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IND beat AUS by 6 wickets | Australia vs India, Highlights And Cricket Score 3rd T20I Match - Commentary
India in Australia, 3 T20 International Series, 2018
Date: Nov 25, 2018 Start Time: 13:20 IST | 07:50 GMT | 18:50 LocalVenue: Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG), Sydney
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Australia vs India Highlights And Cricket Score 3rd Match - T20I Commentary
The match is set up extremely well. The hosts have a par score on the board, and the Indians like chasing. The second innings has all the elements to excite and entertain. Join us on the other side of the break for all the action.
The Indians will rue the fact that they leaked so many runs in the death overs. Barring the two spinners, nobody else picked up a single wicket and went for quite a few as well. Krunal was the star with his 4-fer, while Kuldeep took 1. Their sloppiness in the field has cost them too, as they dropped a couple of easy chances yet again.
Australia have a competitive total on the board. A very good finish from Stoinis and Coulter-Nile. 57 came in the final 5 overs, out of which 27 were scored in the last 2. After opting to bat, Australia got off to a good start with Finch and Short motoring along quite well as they scored 49 in the Powerplay. Some wickets fell in quick succession when the spinners were introduced but Carey pulled things back somewhat. However, that late flurry from Stoinis and NCN, where they scored 33 runs in 16 balls between them, put the Kangaroos past 160.
Jasprit Bumrah to Marcus Stoinis. FOUR! 15 runs off the over, fine way to end the innings for Australia. Length ball on the stumps, Stoinis looks to hit it through the off side but gets an inside edge which races past short fine leg. A boundary to end the innings. AUSTRALIA FINISH ON 164/6!
Jasprit Bumrah to Marcus Stoinis. Wide! Too far outside off, wide signalled.
Jasprit Bumrah to Marcus Stoinis. Not out! Back of a length delivery angling in on middle and leg, Stoinis backs away and hits it towards long on. The two batsmen once again run really hard and come back for the second. The throw comes in to Bumrah who collects the ball and knocks the bails over, as Coulter-Nile dives in. It's taken upstairs and replays show he's made it. Amazing stuff. Love the desire and commitment from NCN. He has got the legs and lungs.
A run out appeal against Nathan Coulter-Nile is referred upstairs.
Jasprit Bumrah to Marcus Stoinis. Slower and shorter outside off, Stoinis slaps it past the bowler to long on. Both batsmen run hard and as a result, manage to come back for the second.
Jasprit Bumrah to Nathan Coulter-Nile. Slower length delivery outside off, Nathan lifts it in the air towards long on. Another run collected.
Jasprit Bumrah to Marcus Stoinis. Shorter on off, Stoinis this time mistimes the pull as he ends up slapping it to long on. A single this time.
Jasprit Bumrah to Marcus Stoinis. FOUR! Bumper on off, Stoinis is ready for it as he rocks back. Connects the pull well and finds the mid-wicket fence. Not the ideal start to the last over from Bumrah.
Bhuvneshwar Kumar to Nathan Coulter-Nile. FOUR! Finishes the over with a boundary. 12 from the over. Full ball on off, Coulter-Nile makes room and smashes it through wide mid off. Dhawan out in the deep covers decent ground to his left, but can't stop the ball even with a dive.
Bhuvneshwar Kumar to Nathan Coulter-Nile. Beautiful. Spot on from Bhuvneshwar Kumar. Spears in the yorker on off, it's dug out back down the track.
Bhuvneshwar Kumar to Nathan Coulter-Nile. FOUR! Over the infield and that's away! Length ball with room on offer outside off, Coulter-Nile slices it over point and finds the fence.
Bhuvneshwar Kumar to Marcus Stoinis. The cutter from Kumar, on a length on off, Stoinis taps it down in front of point and hares to the other end.
Bhuvneshwar Kumar to Nathan Coulter-Nile. Goes for the yorker again but ends up dishing out a very full ball, it's drilled back down the ground towards long on. Just the single on this occasion.
Bhuvneshwar Kumar to Nathan Coulter-Nile. Right in the blockhole, on middle and leg, Coulter-Nile manages to work it away through mid-wicket. Runs the first one hard and come back for the second.
Jasprit Bumrah to Marcus Stoinis. FOUR! Full toss and that's in the gap. Wide outside off, Stoinis carves it square through point. No protection out there in the deep, so the ball races away to the boundary line.
Jasprit Bumrah to Nathan Coulter-Nile. A pin-point yorker on middle, angling in, Coulter-Nile jams it out towards mid on and gets off strike with a single.
Jasprit Bumrah to Marcus Stoinis. Punches this square through point to get off strike.
Jasprit Bumrah to Marcus Stoinis. Hit right around the box. A bit slower around off, on a length, Stoinis hangs his bat and gets an inside edge which hits him on the inside of the thigh pad. Coulter-Nile wants the run, but is sent back.
Nathan Coulter-Nile comes out to bat next.
Jasprit Bumrah to Marcus Stoinis. OUT! A mix-up and Chris Lynn departs. Wicket gone at the wrong time for Australia. Stoinis taps it down on the off side and Lynn is off. Stoinis sends him back late as Bumrah rushes to the ball. He turns and fires it at the stumps at his end, and scores a direct hit. Lynn is well out of his crease. Big blow to the Kangaroos.
Jasprit Bumrah to Marcus Stoinis. Back of a length outside off, Stoinis punches it past the diving cover fielder in the ring and gets a double.
Jasprit Bumrah is called back on to bowl.
Bhuvneshwar Kumar to Marcus Stoinis. Slower length ball on off, pushed back down the ground towards mid on. Single collected as Bhuvi chases it down himself. 9 off this over.
Bhuvneshwar Kumar to Chris Lynn. Along the ground this time, finds the gap through the covers. One run to the scoreboard.
Bhuvneshwar Kumar to Chris Lynn. FOUR! A bit short and Lynn pounces it on quickly. Slaps the punch over covers to earn a boundary.
Bhuvneshwar Kumar to Marcus Stoinis. Takes the pace off this one. A length ball on off, Stoinis plays it off the outer half square towards point for a single.
Bhuvneshwar Kumar to Chris Lynn. Good length ball in the channel outside off, punched to sweeper cover for one more.
Bhuvneshwar Kumar to Marcus Stoinis. Length ball angling in on the stumps, it goes off the inside edge and then the pads and falls on the off side. A run is taken.
Bhuvneshwar Kumar is back on.
Krunal Pandya to Marcus Stoinis. Slower and shorter on middle and leg, Stoinis works it in front of square leg and gets off the mark with a single. Krunal is done for the evening. What an outstanding effort by him, 4-0-36-4! Has really turned it around after a hapless first outing in Australia.
