India clinched a remarkable five-wicket victory over Australia in a high-octane T20 International match held at Ninja Oval in Hobart on Sunday. Successfully chasing a formidable target of 187 runs, this win saw India level the five-match series. It was a significant defeat for Australia, marking their first-ever T20I loss at this particular venue.
Earlier in the day, after winning the toss and opting to bat, Australia posted a challenging total of 186 for six, largely thanks to Tim David’s explosive innings of 74 runs off just 38 deliveries. Marcus Stoinis provided excellent support, contributing a vital 64 runs off 39 balls to help set a competitive target.
Despite a valiant effort from Nathan Ellis, who bowled sharply to claim three wickets for 36 runs, India successfully managed to chase down the target with nine balls to spare in the 18.3 overs.
The Indian chase was a collective effort, featuring crucial contributions from several batsmen. Abhishek Sharma got them off to a quick start with 25 runs off 16 balls, followed by captain Suryakumar Yadav’s rapid 24 runs off just 11 deliveries. Tilak Varma added a steady 29 off 26 balls, and Axar Patel chipped in with 17 runs from 12 balls.
Washington Sundar anchored the innings beautifully, remaining unbeaten on a stellar 49 runs off 23 balls. He was joined by Jitesh Sharma, who made a strong debut in the series with an unbeaten 22 runs off 12 deliveries. Sundar, in particular, showcased exceptional power-hitting, dominating the cow corner area.
Australia’s bowling attack, missing the likes of Josh Hazlewood (who is reportedly resting for the upcoming Ashes series), struggled to contain India’s aggressive batsmen. Apart from Nathan Ellis’s challenging short-pitched deliveries, the other bowlers found it difficult to make an impact.
Earlier in the Australian innings, Arshdeep Singh marked his return with an impressive performance, ultimately earning him the Player of the Match award. His early breakthroughs, dismissing dangerous batsmen Travis Head and Josh Inglis, left Australia reeling at 14 for two.
However, Tim David’s aggressive approach quickly turned the tide, neutralizing India’s early advantage. He showed particular dominance against Indian bowlers like Jasprit Bumrah and Varun Chakravarthy, launching four of his five sixes straight down the ground.
David was given a crucial reprieve when Washington Sundar dropped a straightforward catch at point off Jasprit Bumrah’s bowling when David was on 20 runs. It was a fast ball, but a catch that should have been held.
India keenly felt the absence of the injured Hardik Pandya, as his replacement, Shivam Dube, struggled to contain the attacking duo of David and Stoinis. An attempt to utilize Abhishek Sharma’s left-arm spin also proved costly, as he conceded 13 runs in his solitary over.
Varun Chakravarthy delivered critical breakthroughs for India, removing Mitchell Marsh and Mitchell Owen with back-to-back deliveries. His finger-flicked ball that dismissed Owen was a moment of particular brilliance.
The Indian bowling attack finished strongly, with Arshdeep Singh and Jasprit Bumrah delivering effective spells in the crucial final overs of Australia’s innings.
The exciting series is set to continue, with the fourth T20 International match scheduled for November 6 in Gold Coast.