Inglis plays with an open face and sweetly guides it backward of square on the off-side, races away to the ropes for a boundary. Just four runs came from the 10th over with a boundary, two singles, and a double. - 9th Over (AUS 75/1)
dragged short by Bishnoi, Inglish goes on the back foot and thumps the pullover square leg for a six. Inglis pushes a ball towards the fielder at short third man and asks for a quick single, smith responds positively, and the fielder throws it towards the bowler's end with the batter struggling, but Bishnoi grabs at that and fumbles. - 8th Over (AUS 65/1)
Prasidh continues to be expensive - A huge over Australia here. Inglish hits three boundaries and a six from Prasidh Krishna to accumulate 19 runs from the over. - 7th Over (AUS 46/1)
Overpitched and wide of off delivery from Mukesh Kumar, Smith reaches to a bowl quickly and drives, finds the gap wide of cover, and the ball races away to the fence for a boundary. Fuller length on the stumps, Smith puts it in front of square on the on-side for a single. Pitches it short of a good length and well wide of off stump, Inglis punches square on the off-side for a single. - 6th Over (AUS 40/1)
Smith goes hard on the drive, plays it too early, and squirts a thick inside edge to short fine, off for a quick single. Axar bowls it too short and wide of off, Inglis makes room and cuts it to the left of the backward point, Ruturaj puts in a good effort and gets a hand on to it, but he can't prevent the boundary. Five runs came from the Axar's second over. - 5th Over (AUS 35-1)
Bowling changes from the other end as well. Bishnoi bowls two good dot deliveries flat and on the stumps. Full, outside off, and Smith hit it with tremendous power toward the bowler, Bishnoi couldn't hold on to it as misjudged the pace of the ball. Bishnoi strikes! The wrong 'un and Short has been cleaned up - was nicely tossed up and Short sensed the chance to go over mid-wicket with the spin, but this one went straight on and crashed into the off-stump. Loopy delivery wide of off, Inglis gets a good stride forward and then finds the gap wide of cover with the drive. five runs came from the over with a big wicket of Shortt. - 4th Over (AUS 30-0)
First bowling change from skipper Suryakumar Yadav as Axar Patel replaces Prasidh Krishna. Axar bowls it short and Matt Short punches it towards point for a four and then pushes it towards mid-wicket for a boundary. Eight runs came from the Axar's first over with two boundaries. - 3rd Over (AUS 22-0)
Two dot deliveries from Arshdeep before giving a single to Smith toward deep point. Short works it fine towards the backward point, the fielder does well with just a single for short. Smith went for a big short, ball hit on the inside of the bat and landed safely, with no run. Only two runs came from the over. - 2nd Over (AUS 20-0)
Krishna is bowling from the other end. Two similar deliveries, two similar shots, and the same results for Smith as he hit the second boundary of the over. Smith helped it towards square leg and took a close single, appeal on the striker's end, but the replay showed not out. Short went on the back foot and pulled it away for a four through mid-on and mid-wicket. Three boundaries came from the second over. - 1st Over (AUS 7-0)
Steve Smith and Matthew Short are in the middle to open the innings for Australia while left-arm pacer Arshdeep Singh will open the attack for India. Smith is on strike, Arshdeep looking for a swing up front, bowled a good-length delivery on the fifth stump and defended it. Outside leg stump, wide delivery. Full, outside off and Smith drives it through the covers and point fielder for four. Seven runs came from the first over with a boundary and two singles. - Playing XI
Australia: Matthew Short, Steven Smith, Josh Inglis, Aaron Hardie, Marcus Stoinis, Tim David, Matthew Wade(w/c), Sean Abbott, Nathan Ellis, Jason Behrendorff, Tanveer Sangha
India: Ruturaj Gaikwad, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Ishan Kishan(w), Suryakumar Yadav(c), Tilak Varma, Rinku Singh, Axar Patel, Ravi Bishnoi, Arshdeep Singh, Mukesh Kumar, Prasidh Krishna - Toss
India skipper Surya Kumar Yadav won the toss and opted to field first.
