INDvsAus 1st T20I: Australia holds the nerve and clinched the victory in a nail-biting match at Gabba

Australia have broken their losing run in T20Is and have probably presented a wake-up call to India, as they beat team India by 4 runs in D/L method at Brisbane today. You can't take any Australian team lightly, even without Smith and Warner and some of their frontline pacers as well. This nail-biting exciting match sets up the tune of the series.

Earlier Indian skipper Virat Kohli won the toss & elected to field first.India starts well as Khalil takes his 1st international wicket in his 1st ball. Australia was 38-1 after the power-play. Indian pace duo Bhuvneshwar Kumar & Jasprit Bumrah bowled a good spell in powerplay. The opening pair of Australia D’arcy Short and Aaron Finch again failed today. Short scored just 7 runs from 12 balls and skipper Finch scored 27 off 24. Chris Lynn played a quick fire 37 off 20 balls, but  missed the wrong one of Kuldeep and gave him a simple return catch. But overall in the match, we've seen poor effort from India. They haven't done the basics right. Misfielding, dropping simple catches and bowling short and half volleys were hurt them.In middle overs, only Kuldeep bowled an outstanding spell, took two wickets (4-0-24-2). On the other hand, Khalel and Krunal Pandya leak umpteen runs (Aussies scored 97 runs in 7 overs of these two). I think India may feel the absence of Chahal or at-least a sixth bowling option today in middle overs. Hardik Pandya is being missed badly, if he comes into the side, Yuzvendra Chahal can also be picked in place of Khaleel Ahmed and the side can be much more balanced. Krunal Pandya needs to really work on his bowling if he wants his place in the side.

Maxwell and Stoinis were going hammer and tongs in the middle overs, then rain halted the play. Before the rain Australia was 151-3 in 16.1. Match reduced to 17 overs dur to a 45-mins rain and DLS Method came into play. Maxwell 46(24) and Stoinis 33(19)* played excellent knock They have done a perfect job as finishers. Bumrah was aiming for toe-crushers and gave only 6 runs in final over with the wicket of Maxwell.  Australia settled at 158-4 in 17 over.  But India got a mammoth target of 174 in 17 overs because DLS Method .

India started very well.  Specially Dhawan gave an excellent start, but no support at the other end! India was 35-0 after 4 overs.  But after that Behrendorff picked up Rohit. Rohit  wasn't looking in great touch today. After the power-play required rate had gone over 12-13 as none of the batsman strikes big and pressure built up on team. Zampa picks up two important wicket of KL Rahul (12) and Indian skipper Virat Kohli (4). KL Rahul has been given enough chances and I think it's time for him to prove his worth during this Australian series, otherwise, he can be seen warming the benches. Zampa bowled a game-changing spell today (4-0-22-2). Dhawan 76(42) tried to hit big shots but he threw his wicket. When he got out India was still 60 runs behind and only 24 balls were left.

Here Pant had gone bonkers along with Karthik with an great attitude like "no matter what the result would be.. we would put up a fight and show some character." DK is now at his best. So many of us had written him off over the years, but since the last one year he has proved himself a Fighter! But at last Pant and DK both failed. Stoinis's slower balls are working like magic in the last over! We've witnessed a brilliant final over at Gabba, Brisbane today from Marcus Stoinis. Entrusted with the responsibility of defending 13, he used the slower ball to tremendous effect to stop a rampant Dinesh Karthik from taking India over the line. Ultimately the uncertain game of Cricket wins at last!

FINAL SCORE:

AUS: 158/4 (17.0 Ovs)
IND: 169/7 (17.0 Ovs)

Australia won by 4 runs.
(DLS Method, 17-over game due to rain, Target 174)

PLAYER OF THE MATCH
Adam Zampa

Photo Source: Google

Writer: Bikiran Majumdar and Souritra Banerjee

Read here the Match Preview: INDIA TOUR OF AUSTRALIA, 1ST T20I AT BRISBANE: PREVIEW

Thanks for reading FRONT FOOT BLOG. Keep visiting this blog to get cricket updates and articles. Press the Like button and share this post if you like it. Comment here and say your opinion.

Signing off now. Will come back with the Match Preview of the next T20I. Keep Watching Cricket!

Stay connected, stay healthy and spread the love. 

© FRONT FOOT