Marcus Stoinis walks into the middle next.
Krunal Pandya to Alex Carey. OUT! This time Carey holes out! Krunal gets the last laugh. Tossed up on off, Carey gets low and plays the big slog sweep. Can only get it as far as Virat Kohli at deep mid-wicket and the Indian skipper makes no mistake in taking that. Pandya with his 4th of the innings.
Krunal Pandya to Alex Carey. FOUR! Another boundary, another good shot from Carey. Darted across, so he brings out the reverse paddle and beats Bumrah's dive at short third man.
Krunal Pandya to Alex Carey. FOUR! Fuller and well outside off, Carey once again gets the placement right. Lifts it over covers and beats Bhuvneshwar in the deep, who can't cut it off by moving to his left.
Krunal Pandya to Chris Lynn. Knocks this full ball down to long on and jogs across to the other end.
Krunal Pandya to Chris Lynn. Wide! Down the leg side, Lynn tries to sweep and misses.
Krunal Pandya to Chris Lynn. Quick and flat outside off, forced away towards wide long off for a couple.
Khaleel Ahmed to Chris Lynn. Bangs it in short, Lynn looks to pull but gets an inside edge back onto his pads. It rolls towards covers and the batsmen take a run. 9 off the over and Khaleel is done for the evening. He's given 35 runs for no wickets in his four overs.
Khaleel Ahmed to Chris Lynn. Wide! Khaleel will have to reload. Throws it across the other side of the tramline and concedes another wide.
Khaleel Ahmed to Chris Lynn. From around the wicket to Lynn again, takes the pace off the ball as he pitches it on a length outside off. Punched to the cover fielder.
Khaleel Ahmed to Alex Carey. Back of a length on off, helps the pull through to deep mid-wicket. The batsmen cross over.
Khaleel Ahmed to Alex Carey. FOUR! Khaleel dishes out a low full toss outside off, Alex Carey smacks this through the gap in the covers to find the fence. Good balance as he hit that, nicely timed too.
Khaleel Ahmed to Alex Carey. Back to over the wicket, full delivery on off, driven back down the track to the bowler.
Khaleel Ahmed to Chris Lynn. From around the wicket this time, keeps it full and well outside off, Lynn drives it through the covers for a single.
Khaleel Ahmed to Chris Lynn. Wide! False start from the left-arm pacer. Angles it too far across, it goes across the tramline and a wide is called.
Khaleel Ahmed to bowl out.
Krunal Pandya to Chris Lynn. Lynn pushes it off the front foot into the covers and keeps strike.
Krunal Pandya to Alex Carey. Shorter in length, a back foot punch is offered to long on for a run.
Krunal Pandya to Alex Carey. FOUR! Beautiful shot from Alex Carey. Some width is offered outside off, Carey just lofts it over covers and sends it across the rope for a boundary.
Krunal Pandya to Chris Lynn. Lynn is off the mark. Works it off his pads through mid-wicket and takes a single.
Krunal Pandya to Alex Carey. Works it through mid-wicket and gets to the other end.
Chris Lynn is next in.
Krunal Pandya to Glenn Maxwell. OUT! Straight to the man in the deep. Krunal gets his third of the innings. Bowls it on the stumps, Maxwell backs away and pulls it straight to Rohit at wide long on, who is standing right at the rope. Another timely breakthrough for the visitors.
Krunal Pandya is back on.
Kuldeep Yadav to Glenn Maxwell. Pushes this past Kuldeep towards long off and takes a single. The chinaman is done for the evening, he finished with figures of 4-0-19-1. Another good outing for him.
Kuldeep Yadav to Glenn Maxwell. Another dot. 34 in this innings so far. Maxwell looks to smack it away but finds cover.
Kuldeep Yadav to Alex Carey. Floats it up just outside off, Carey with good control sweeps it to deep mid-wicket for one.
Kuldeep Yadav to Alex Carey. A bit risky. Kuldeep darts it on off, Carey cuts to backward point but could have easily been bowled.
Kuldeep Yadav to Alex Carey. That's a really nice shot. Kuldeep bowls it well too as he tosses it up outside off, Carey lofts it with the spin over covers and gets two for it.
Kuldeep Yadav to Glenn Maxwell. Quick, flat and around off, it's worked easily to long on for a single.
Khaleel Ahmed to Glenn Maxwell. Back of a length well outside off, Glenn looks to cut but chops it off from the inner half towards cover. Single to the total.
Khaleel Ahmed to Glenn Maxwell. Swing and a miss! Back of a length and it's the cutter, Maxwell looks to heave it away but it goes under his bat.
Khaleel Ahmed to Glenn Maxwell. FOUR! Edged and over! Short ball on off, Maxwell stands tall and pulls. Gets a big top edge and the ball flies over Rishabh Pant's head. Boundary results.
Khaleel Ahmed to Alex Carey. On the shorter side of things from Khaleel, pulled to deep backward square leg for a run.
Khaleel Ahmed to Alex Carey. Cutting back in off the seam, on a back of a length, Carey looks to work it across the line but the ball pops out off the thigh pad.
Khaleel Ahmed to Alex Carey. Shaping into the batsman, Carey plays it down in front of mid-wicket.
Khaleel Ahmed back into the attack.
Kuldeep Yadav to Alex Carey. Nicely done. Carey gets low and brings the broom out. Sweeps it to deep mid-wicket and keeps strike with a single.
Kuldeep Yadav to Glenn Maxwell. Full and outside off, the googly, pushed down the ground to long off for a comfortable single.
Kuldeep Yadav to Glenn Maxwell. Loopy and fuller on leg, turning in, Maxwell looks to flick but is hit on the pads.
Kuldeep Yadav to Glenn Maxwell. Quicker one, darted short and in line of the stumps, punched back to the bowler.
Kuldeep Yadav to Glenn Maxwell. Quite full, outside off, driven but straight to short cover.
Kuldeep Yadav to Alex Carey. Spinning away from outside off, a lot of air on this, Carey drives through the covers and crosses over.
Krunal Pandya to Glenn Maxwell. Good delivery. Krunal beats Maxwell as he lands it around off and makes it turn away. Maxwell loosely pushes inside the line and misses. 3 runs and 2 wickets form it, superb from the left-arm spinner.
Krunal Pandya to Alex Carey. Short, flat and around off, punched off the back foot to long off for one.
Krunal Pandya to Glenn Maxwell. Maxwell pushes this through the covers and gets to the other end.
Krunal Pandya to Alex Carey. No hat-trick for Krunal. Straighter one on the pads, Carey flicks it in front of square leg for a single.
Alex Carey is the new man in.
