| 0.0 : Hello and welcome to the first T20I between India and Australia. A contest between two teams that have a habit of providing existing contests. The first one is being played at Visakhapatnam. The Indians are big time favorites, one, as their playing at home and second because they have gotten the better over the visitors in the recent past, especially in India. Both the teams though will be eager to kick start this series with a win. Stay tuned for the pitch report, toss and team news in a while. |
| PITCH REPORT - Murali Karthik with the pitch report along with Sunil Gavaskar. Moving towards the surface, the latter feels that the cracks and patches on the surface will help the spinners. Reckons that the home side may play a couple or even three spinners. Also feels that the new ball will come on nicely to the bat. As far as the coin flip is concerned, the experts say that the team winning the toss would like to bat first. The minimum score that the team batting first would look for would be |
| TOSS - Australia have won the toss and elected to bowl first. |
| Australian skipper, Aaron Finch, says that the wicket will not change much and hence he wants to chase. Mentions that they are giving a debut to Peter Handscomb and that they want to put in some consistent performances as a team. Laughs and says that they almost know too much about the opposition because of playing each other very often and just coming off a complete tour. Signs off by informing us that D'Arcy Short will be partnering him in the opening slot. |
| Indian skipper, Virat Kohli, says they wanted to bowl first as well. Mentions it looks a good pitch to bat on and dew also might not play a factor. Further adds bowling second is something they don't mind. States he hasn't been watching a lot of cricket, he took a few days to get fresh and now he is ready to go. Informs KL Rahul, Umesh Yadav come in. Ends by saying Mayank Markande makes his debut. |
| The players now making their way out for their respective national anthems. We are not far away from the first ball now. Also, a minute of silence is being observed after the National Anthems for the lives lost in the recent terror attack. |
| We are all set for the action to begin now! The openers, Rohit Sharma and Kl Rahul are out in the middle. Jason Behrendorff has the new ball in hand. He has a slip in place. Here we go... |
| 0.1 : J Behrendorff to R Sharma, Good delivery to begin with! On a length and around off, Jason is looking for some shape inward. There ain't any. Rohit gets behind the line and blocks it out. |
| 0.2 : J Behrendorff to R Sharma, India are underway! Rohit guides it with the angle down to third man and gets to the other end. |
| 0.3 : J Behrendorff to L Rahul, Gets some shape into the batsman, the line though is a little too straight. Rahul works it to the man at mid-wicket. |
| 0.4 : J Behrendorff to L Rahul, Soft leading edge there! This one is angled across the right-hander. Rahul is worried about the delivery coming into him. He plays it with a closed face, he gets a soft leading edge to the man at cover. |
| 0.5 : J Behrendorff to L Rahul, Tentative poke there! Rahul hasn't started with a lot of confidence. Good length outside off, Rahul looks to dab it but misses. Good start by JB, needs to end it well. |
| 0.6 : J Behrendorff to L Rahul, BEATEN! End of a brilliant first by Jason! Once again Rahul is looking for the ball which comes in. This one though angles across. The batter ends up playing inside the line and gets beaten. Just a single from the first over. |
| Jhye Richardson to bowl from the other end. |
| 1.1 : J Richardson to R Sharma, Another run down to third man for Rohit as he opens his face at the very end and guides it to that region. |
| 1.2 : J Richardson to L Rahul, FOUR! This should give Rahul some confidence. He gets a ball on his pads, Indians love it there. He works it around the corner, short fine leg gives it a chase, dives but his effort goes in vain. First boundary of the game and Rahul is off the mark in style. |
| 1.3 : J Richardson to L Rahul, Now takes a single as he guides it down to third man. Good batting, follows the boundary with a run. Sensible stuff. |
| 1.4 : J Richardson to R Sharma, Drags his length back and bowls it slightly shorter, Rohit stands tall and punches it to the man at covers. |
| 1.5 : J Richardson to R Sharma, Calls for two but it was never on. Good length and close to the off pole, Rohit guides it nicely past the man at point. Third man runs to his left and does well to keep it down to one. |
