KL Rahul continued his fine form from IPL 2020 in which he became the Orange Cap holder by smashing a fine fifty. However, a spectacular collapse of three wickets for six runs in three overs saw India stutter towards the end of their innings. It was then that Ravindra Jadeja took over and showed his class. Jadeja smashed a six and two fours in the 19th over, smoked two boundaries in the final over to end on an unbeaten 44 as India smashed 46 runs in the final three overs to help them reach 161/7 in the first Twenty20 International at the Manuka Oval in Canberra on Friday. Moises Henriques was the star with 3/22, including the big wickets of Hardik Pandya and KL Rahul while Mitchell Swepson impressed with two wickets, including the big wicket of Virat Kohli.
Australia won the toss and chose to bowl and Aaron Finch’s team sported a new jersey which paid tribute to the contributions of the indigenous population of the country. India handed a debut to T Natarajan while choosing to rest Jasprit Bumrah, Shreyas Iyer and Yuzvendra Chahal. They started off well with Mitchell Starc removing the dangerous Shikhar Dhawan with a delivery that knocked the off stump out of the ground. From that point on, Australia dictated the proceedings.
Rahul strong, but middle order flounders
KL Rahul got going with a couple of boundaries off Adam Zampa but he kept his best for Sean Abbott, whom he thrashed for a four and a six in the sixth over. However, Mitchell Swepson, the legspinner, got the big wicket of Virat Kohli as the skipper mistimed a pull shot back to the bowler to fall for 9.
Sanju Samson, who was included in the team, smashed Swepson for a big six and he looked confident with a four off Sean Abbott. However, as has been the case with Samson, he threw his wicket away and departed for 23 to give Moises Henreiques his first wicket. Adam Zampa got the better of Manish Pandey who struggled for two runs off eight balls. However, Australia got a massive boost when Rahul holed out to long on after reaching 50. India had lost three wickets for six runs in three overs.
Hardik Pandya tried to get going and he mowed a six off Henriques to the wide long on region but in the quest for aggression, he fell for 16.
Jadeja on fire
Ravindra Jadeja looked to up the ante and in the middle of the 19th over, he received some treatment from the physio on his hamstring. However, that short break rejuvenated Ravindra Jadeja and he proceeded to smash two fours and a six in Josh Hazlewood’s over which went for 23 runs.
Jadeja found the boundaries even in the last over bowled by Starc as Australia lost their way in the death overs, giving India a competitive total on this wicket.