Krunal Pandya to Ben McDermott. OUT! Two in two for Krunal and he's on a hat-trick. Quicker one on off stump and McDermott gets low to sweep it away. Misses it completely and is struck on the pads. Another shout and once more the finger goes up. McDermott has no choice but to walk back, no review left to take. Was plumb anyway.
Ben McDermott to bat next.
Krunal Pandya to D'Arcy Short. OUT! This time D'Arcy Short is gone. Australia lose a review too. Krunal bowls it fuller and straighter in line of the stumps, the southpaw gets low to sweep and misses. Is caught flush in front of the stumps on the pads and the finger goes up quickly after the appeal. Now another review is taken but much to his dismay, Ball Tracker shows all three reds. Now, both the openers are back in the hut.
Another review. This time Short is the man in question. Is he out lbw? Looks closer than Maxwell's call. Let's see now...
Kuldeep Yadav to Glenn Maxwell. Not out! Maxwell survives! Good decision to take the review. Kuldeep tosses it up on middle and leg and it turns in, Maxwell looks to flick but misses and is caught on the pads. Loud shout and the finger goes up. Glenn, after speaking with his partner, takes it upstairs. Replays show the ball is missing leg.
Review taken. Glenn Maxwell is caught leg before and given out. He's decided to challenge the decision.
Kuldeep Yadav to Glenn Maxwell. FOUR! Good timing on that. Floated around off, turning in, Maxwell drives it sweetly through the covers for a boundary.
Kuldeep Yadav to Glenn Maxwell. The batsman rocks onto the back foot and punches the ball.
Kuldeep Yadav to Glenn Maxwell. Wide! Quite slow through the air, going down, Pant moves to his left to try and affect a stumping but the ball spills out of his hand. Wouldn't have mattered anyway, as Maxwell never left his crease.
Glenn Maxwell is the next batsman in.
Kuldeep Yadav to Aaron Finch. OUT! GONE! This time an Indian player holds on to it. Tossed up on middle and leg, spins in, Finch kneels down to sweep but gets a top edge which pops out to short fine leg. Krunal there takes a simple catch. Australia lose their first, but they've been provided a good start here.
Kuldeep Yadav to D'Arcy Short. A bit slower, just around off, Short goes back to cut but misses and so does Pant as he can't collect cleanly. Another bye.
Kuldeep Yadav to Aaron Finch. Two wides! Flighted delivery which spins down leg, Finch looks to sweep but misses. It goes past the keeper and a bye is taken.
Kuldeep Yadav to D'Arcy Short. Loopy and full, well outside off, driven through to sweeper cover for a run.
Krunal Pandya to Aaron Finch. FOUR! A touch short again, D'Arcy Short stays back and pulls it through square leg to find the fence. 12 off the over. What should have been a good over to begin with ends up becoming an expensive one for India!
Krunal Pandya to D'Arcy Short. Short ball, pulled away on the leg side for a run.
Krunal Pandya to D'Arcy Short. FOUR! Another misfield. The Men in Blue really need to buck up. Short and wide, Short cuts it to backward point where Bumrah is the culprit this time. He moves to his right, gets low but lets it through.
Krunal Pandya to Aaron Finch. Works it off his pads square on the leg side. One more collected.
Krunal Pandya to D'Arcy Short. Attacking the stumps, quicker in pace, worked through mid-wicket for a run.
Krunal Pandya to Aaron Finch. Dropped! India's sloppy display in this series continues. Tossed up on the stumps, Finch looks to go big over long on. Can't get enough distance on it and skies it in the same area. Rohit Sharma from the deep comes running in, settles under it well and then lets it through his palms. That's poor. Single taken.
Krunal Pandya is into the attack.
Kuldeep Yadav to D'Arcy Short. Beaten! Kuldeep drops it short and gets it to go away, D'Arcy Short misses his cut shot.
Kuldeep Yadav to D'Arcy Short. Short, flat and outside off, cut square to point where there's another misfield, this time from KL Rahul. A run is conceded. Every run matters in this format, can't be doing that.
Kuldeep Yadav to D'Arcy Short. Quicker, flatter and around off, probably knew Short would give the charge, forces him to push it to short cover.
Kuldeep Yadav to D'Arcy Short. Spinning away from around off, slower through the air, forced to the cover fielder.
Kuldeep Yadav to Aaron Finch. Steps out of the crease to this tossed up ball and flicks it through mid-wicket for a single. The 50 is up for Australia.
Kuldeep Yadav to Aaron Finch. Loud shout for a leg before first up, but impact is outside off. Looped up outside off, Finch gets low to sweep but is caught on the front pad.
Kuldeep Yadav to roll his arm over.
Jasprit Bumrah to D'Arcy Short. FOUR! Fine end to the Powerplay. Full and outside off, Short crashes this past the diving point fielder to send it across the boundary line. After the first six, Australia are 49/0. A good Powerplay for them.
Jasprit Bumrah to D'Arcy Short. Full toss on off, smacked but straight to covers.
Jasprit Bumrah to Aaron Finch. These two are running quite well. Finch dabs this just wide of cover and scampers to the other end.
Jasprit Bumrah to D'Arcy Short. On the hips, helped down to short fine leg where Khaleel misfields. Concedes a single as a result.
Jasprit Bumrah to Aaron Finch. Too straight in line, angling in on leg, Finch picks it off his pads and clips it down to fine leg. Just the one on this occasion.
Jasprit Bumrah to D'Arcy Short. Slower one, full in length on the stumps, it's pushed back past Bumrah towards mid on. One run to the total.
Khaleel Ahmed to Aaron Finch. FOUR! In the air and right in the gap too. Full and outside off, Finch picks his spot and executes it to perfection. Clears mid off and finds the fence. 13 runs off the over, a good one for the home side.
Khaleel Ahmed to D'Arcy Short. Back of a length into the body, pulled to deep square leg for another one.
Khaleel Ahmed to Aaron Finch. Almost dragged it back on! Finch attempts to go big downtown as it's pitched full around off, gets an inside edge which thuds onto his pads. A brisk single is stolen.
Khaleel Ahmed to Aaron Finch. Fullish and outside off, Aaron picks up the slower one and lifts it over mid-wicket. Two runs this time as the fielder in the deep moves to his left and cuts it off.
Khaleel Ahmed to Aaron Finch. FOUR! That's a shot with superb control. Quite short, not a lot of pace but Finch does well to keep this along the carpet. Pulls it through mid-wicket and beats the man in the deep. Good placement too. Nicely done.
Khaleel Ahmed to D'Arcy Short. Coming back in on middle and leg, the left-hander tries to flick but misses and is caught on the pads. The ball falls on the off side and the batsmen take a leg bye.
Khaleel Ahmed to have a change of ends.
Jasprit Bumrah to D'Arcy Short. Full in length, outside the line of off stump, pushed back down the ground towards mid off for another quick single.