| 1.6 : J Richardson to L Rahul, FOUR! Poor bowling! Second boundary in the over. On the pads, Rahul just clips it through backward square leg. The outfield here is lightning quick and a boundary results. Expensive start by Jhye Richardson. |
| 2.1 : J Behrendorff to R Sharma, Rohit goes through with the shot. Does not get it off the middle but enough to take two. Length, slightly fuller you can say. Rohit lofts it over mid on. Stoinis gives it a chase, slides and saves two for his side. |
| 2.2 : J Behrendorff to R Sharma, Drags his length back and also cramps the batsman for room by bowling it closer to the body. Rohit keeps it out. |
| 2.3 : J Behrendorff to R Sharma, OUT! In the air... taken! Jason Behrendorff draws first blood and it is the huge wicket of the hitman. He tries to innovate, when it comes off, it is brilliant but when it does not, it is not a good sight. Rohit tries to play the paddle scoop. It goes off the toe-end and balloons towards short fine leg. Zampa there tracks back, he seems to lose balance for a second but then keeps it and takes it. Early wicket for Australia, just the start they would have wanted af |
| Virat Kohli, the Indian skipper walks out to the middle next amidst huge reception. |
| 2.4 : J Behrendorff to L Rahul, Inside edge! Back of a length and this one comes back in a touch. Rahul looks to defend but gets an inside edge onto his pads. |
| 2.5 : J Behrendorff to L Rahul, Opens the face at the very end and guides it down to third man for a run. |
| 2.6 : J Behrendorff to V Kohli, Uses his feet to maybe cover the swing. The line is pulled back by Jason. Virat pushes it back to the bowler. End of another brilliant over by JB, just three and a wicket from it. |
| 3.1 : J Richardson to L Rahul, FOUR! What a shot that is! Just brilliant! Nothing wrong with that delivery, it is on a length and around off, Rahul stands tall and then opens the face of the bat. He hits it over cover-point and a boundary results. Ideal start to the over. Third boundary of Jhye. |
| 3.2 : J Richardson to L Rahul, Once again sensible batting, got a boundary on the last ball, now he pushes it to mid on for a run. |
| 3.3 : J Richardson to V Kohli, Virat looks to go after Richardson. He dances down the track and tries to hit it over cover. But gets an inside edge onto the ground. |
| 3.4 : J Richardson to V Kohli, Closer to the off pole, Kohli guides it fine on the off side. Third man moves to his left quickly and keeps it down to one. |
| 3.5 : J Richardson to L Rahul, FOUR! This is even better than the boundary he hit on the first ball. Poor bowling once again by Richardson. He bowls an off pace ball but offers a lot of width outside off. Rahul waits for it and then just lofts it over covers. This is turning out to be another expensive over by Richardson. Still a ball to go. |
| 3.6 : J Richardson to L Rahul, Just a single from the last ball but still an expensive over. 11 from it. Full and on off, Rahul strokes it right off the middle and to the man at mid off for a run. Looking good out there is Rahul. |
| 4.1 : J Behrendorff to L Rahul, Outside off and guided down to third man for a single by Rahul on the first ball as he brings his skipper on strike. |
| 4.2 : J Behrendorff to V Kohli, FOUR! Dismissed! Absolutely dismissed. A half-volley little outside off, Kohli just clears his front leg and smashes it uppishly but really hard right past the bowler for a boundary. |
| 4.3 : J Behrendorff to V Kohli, A single following the boundary again as Virat dabs this one outside off down to third man for a run. |
| 4.4 : J Behrendorff to L Rahul, Another single down to third man, this time off the bat of KL. Good sensible batting this, after getting a boundary early in the over. |
| 4.5 : J Behrendorff to V Kohli, FOUR! Short and wide outside off, the arms of the Indian skipper open as he slashes this one over backward point and wide of third man for the second boundary of the over. No chance for the fielder in the deep. |
| 4.6 : J Behrendorff to V Kohli, A single down to third man ends the over. Runs off every ball in this over, an expensive one from Jason. 12 off it to be precise. |
| Nathan Coulter-Nile to bowl the last over of the Powerplay. |
| 5.1 : N Coulter-Nile to V Kohli, FOUR! Welcome into the attack NCN! Full and angling into the batsman. Kohli plays it with the angle as he flicks it over mid-wicket for a boundary. The bat turned in his hand slightly and hence, went a little squarer than he would have liked. |
| 5.2 : N Coulter-Nile to V Kohli, Goes short and on off, Kohli opens the face and guides it down to third man for a run. |
| 5.3 : N Coulter-Nile to L Rahul, Short again, Rahul looks to pull it fine but it goes off the higher part of the bat to deep square leg. Another single. |
