Aus v Ind 3rd T20I Review: India complete the clean sweep with a thrilling win

India pulled off a sensation win off the last ball in an incredible run-chase at the SCG to take the T20I series 3-0. The Aussies piled up 197/5 in 20 overs however the visitors gave a strong reply to gun down the target in an exciting fashion. Australia’s stand-in captain Shane Watson chose to bat with the hosts making another five changes to their team.

Usman Khawaja and the part-time wicketkeeper Cameron Bancroft made their debuts while dropping James Faulkner, Nathan Lyon and John Hastings for Travis Head, Cameron Boyce, and Shaun Tait. Matthew Wade and the injured regular captain Aaron Finch were the other two players to miss out. India fielded an unchanged side for the third consecutive match, on a sunny evening in Sydney on a pitch that looked brimful of runs.

The hosts didn’t get a good start as in-form Khawaja was dismissed for 14 with the right-hander edging an Ashish Nehra delivery to wicket-keeper Mahendra Singh Dhoni in the third over however Watson scored a superb unbeaten century (86-ball 124 not out) to power Australia. Watson, making his debut as captain in T20I, milked six sixes — three off Ravindra Jadeja and two off Ashish Nehra — and 10 fours during his maiden ton as the Indian bowlers conceded 117 runs in the final 10 overs. It was also the first time India gave away a hundred to an opposition batsman in the shortest format. (Also read: India in Australia T20I series – Australia Player Ratings)

Shaun Marsh’s (9) wicket, with Australia at 69 for two in 7.4 overs, brought ‘Big Show’ Glenn Maxwell (6) to the crease. The right-hander hardly troubled the scorers and holed out at short cover to Suresh Raina off Yuvraj Singh’s bowling.

Travis Head then joined Watson in the middle and provided the muscle and power-hitting required for a partnership. He despatched Yuvraj for a six and a four to boost his captain’s faith as the partnership flourished, with Watson on a song. Watson also benefitted from India’s generosity. He was batting on 56 and on the second ball of the 12th over, he mishit a wide ball from Hardik Pandya towards Virat Kohli, who spilled the catch at deep cover. Watson cracked two fours in the same over and ensured a strong finish.

Indian bowlers who were impressive in the first two games were belted out of the park as Australian batsmen hit a total of 16 boundaries and seven sixes in their innings. The hit pair of Ravichandran Ashwin (1/36) and Ravindra Jadeja (1/41) gave away 77 runs in their quota of eight overs together. Ashish Nehra (1-32) and Jasprit Bumrah (1-43) also failed to contain the batsmen on a flat pitch, however, did well to restrict the hosts under 200 at the end of the innings.

India’s victory, however, was again set up by their top-order with Rohit Sharma, Shikhar Dhawan, and Virat Kohli putting up another spectacular show, to the delight of the hordes of Indian fans who had thronged the SCG. (Also read: Latest ICC T20 team rankings)

Dhawan smashed 4 fours and 1 six to get the team off to a blazing start with a 9-ball 26. He was dismissed in the 4^th over however the score was already past 40 which ensured a strong start. Sharma and Kohli then smashed the Aussies to all parts of the ground with an exceptional partnership that took the total to 124 in 12.3 overs before the opener was dismissed for 52 off 38 balls.

Kohli’s 50 off 36 balls was ended by Boyce and gave Australia a chance, however, Suresh Raina (49 not out of 25) ensured India stays within touching distance. Another man who was in the spotlight was Yuvraj Singh. At the start of the 20th over, India needed 17 runs and Yuvraj was 5 off 9 and still struggling to middle the ball. Then he got two length balls on the pads. The pressure got to Tye, but the veteran batsman produced the goods smashing a four and a six. With 6 need of 2, Raina took back-to-back 2s before smashing the last ball for a boundary that started the celebrations for the visitors.

Bried Scores:

Australia: 197/5 in 20 overs (S Watson 124*; A Nehra 1/32)

India: 200/3 in 20 overs (R Sharma 52; C Boyce 2/28)

Man of the match: Shane Watson (Australia)

Man of the series: Virat Kohli (India)