Jasprit Bumrah to Aaron Finch. Finch does well here. Leans across, uses the angle into him and flicks it just wide of mid-wicket at the edge of the ring. Crosses over without any trouble.
Jasprit Bumrah to Aaron Finch. Touch fuller and just outside off, driven with hard hands but straight to the cover fielder.
Jasprit Bumrah to D'Arcy Short. Good running. Short taps this down in front of point and both batsmen take off. Complete the run with ease too.
Jasprit Bumrah to D'Arcy Short. Beaten! A bit more pace on this occasion from Bumrah, similar kind of delivery around off, D'Arcy looks to cut again but misses.
Jasprit Bumrah to D'Arcy Short. FOUR! Welcomes him with a boundary. That's a good shot. Angling away from a back of a length, Short arches back a bit and cuts it past short third man for a boundary.
Jasprit Bumrah is introduced into the attack.
Bhuvneshwar Kumar to D'Arcy Short. Back of a length on the hips, it's pulled through backward square leg. There's protection out there so only a run results.
Bhuvneshwar Kumar to D'Arcy Short. Good fielding placement. Bhuvi angles it away from around off, on a good length, D'Arcy Short plays away from the body and gets a thick edge to short third man.
Bhuvneshwar Kumar to D'Arcy Short. Good effort from Kohli. Short punches it to covers where the Indian captain makes a diving stop to his left. Gets up quickly and throws it back at the striker's end, preventing the single.
Bhuvneshwar Kumar to D'Arcy Short. Short of a good length around off, pushed away from the body on the off side.
Bhuvneshwar Kumar to D'Arcy Short. Extremely full and outside off, drilled straight to wide mid off.
Bhuvneshwar Kumar to D'Arcy Short. FOUR! Take that, Bhuvi! That's a powerful hit from Short. Full in length and just outside off, the southpaw stands his ground and bangs it straight over the bowler's head for a boundary.
Khaleel Ahmed to Aaron Finch. Comes from around the wicket for the last ball, a back of a length ball angling in from outside off, Finch looks to pull but gets a bottom edge behind to the keeper on the bounce.
Khaleel Ahmed to Aaron Finch. Safe. Finch survives comfortably. He hangs on the back foot and punches it straight to Kohli at covers. Steps out of the crease and seeing this, Virat scores a direct hit at the striker's end. Finch has planted his bat back in, but the square leg umpire wants to be sure. It's taken upstairs and replays show he's fine.
A direct hit! Is Finch out? Possibly not, the body language of the Indians isn't too great.
Khaleel Ahmed to Aaron Finch. Tad short, close to off, punched from the back foot but straight to covers.
Khaleel Ahmed to Aaron Finch. Wide! Down the leg side once more, a flick shot is missed by the batsman. Wide signalled though.
Khaleel Ahmed to Aaron Finch. Short of a good length moving away, outside off, Finch offers a firm punch through the covers and comes back for the second.
Khaleel Ahmed to Aaron Finch. Wide! Needs to get his radar right. Spills this down the leg side and a wide is called.
Khaleel Ahmed to Aaron Finch. FOUR! That's put away! Back of a length and quite close to off, Aaron Finch stays on the back foot and muscles the pull through mid-wicket for a boundary.
Khaleel Ahmed to Aaron Finch. Angling across on a good length, just outside off, Finch plays and misses.
Khaleel Ahmed to bowl from the other end.
Bhuvneshwar Kumar to Aaron Finch. A big appeal for lbw, but the umpire shakes his head. Will India take the review? They won't. Good call,impact outside off. Length ball seaming in slightly, catches Finch on the pads as he looks to play at it. It falls behind on the off side and the batsmen take a leg bye.
Bhuvneshwar Kumar to D'Arcy Short. Fraction straight in line, worked away into the leg side for another run.
Bhuvneshwar Kumar to D'Arcy Short. FOUR! Poor ball. Too much width outside off, on a length, Short frees his arms and cracks it through cover-point for a boundary.
Bhuvneshwar Kumar to Aaron Finch. The Aussie skipper too is off the mark. He drives this on the up towards mid off and gets to the other end.
Bhuvneshwar Kumar to Aaron Finch. Coming back in on middle and leg, going further down, Finch looks to flick but gets rapped on the front pad. A half shout, but it was always missing leg.
Bhuvneshwar Kumar to D'Arcy Short. Good length delivery on middle and off, some slight shape away, Short clips it in front of square leg for a single.
We are ready to begin. Aaron Finch and D'Arcy Short stride out to the middle. The Indians spread across the ground to take their respective positions. Bhuvneshwar Kumar will be the first one to take the ball. Here we go...
India's skipper, Virat Kohli says they wanted to bowl first anyway as even the last time they were here, they chased down the target. Mentions that they did well against Australia in the 2nd T20I bowling first and want to continue with that. States that the support in Sydney is always fantastic and is looking forward to playing here.
Australia's skipper, Aaron Finch says it's a pretty good wicket and if they can get a decent score on the board, they back themselves to defend it. Informs that there's just one change as Mitchell Starc comes in for Jason Behrendorff.
TOSS - Australia win the toss and elect to bat first!
Pitch Report - Mark Howard out in the middle says that the surface is reasonably dry with not much grass on it. Adds that 151 is the average first innings score here. Mentions that the team batting second has won 7 out of the last 10 T20 games here at the SCG.
NO RAIN FORECAST! So that's the good news, folks! We should and would most likely get a full game this evening. Welcome for the final T20I as Australia battle it out for a series win, while India fight to level things up. The first game saw the Aussies get the better of the Indians, but the Men in Blue came back roaring in the 2nd encounter, only to have it ruined by the rain as the entire chase got washed out. They say third time's a charm, so it's as good a bet as any for both to produce a stunning show for the packed house at the SCG. The last time these two teams faced each other at this venue, India came out victorious. A repeat of the same this time around as well? We'll find out soon enough. Don't go anywhere, the all-important toss is going to come up in a short while.
Right! That is it from the T20Is! Two rain-marred ones and a third proved to be a nice game - batsmen scoring runs and then bowlers pegging things back. India have announced themselves with the white ball. However, their major issues have been with the red ball. The 4-match Test series starts from Thursday, December 6, 2018 at 10.30 am local (0000 GMT). ADIOS! TAKE CARE!