| 5.4 : N Coulter-Nile to V Kohli, The slower ball outside off, Kohli takes another run by guiding it down to third man. |
| 5.5 : N Coulter-Nile to L Rahul, On the stumps, Rahul taps it towards cover and wants a run but Kohli is not interested. |
| 5.6 : N Coulter-Nile to L Rahul, FOUR! Up and over! Once again another over with two boundaries. End of the Powerplay and an expensive last. India will be happier of the two as they just lost the one wicket and have amassed 49 runs. Once again all class from Rahul here. He lofts it over point and bags a boundary. |
| Adam Zampa to bowl now. |
| 6.1 : A Zampa to V Kohli, 50 up for India as Kohli punches it down to long on. |
| 6.2 : A Zampa to L Rahul, Brings the reverse sweep out but fails to find the gap. It is straight to the short third man fielder. |
| 6.3 : A Zampa to L Rahul, FOUR! Powered! No need to run for those. Uses his feet, gets to the pitch of the ball and smashes it past the bowler for a boundary. |
| 6.4 : A Zampa to L Rahul, The slider on middle, Rahul goes back but is hurried into the stroke. He mistimes his pull to deep mid-wicket for a run. |
| 6.5 : A Zampa to V Kohli, Flatter and on the pads, Kohli goes back and works it through mid-wicket. A single. |
| 6.6 : A Zampa to L Rahul, Down the leg side and it has been wided. |
| A Zampa to L Rahul, Another wide as this is fired outside off stump. Rahul first looks to play it late but then bails out. A harsh call that. |
| A Zampa to L Rahul, The extra ball does not count for a lot! Pushes it through outside off, Rahul cuts it towards point. The fielder there makes a good stop diving to his right, can't stop the single. 10 of Zampa's first. Expensive start by him also. |
| Pat Cummins is now on to bowl. |
| 7.1 : Pat Cummins to L Rahul, Shorter in length and on middle, Rahul works it around the corner and gets to the other end. |
| 7.2 : Pat Cummins to V Kohli, Shortish and gets some extra bounce on this one. Kohli opens the face of the bat and guides it down to third man for a run. |
| 7.3 : Pat Cummins to L Rahul, The pick-up shot, not off the middle though and only a single to deep square leg. Just singles from the first three. |
| 7.4 : Pat Cummins to V Kohli, Bouncer! Kohli is a touch late into the shot. It does not go off the middle through mid-wicket for a single. |
| 7.5 : Pat Cummins to L Rahul, Well bowled! Rahul makes room but Cummins continues to bowl it on the stumps. Rahul looks to cut but is done in by the extra bounce. |
| 7.6 : Pat Cummins to L Rahul, A couple now! This is flicked with the angle over mid-wicket. Once again the timing is not right and hance, deep square leg runs to his left, picks the ball up but can't stop the two. A decent beginning by Cummins. |
| 8.1 : A Zampa to V Kohli, Misfield costs a couple! Kohli makes room and also uses his feet. Hits it hard towards cover. Finch there does not stop it cleanly. |
| 8.2 : A Zampa to V Kohli, Hits it back towards Zampa who like his captain, can't stop it cleanly. It goes down towards mid on for a run. |
| 8.3 : A Zampa to L Rahul, Sees the batsman step out. Fires it short and wide. Rahul only manages to pull it towards long on for a run. |
| 8.4 : A Zampa to V Kohli, OUT! The Indian skipper is out of here! Zampa strikes in his second over. The Australians are pumped up and why not? Kohli wanted to go after the leg spinner and falls in the process. Zampa tosses it up on middle, Kohli uses his feet but gets a little too close to the ball. Hence, he does not manage to get the desired elevation and hits it straight down the throat of Nathan Coulter-Nile who takes it. |
| Rishabh Pant comes in to bat now. |
| 8.5 : A Zampa to R Pant, First ball and Rishabh Pant hammers that hard along the ground really straight for a single. That ball hit the fingers of Zampa on its way or else it was a sure four. |
| 8.6 : A Zampa to L Rahul, SIX! That is huge! That spoils Zampa's over. A flighted ball on middle and Rahul has his dancing shoes on as he swings the straight bat and deposits this ball behind the sightscreen. 11 runs and a wicket off the over. |
| D'Arcy Short to roll his arm over now. |
| 9.1 : D Short to R Pant, Flatter and on the shorter side, Pant pulls it through square leg for a run. |
| 9.2 : D Short to L Rahul, Another flatter delivery, Rahul goes back and looks to pull. However, there is extra bounce, he then adjusts and hits it down to long on for a run. |
| 9.3 : D Short to R Pant, Outside off, Pant looks to cut but is beaten by the low bounce. |
| 9.4 : D Short to R Pant, Fired outside off again. Pant looks to cut but ends up chopping it to point for a single. |
| 9.5 : D Short to L Rahul, Gives this one air on middle, Rahul leans forward and clips it through mid-wicket for a run. |
| 9.6 : D Short to R Pant, OUT! Big confusion and Pant has been run out! Two wickets in two overs for Australia. Brilliant fielding this by Jason at point. Pant walks down the track. Short fires it full and wide outside off. Pant slashes at it , it goes towards point. Pant now feels there is an easy single there and he is off. Behrendorff in that region, dives and makes an excellent stop. Rahul, seeing that effort bails out of the run. Pant is the at the point of no return. JB does not waste a lot |
| MS Dhoni walks out to bat at number 5. The crowd is making a lot of noise. Meanwhile, Pat Cummins is back onto bowl. |
| 10.1 : Pat Cummins to L Rahul, A length ball on the pads, flicked away to square leg for a single. |
| 0.0 : Chants of Dhoni... Dhoni... |
| 10.2 : Pat Cummins to MS Dhoni, Misses the first ball he plays! A length ball just outside off, Dhoni looks to slash without foot movement but fails to put bat on ball. |
| 10.3 : Pat Cummins to MS Dhoni, Another play and a miss! Excellent stuff from Cummins. 144 clicks this one outside off and a good length, Dhoni just attempts to push this through the line without foot movement once more. Is beaten once more. |
| 10.4 : Pat Cummins to MS Dhoni, Would have been so close had the keeper gathered that one! A fuller length ball outside off and Dhoni opens the face of the bat and pushes it through backward point. Turns around and comes for the second run, but would have been short had the keeper taken the ball cleanly. The throw from third man is on the bounce to Handscomb who fails to catch the ball and removes the bails with empty gloves. Dhoni looked like he would have been out on the replays. Not often that |
| 10.5 : Pat Cummins to MS Dhoni, Back of a length on off, Dhoni pushes it through covers for a run. |
| 10.6 : Pat Cummins to L Rahul, Short and on the body, Rahul pulls it down to fine leg and a run is taken. Another tight over this. 7 from the last two and a wicket. |
| 11.1 : D Short to L Rahul, A full toss on the pads, Rahul is happy to flick it through mid-wicket and take a single. |
| 11.2 : D Short to MS Dhoni, The googly, Dhoni nudges it through mid-wicket and takes a single. |
| 11.3 : D Short to L Rahul, Another googly, Rahul strokes it back towards the bowler. Short for a second moves to his right, he then recovers, dives and they gets a hand to it. The ball deflects onto the stumps at his end. Dhoni is in though. |
| 11.4 : D Short to L Rahul, Fifty for Rahul! His 5th in this format! A good knock from him on return. He though needs to stay there till the end. Holds the key for India here. He gets there with a flick through mid-wicket for a single. |
| 11.5 : D Short to MS Dhoni, Another risky double! A flighted ball on the pads and Dhoni pushes it to deep mid-wicket and calls for two straightaway. Rahul though is a bit slow and has to dive full length to make it inside. The throw too is not collected by the bowler. Could have been really interesting had Short collected that one. Also, the bowler was in front of the stumps. |
| 11.6 : D Short to MS Dhoni, Outside off and patted away for a single to cover by Dhoni as he keeps strike. Only 6 runs off this over, the Aussies won't mind. |
| Nathan Coulter-Nile is back on. |
| 12.1 : N Coulter-Nile to MS Dhoni, Dances down the track does Dhoni but does not get the length he wanted. He then opens the face and guides it down to third man for a run. |
| 12.2 : N Coulter-Nile to L Rahul, OUT! Another one bites the dust! This time it is the well-set batsman. 50 and out for Rahul and India in a spot of bother here. He moves around his crease to disturb the length of the bowler. However, NCN sticks to landing it on a length and around off. Rahul looks to loft it over mid off. It goes off the bottom. Finch in that position takes a dolly. The bowling change has worked wonders for Australia here. |
| Dinesh Karthik is the new man in. |
| 12.3 : N Coulter-Nile to D Karthik, Continues bowling it on a length, the ball pitches and comes back in. Karthik pushes it back to the bowler. |
| 12.4 : N Coulter-Nile to D Karthik, Shuffles across and works it towards mid-wicket for a run. Gets off the mark. |
| 12.5 : N Coulter-Nile to MS Dhoni, Waits for the ball to come to him and then guides it through point for a single. |