Victorious Indian captain, Virat Kohli, gives the credit of the win to the Indian openers. Stresses further that the wicket slowed down in the middle overs and India had a few tricky moments but then praises Dinesh Karthik for showing great composure. Praises Glenn Maxwell and Adam Zampa for doing well with the ball and forcing the batsmen to take risks. Points out that the former has a gut feeling of a batsmen so it was hard to score off him. Mentions that skill-wise, India were better than Australia today. On Dhawan and Rohit, Virat is amazed at their consistency and the way they score runs. Does not want to think too much about the loss in the first game, marking it as a one-off. Heaps more words of praise for Krunal Pandya whose accurate bowling helped the Indians tie down the Aussies in the middle overs. Terms their bowling performance as professional and informs that they felt 180 would have been a good total here. Further states that 15 runs less was a bonus for them. Laughs when asked about his anger over the Melbourne weather and says that it is something uncontrollable and they have to accept it as a sportsman. Praises the crowd for coming in large numbers and states that it has always been like this at MCG and SCG, especially.
Australian skipper, Aaron Finch, praises India for batting extremely well in the Powerplay. Admits that it was very difficult to come back from there. Also says that Australia themselves had a moment of madness with the bat, losing 2 wickets in an over which hurt their momentum. Praises his bowlers though, for taking it till the end but cheekily admits that India were always in control. Lauds the bowling of Maxwell and Zampa and has a word of praise for Tye as well. Also agrees that there is not much room for error when you bowl to class batsmen like Kohli or the Indian openers. On the flaws in this game, Aaron identifies their sluggish scoring in the middle overs, especially after the great start but is quick to state that Australia are heading in the right direction. He is confident about his own form and is feeling very confident about the upcoming Test series.
SHIKHAR DHAWAN HAS BEEN NAMED THE PLAYER OF THE SERIES. On the cheer that he gets, Dhawan jokes that probably they love him a lot. Then says that he loves to entertain people and tonight, it was a great game of cricket. Terms it as a good game of cricket and repeats that it's good to see a full house and support for India. Is confident that India will do well in the upcoming Test series too and hopes to get the same support from the crowd. On his knock in this game, Shikhar says that he enjoyed his innings and feels great that India could level the series.
KRUNAL PANDYA HAS BEEN NAMED THE MAN OF THE MATCH. He says that it feels great to contribute to a winning cause. Admits that he felt downcast after a poor first T20I but then told himself that he needs to buck up and do better. Does not want to focus on any one wicket and feels that every dismissal that he got was worth remembering. Thanks the support staff for backing him and adds that, as a team, their best part is that they back every player.
Adam Zampa and Glenn Maxwell were the standout performers with the ball while Mitchell Starc, making a comeback in this format, also looked impressive. This match was owned by the spin bowlers with Krunal Pandya and Kuldeep Yadav doing all the damage in the first innings. While batting, Australia also got a good start from their openers but failed to capitalize. If it was not for the partnership between Nathan Coulter-Nile and Marcus Stoinis at the death, they would not have even crossed the 150-run mark.
Chasing a tricky target, Rohit Sharma and Shikhar Dhawan went berserk from the word go. They lit the SCG with their outstanding shots and thoroughly entertained the crowd dominated by the Indian fans. They departed in quick succession but Virat Kohli (batting at 3) looked in fine touch. A couple of wickets went down on back-to-back balls in the middle overs but just when it appeared that the Kangaroos will get on top, the Indian skipper formed an alliance with Dinesh Karthik to dash all the hopes of the Australian team.
Fantastic win for India! The fact that it's their skipper who has steered them home puts the cherry on the cake. Not to underestimate the opening partnership and Dinesh Karthik's contribution in the stand with Virat Kohli. Australia fought hard in the field but eventually, their sorry performance in the Powerplay cost them the game.
Andrew Tye to Virat Kohli. FOUR! INDIA WIN BY 6 WICKETS! Kohli finishes it off in style! He has his arms afloat in celebration. Skipper leading from the front. Andrew Tye dishes out a length delivery outside off, Kohli attacks it with all his might and muscles it over mid-wicket for a boundary. All over, India have levelled the series.
Andrew Tye to Virat Kohli. FOUR! Scores are leveled! Tye serves it on a length and around middle and off, Kohli gives it the full whack of his bat and spanks it over the bowler's head. No chance for the long on fielder.
Andrew Tye to Virat Kohli. Another slower delivery, on the shorter side and wide outside off. Kohli flashes and misses. He isn't pleased that it's not given as a wide.
Andrew Tye to Virat Kohli. Beaten! Knuckle delivery, on a length and outside off, Kohli is early into the swing of his bat and misses.
Andrew Tye continues...
Mitchell Starc to Dinesh Karthik. Short and angling down the leg side, Karthik is early into the pull shot and it seems to have taken the bottom half of his blade. Squirts to deep square leg and they collect a brace. 11 from the over, only 5 more needed.
Mitchell Starc to Virat Kohli. Starc goes short around off, the Indian skipper stands tall to pull it to deep mid-wicket for a run. 50-run stand comes up, it has come in good time too.
Mitchell Starc to Dinesh Karthik. Wristy this time. Starc slants in a length ball on middle, Karthik flicks it in front of square leg and crosses.
Mitchell Starc to Dinesh Karthik. FOUR! Shot, DK! Starc overpitches outside off, Karthik brings down an angled bat and drives it square of the wicket on the off side. It speeds all along the turf, no chance for sweeper cover.
Mitchell Starc to Virat Kohli. Sharp delivery, at 143 kph, angling in on a good length, Kohli is early into the shot and fails to connect. It hits his pads and rolls near the surface as they steal a leg bye.
Mitchell Starc to Virat Kohli. Starc steams in from 'round the wicket and spears in a fuller length ball on middle, Kohli flicks it past the diving mid-wicket fielder for a couple of runs.
Mitchell Starc is back on to bowl the penultimate over. 16 runs needed.
Andrew Tye to Dinesh Karthik. Was that a catch? No, says the umpire. Full and outside off, Karthik looks to swing hard but gets it off the inside edge back to the bowler. Tye runs forward and catches and appeals but the umpire turns it down. The bowler is claiming that the ball took the inside edge, hit the pads and then lobbed back to him. However, the umpire was certain that the ball had bounced. 11 from the over, 36 in the last 3!
Andrew Tye to Dinesh Karthik. SIX! Off the top edge! My word, bats these days... A short ball, outside off, Karthik looks to pull but is done in by the bounce. Gets a thick top edge which sails over mid-wicket! 16 more needed from 13 balls now!
Andrew Tye to Virat Kohli. 19th T20I Fifty for Kohli! 5th vs Australia, 4th IN AUSTRALIA. Wow. Gets there in a bit of an unorthodox manner. A short ball, outside off, slower in pace, Virat looks to pull but is early into the shot. Gets a thick inside edge which goes past the stumps to fine leg! A single taken.
Andrew Tye to Dinesh Karthik. Comes down the track and eases it to long off for a run.
Andrew Tye to Virat Kohli. Shorter in length, outside off, slapped through the covers for a single.
Andrew Tye to Virat Kohli. On a length around off, worked wide of mid-wicket for a very quick couple. Excellent running.
Glenn Maxwell to Dinesh Karthik. Risky shot but no harm done. Quicker, flatter and shorter in line of the stumps, Karthik tries to pull it with a reverse bat but gets a top edge behind the keeper. By the time it's pulled back, they take a couple. 13 from this over. 27 needed off 18 balls, India's game to lose.
Glenn Maxwell to Dinesh Karthik. Direct hit would have been curtains for Karthik. He plays towards the right of the bowler and sets off for a single. Maxwell immediately runs across, puts in a slide, picks up the ball and aims at the bowler's end. Fails to hit the target otherwise DK would have been a goner. Not backed up and they run the extra run as well.
Glenn Maxwell to Virat Kohli. Fires it shorter and quicker down the leg side, Kohli goes back and pulls it in front of square leg for one.
Glenn Maxwell to Virat Kohli. SIX! A risk-free shot by Kohli. He uses his feet to get down the track, reaches the pitch of the ball and then nonchalantly flicks it with the spin over mid-wicket. Effortless.
Glenn Maxwell to Dinesh Karthik. Flighted and full around off, DK sweeps it through square leg for a run.
Glenn Maxwell to Virat Kohli. Flatter and on middle, turned off the pads to mid-wicket for a run.
Glenn Maxwell to bowl the 17th over. Big chance taken this by Aaron Finch. After this, Starc has got one and Tye two.
Andrew Tye to Dinesh Karthik. Reaches out for a length ball outside off and plays it square of the wicket on the off side. Finds point. 12 from the over.
Andrew Tye to Virat Kohli. Gently taps a length ball wide of point for a run. 40 needed off 25 balls.
Andrew Tye to Virat Kohli. Extra bounce around middle and leg, Kohli fails to work it around off his pads.
Andrew Tye to Virat Kohli. SIX! The Indian skipper has decided to take Tye on. He reads the slower one early, it's on the fuller side at 118.6 kph and Kohli jumps out of the crease. Doesn't try to hit it too hard, just times his shot all the way over long off for a maximum. All timing, no power.
Andrew Tye to Virat Kohli. FOUR! Quality shot from a quality batsman! Back of a length delivery around off, Virat gets into a perfect position and carves it over point for a boundary.
Andrew Tye to Virat Kohli. Angling in on a length around off, it's pushed back to the bowler.
Andrew Tye to Virat Kohli. Wide! Tye slips a length delivery down the leg side, Kohli fails to flick it off his pads and is very disappointed with himself.
Adam Zampa to Dinesh Karthik. Walks down the track, nearly yorks himself and pushes it out to covers. Not much in the gap. Dot ball to end another fine over by Zampa, just 4 from it. 4-1-22-1, Adam is done for the evening. What an effort from the leggie!
Adam Zampa to Virat Kohli. Short this time, it's been pulled down to wide long on for a run.
Adam Zampa to Virat Kohli. Quicker and flatter through the air, around leg, Kohli fails to middle his flick shot.
Adam Zampa to Dinesh Karthik. Loopy full ball around off, Karthik rotates his wrists and flicks it through mid-wicket for one.
Adam Zampa to Virat Kohli. Skidding into the batsman from around middle, Kohli goes on the back foot and punches it to long on for a run.
Adam Zampa to Dinesh Karthik. Slower through the air, full and around off, Karthik presses well forward and hits it down to long on for a single.
Adam Zampa is back on.
Andrew Tye to Dinesh Karthik. Aahhh... spoils a wicket maiden with a run off the final ball. Karthik gently taps a length ball in front of square leg and Kohli calls him through.
Andrew Tye to Dinesh Karthik. Good lines by Tye. Serves it around off and DK once again blocks it from the crease.
Andrew Tye to Dinesh Karthik. Around off on a length, Karthik defends it from the crease to the off side.
Andrew Tye to Dinesh Karthik. Another delivery angling into the batsman, Karthik fails to work it around and is hit high on the pads.
Andrew Tye to Dinesh Karthik. Full and angling on off, defended off the front foot.
Dinesh Karthik, the new finisher for India, walks in next.
Andrew Tye to Rishabh Pant. OUT! Two in two for Australia and they are roaring. Tye was held back by Finch but as soon as he is introduced, he delivers. Pant bags a golden duck. A clever slower bouncer around leg, at 113 kph, Pant attempts to wheel a pull shot but is early into the swing of his bat. It arrives late, kisses the gloves and loops behind. Carey moves across to his right and grabs the catch easily. This is turning out to be a fun contest.
Rishabh Pant walks in next. Also, Andrew Tye has been introduced into the attack.
Glenn Maxwell to Lokesh Rahul. OUT! Maxwell strikes as Rahul holes out! 57 needed off 42 balls, Australia hanging in there. Maxwell serves a flighted full ball around off and Rahul jumps out of the crease to play a big shot. Goes through his shot well but gets more height than distance behind it. Nathan Coulter-Nile at long off takes the skier safely.
Glenn Maxwell to Virat Kohli. Shortish and on middle, pulled to deep mid-wicket for a run. Kohli isn't happy with himself, thinks he could have done better with that shot.
Glenn Maxwell to Virat Kohli. Turns it off his pads to deep mid-wicket for a couple.
Glenn Maxwell to Virat Kohli. Uppish but just over point! Flighted delivery, landing full around off, Kohli moves back and tries to go inside-out over covers. Mistimes it badly and ends up slicing it over the infield. Two taken.
Glenn Maxwell to Lokesh Rahul. Gets back and strokes it through mid off for a run.
Glenn Maxwell to Lokesh Rahul. Goes on the back foot and punches it to short cover.
Adam Zampa to Lokesh Rahul. A googly on the shorter side around off, Rahul punches it square of the wicket on the off side for a run.
Adam Zampa to Virat Kohli. Floated delivery around off, Kohli plays it very late, almost off the keeper's gloves towards short third man. Lynn there moves across to his left, puts in a slide but misses the ball completely as it goes under his hand. They take three runs.
Adam Zampa to Virat Kohli. Hurries back into the batsman from around off, Kohli moves back and works it gently through mid-wicket. Rushes back for the second run.
Adam Zampa to Lokesh Rahul. Tossed up ball on middle, knocked down to long on for a run.
Adam Zampa to Lokesh Rahul. Advances down the track to take it on the full but hits it back to the bowler.
Adam Zampa to Lokesh Rahul. Flipper around leg, Rahul plays the reverse sweep but finds the point fielder.
Glenn Maxwell to Lokesh Rahul. Loopy and on off, Rahul drives it to the right of the bowler this time. Maxwell dives but fails to stop it this time. A single to end the over, just 3 from it.
Glenn Maxwell to Lokesh Rahul. Full and around middle, pushed back to the bowler. Another dot ball.
Glenn Maxwell to Lokesh Rahul. Quicker and on middle, Rahul plays it out off his pads to mid-wicket. Maxwell moves across to his right to stop the ball.
Glenn Maxwell to Lokesh Rahul. Play and a miss! Quicker one, wide outside off, KL tries to be cheeky with his reverse-batted shot but misses.
Glenn Maxwell to Virat Kohli. Flighted and full on off, forced down to long on for a run.
Glenn Maxwell to Lokesh Rahul. Flatter and outside off, Rahul moves across the stumps and punches it down to long on for a run.
Adam Zampa to Virat Kohli. FOUR! Spoils a good over! Zampa errs this time and lets out a short and wide delivery outside off, the Indian skipper camps back and whacks it through point for a cracking boundary. We have reached the halfway mark, India need another 73 for a win.
Adam Zampa to Lokesh Rahul. Tossed up ball on middle, not turning much, Rahul goes back and punches it down to long on for one.
Adam Zampa to Lokesh Rahul. A googly around off, Rahul gets forward and defends it to the off side.
Adam Zampa to Virat Kohli. A little bit of turn there, around off, Kohli plays it late, to the left of short third man. A single taken.
Adam Zampa to Lokesh Rahul. Two wides! Zampa drifts this one down the leg side and KL fails to work it around. The keeper also fails to collect and they cross.
Adam Zampa to Virat Kohli. Tossed up ball around off, Kohli goes for an unlikely slog across the line and hits it down towards long on for a run.
Adam Zampa to Virat Kohli. Flighted and full around leg, Kohli clips it behind square leg and scampers back for the second run. Excellent running between the wickets.
Change of ends for Adam Zampa.
Glenn Maxwell to Virat Kohli. Bowls it on a flatter trajectory around middle, Virat goes back and punches it through the vacant area at mid-wicket. Maxwell runs after it and they take a run. Just 3 from the over, spinners are doing a better job in this match.
Glenn Maxwell to Virat Kohli. Floated full around off, Kohli pushes it off his front foot to covers.
Glenn Maxwell to Lokesh Rahul. This time works it with the spin through mid-wicket for a run.
Glenn Maxwell to Lokesh Rahul. Flatter and on off, skidding through at 91.7 kph, Rahul gets back and hits it on the leg side.
Glenn Maxwell to Virat Kohli. A little short and on middle, Kohli moves back and turns it to deep mid-wicket for a run.
Glenn Maxwell to Virat Kohli. Flighted and on middle, defended back to the bowler.
Glenn Maxwell to bowl now.
Nathan Coulter-Nile to Virat Kohli. Fuller and outside off, Virat drives it through covers for a run. 11 from the over after a wicket maiden by Zampa.
Nathan Coulter-Nile to Lokesh Rahul. Stays back and punches it towards mid off. Scampers across for a sharp single as the fielder misses his shy at the bowler's end.
Nathan Coulter-Nile to Lokesh Rahul. SIX! KL is a class act! Coulter-Nile digs in a short delivery around off, Rahul stands back inside the crease to get on top of the delivery and pulls it handsomely in front of square leg. The fielder at the edge of the rope thinks he is in with a chance but it sails over him.
Nathan Coulter-Nile to Lokesh Rahul. On a length around off, Rahul drives it towards covers.
Nathan Coulter-Nile to Virat Kohli. Short this time and it has been pulled to fine leg for a run.
Nathan Coulter-Nile to Virat Kohli. Straighter in line, flicked to deep mid-wicket for a couple.
Nathan Coulter-Nile is back on.
Adam Zampa to Lokesh Rahul. Fuller and around off, driven off the front foot to short cover. A wicket maiden for the leggie. Wonderful, Zampa!
KL Rahul is the new batsman.
Adam Zampa to Rohit Sharma. OUT! Timber! Zampa created pressure by bowling dots and then breaches Rohit's defense. He pushes this one quicker through the air, at 91.3 kph, a googly, Rohit gets back to work it around the leg side but has not picked the variation. It takes the inside edge of his bat and goes onto the stumps after brushing his back pad. Massive breakthrough. 98 needed off 79 balls, game on!
Adam Zampa to Rohit Sharma. Full and on off, driven back to the bowler. Four dot balls, pressure building.
Adam Zampa to Rohit Sharma. Stifled appeal for an lbw! Zampa delivers a tossed up ball around leg, Rohit goes down with the pull shot but misses as he falls down. He is hit high on the pads, they appeal but it quickly dies down. Zampa himself says it's going down. Good to see that from a bowler.
Adam Zampa to Rohit Sharma. Play and a miss! Short and wide outside off, Sharma tries to play the square cut but fails to make any connection.
Adam Zampa to Rohit Sharma. Flatter and fuller on off, it's pushed back to the bowler.
Time for some leg spin of Adam Zampa.
Mitchell Starc to Virat Kohli. Good length delivery on middle, Virat blocks it on the leg side. End of a successful over for Australia but India have got the better of the Powerplay by scoring 67 runs in it.
Mitchell Starc to Virat Kohli. A touch short and on off, Kohli gets on his toes and blocks it down.
Mitchell Starc to Virat Kohli. Full and around off, Kohli defends it from the crease to the off side.
Virat Kohli is back at his usual batting position. 98 needed off 87 balls.
Mitchell Starc to Shikhar Dhawan. OUT! What a review! It's pad first and Starc has removed the dangerous Dhawan. He bowls it full and quick, in line of the stumps, Dhawan brings his bat down to keep it out but it seems that it has brushed the front pad first. They appeal but the umpire feels that it's bat first and shakes his head. Starc convinces his skipper to take the DRS and Finch obliges. The replays roll in and they show that it's hit the pad first and is going on to smash the leg stump. Entertainment from Dhawan's bat is over.
Shout for an lbw! It's not given and Aaron Finch has taken the DRS. We thought it's bat first. Let's see...
Mitchell Starc to Shikhar Dhawan. FOUR! It's raining fours and sixes and Duckworth-Lewis can do nothing about it. Starc overpitches around off and Dhawan drives it through the line. He pierces the gap at covers with surgical precision to find the boundary.
Mitchell Starc to Rohit Sharma. Angling away from the batsman, on a good length, Sharma dabs it to third man for a run.
Starc returns.
Marcus Stoinis to Shikhar Dhawan. FOUR! Dhawan is unstoppable, 42 in the last two overs for India, they are cruising! A short ball in line of the stumps, Dhawan swivels and powers it over mid on, one bounce into the fence.
Marcus Stoinis to Shikhar Dhawan. FOUR! Smashing shot yet again! Stoinis delivers a slower one wide outside off. It's on a length and Dhawan packs a punch over the bowler's head for a boundary.
Marcus Stoinis to Shikhar Dhawan. SIX! No holds barred! That's huge, that's a monster... Back of a length delivery on middle, Shikhar turns inside the crease and dispatches it in front of square leg via a murderous pull shot. The ball goes into the stand. The crowd is loving it. 50-run stand comes up...
Marcus Stoinis to Shikhar Dhawan. Wide! Stoinis probably was aiming for a slower yorker but ends up serving a loopy full toss way wide outside off. Dhawan leaves it and the umpire exercises his arms.
Marcus Stoinis to Rohit Sharma. The batsman flicks it away with a wristy shot. They pick up a single.
Marcus Stoinis to Rohit Sharma. SIX! And what he does next ball, he sends it flying over the fence. A length delivery angling into the batsman, Rohit shows no mercy and hoists it over long on. It appeared to be an off pace delivery but Rohit got enough power to dismiss it.
Marcus Stoinis to Rohit Sharma. Full and on middle, Sharma helps it off his pads to mid-wicket. First dot ball for him.
Bowling change. Marcus Stoinis to bowl...
Nathan Coulter-Nile to Shikhar Dhawan. FOUR! Wow, places a fielder deep on the leg side and bowls it wide outside off. Really making your captain look like a fool. Offers width outside off and Dhawan has no qualms in smashing it to the sweeper cover boundary. 20 runs from the over, the biggest of the match so far.
Mid-wicket drops back.
Nathan Coulter-Nile to Shikhar Dhawan. SIX! He has picked the bones out of it! Coulter-Nile switches to 'round the wicket for the left-hander and dishes out a tasty length ball. Dhawan fetches it from outside off and launches it over mid-wicket for a maximum. Huge over for India, this!
Nathan Coulter-Nile to Shikhar Dhawan. Slower bouncer around off, Dhawan drags his pull shot off the inside half of the bat. It travels in front of square leg and they take a couple of runs.
Nathan Coulter-Nile to Shikhar Dhawan. Slower one, full and on leg, Dhawan plays it over his pads to the on side. NCN collects the ball in his followthrough.
Nathan Coulter-Nile to Rohit Sharma. Clever batting. A length ball around off, Sharma calmly dabs it in the direction of the third man region for a run.
Nathan Coulter-Nile to Rohit Sharma. SIX! Rohit has got plenty of bat on this one. Coulter-Nile errs in his line again, bowls a shortish delivery around middle and Rohit easily rides the bounce. Follows it up with the big swing of his bat and dismisses it over backward square leg for a biggie.
Nathan Coulter-Nile to Rohit Sharma. Wide! Good length delivery drifting down the leg side, Rohit will be disappointed not to get any bat behind it.
Mitchell Starc to Shikhar Dhawan. FOUR! That's a shot of a batsman in prime form! Starc overdoes his length this time. Serves it fuller and on off, Dhawan crunches his drive through the gap at extra cover for a glorious boundary. 145 needed off 102 balls.
Mitchell Starc to Shikhar Dhawan. A 139.6 kph short delivery, around off, it just shoots off after kissing the deck and Dhawan is beaten for pace as he attempts to pull it.
Mitchell Starc to Shikhar Dhawan. Play and a miss! Full in length, on middle and leg, Dhawan tries flicking across the line but misses. It goes off his pads to the point fielder.
Mitchell Starc to Shikhar Dhawan. A touch short and on middle, Dhawan turns it on the leg side but finds the mid-wicket fielder.
Mitchell Starc to Shikhar Dhawan. Angles in a length ball on off, Dhawan drives it through the line with good timing. Tye makes a half stop at mid off and they collect a couple of runs.
Mitchell Starc to Shikhar Dhawan. Wide! Bowls it very wide outside off, Dhawan chases and misses.
Mitchell Starc to Rohit Sharma. Lands it on a length outside off, Rohit taps it down from the crease towards point and takes a quick single.
Nathan Coulter-Nile to Shikhar Dhawan. FOUR! Smart batting! Senses the line to be just outside off and Dhawan shuffles across the stumps in anticipation. As soon as NCN drops the ball in that line, Shikhar is ready to smash it over backward square leg for a boundary. 9 from the over!
Nathan Coulter-Nile to Shikhar Dhawan. Make it three. Back of a length delivery around off, Dhawan swings his bat across the line, a little too early and the ball takes the inner half before rolling to mid-wicket.
Nathan Coulter-Nile to Shikhar Dhawan. Wicket to wicket line, landing on a length and offering no room, Dhawan sticks back and pushes it out on the off side. Not in the gap, two dot balls now.
Nathan Coulter-Nile to Shikhar Dhawan. The line is very straight, Dhawan turns it off his pads to the leg side and looks for a run. Rohit sends him back seeing the mid-wicket fielder attacking the ball.
Nathan Coulter-Nile to Rohit Sharma. Goes very full this time, a hint of movement in the air, Rohit squeezes it out past backward point and takes a run.
Nathan Coulter-Nile to Rohit Sharma. FOUR! Rohit greets NCN with a boundary. He receives a length delivery on the pads and easily lifts it over short fine leg for a boundary. He needs to get into the good areas quickly.
Who will bowl from the other end? It's Nathan Coulter-Nile.
Mitchell Starc to Shikhar Dhawan. Full and angling into the batsman, Dhawan flicks it across the line but finds the mid-wicket fielder.
Mitchell Starc to Shikhar Dhawan. Bends his back and digs in a short ball on middle, Dhawan leans back and allows it through to the keeper.
Mitchell Starc to Rohit Sharma. What a lethal yorker! Rohit is lucky that his stumps are intact. He brings his bat down just in time and gets it off the inside edge. It goes behind square leg and they cross.
Mitchell Starc to Shikhar Dhawan. Back of a length ball on off, angling back in with good pace, Dhawan stays back inside the crease and just deflects it down to third man for a run. Both the openers off the mark now!
Mitchell Starc to Shikhar Dhawan. Mishit! Starc delivers it on a length just outside off, not much movement this time. Dhawan goes hard at it, trying to force it through the off side but gets it off the inner half of his bat. It rolls back to the bowler.
Mitchell Starc to Rohit Sharma. Edgy beginning. A little bit of shape back into the right-hander from a fuller length around off. Rohit brings down his bat and it goes off the outside edge to third man. India are away with a single.
We're back for the run chase. 165 off 120 legal balls. Rohit Sharma and Shikhar Dhawan are the usual openers for India. Mitchell Starc is back playing this format after a gap of almost two years. He will kickoff the proceedings with the ball. The countdown ends and let's play screams the umpire.