| 12.6 : N Coulter-Nile to D Karthik, OUT! BOWLED 'EM! Second in the over for Nathan Coulter-Nile and India suddenly, have half their side back in the hut. Karthik does not trouble the scorers a lot. He uses his feet and Nathan bowls it a touch shorter. The ball also jags back in sharply. Karthik leaves a gap between bat and pad as he looks to put bat on ball. It sneaks through and uproots the middle pole. Into the all-rounders now are the Aussies. End of an excellent over for the Aussies, just 3 r |
| Krunal Pandya walks in at number 7. Meanwhile, Adam Zampa is back on. |
| 13.1 : A Zampa to MS Dhoni, A little turn there for Zampa as he tosses it up on middle, Dhoni plays it against the turn towards mid-wicket. Australia on the attack here, they have a short mid-wicket in place. |
| 13.2 : A Zampa to MS Dhoni, Uses his feet and works it through mid-wicket for a run. |
| 13.3 : A Zampa to K Pandya, The googly on middle, Krunal keeps it out. |
| 13.4 : A Zampa to K Pandya, Tries to be cheeky by playing the reverse sweep but misses. |
| 13.5 : A Zampa to K Pandya, Excellent fielding. Exactly what you need when your bowlers are bowling well. Another googly, Pandya works it towards mid on. The man at short mid-wicket moves quickly to his right, dives and saves a run. |
| 13.6 : A Zampa to K Pandya, Another googly, Pandya picks it and cuts but finds point. Just a run from this over and India have just managed 19 runs from the last 5 overs. |
| 14.1 : N Coulter-Nile to MS Dhoni, That remains low! Has happened a lot today. A length ball outside off and coming in a bit, Dhoni looks to cut off the back foot but is beaten by the lack of bounce on that one. |
| 14.2 : N Coulter-Nile to MS Dhoni, Pushed away to deep cover for a single by MS. |
| 14.3 : N Coulter-Nile to K Pandya, A length ball from around the wicket, Krunal shuffles and moves inside the line and flicks the ball away to deep fine leg for a run. Could have been in contention for LBW had he missed that ball. |
| 14.4 : N Coulter-Nile to MS Dhoni, Fuller length on the pads, flicked away through the vacant mid-wicket region by Dhoni for an easy couple. |
| 14.5 : N Coulter-Nile to MS Dhoni, Slower ball on length and this time the Indian keeper-bat reads it and pats it onto the off side for a quick single. That also brings up the 100 for the hosts. |
| 14.6 : N Coulter-Nile to K Pandya, OUT! High on the bat and Maxwell comes under the ball and takes a very simple catch. A length ball from around the wicket, with a lot of pace and bounce on it. Pandya looks to swing over mid-wicket but gets it high on the bat and the ball just balloons up towards point where Maxwell settles under it and takes it very easily. That is the 3rd wicket for Coulter-Nile. India in big trouble now, as this was the last recognized batting pair. The Aussies wriggling cont |
| Umesh Yadav walks out to the middle. Also, Jhye Richardson to bowl now. |
| 15.1 : J Richardson to MS Dhoni, Not a good delivery to start with. On the pads, it is clipped through backward square leg. Fine leg runs to his left, does not stop it cleanly and concedes two. |
| 15.2 : J Richardson to MS Dhoni, Better! On the middle stump, it is worked to mid-wicket. |
| 15.3 : J Richardson to MS Dhoni, Another dot as another ball which is on the stumps is pushed back to the bowler. |
| 15.4 : J Richardson to MS Dhoni, Short and on middle, Dhoni pulls it through square leg and a single is taken. Singles won't hurt Australia at the moment. |
| 15.5 : J Richardson to U Yadav, Too high! Length ball on middle, Yadav walks across and looks to flick but misses to get hit high on the pads. An appeal follows but the umpire shakes his head. The batsmen take a leg bye as it rolls towards square leg. |
| 15.6 : J Richardson to MS Dhoni, A dot to end and India going nowhere at the moment. Length and on off, MS pushes it to mid off. |
| Pat Cummins is back on now. 2-0-12-0 so far for him. |
| 16.1 : Pat Cummins to U Yadav, Exposes his leg stump and Cummins looks to hit that. He sprays it down the leg side though and it has been wided. |
| Pat Cummins to U Yadav, Clever batting! Pushes this to mid off and gets MS on strike. |
| 16.2 : Pat Cummins to MS Dhoni, On the shorter side and outside off, Dhoni slaps it through covers for a run. |
| 16.3 : Pat Cummins to U Yadav, Good length and this one moves away after pitching. Yadav looks to keep it out but the ball goes off the outer half and down to third man for a run. |
| 16.4 : Pat Cummins to MS Dhoni, Edgy run! Short and outside off, Dhoni throws his bat at it, it goes down to third man for a run. Once again, an over full of singles. |
| 16.5 : Pat Cummins to U Yadav, OUT! This time the height is not an issue and Umesh Yadav is a goner. As plumb as you get. Cummins bowls it fuller than what Jhye had bowled. It pitches and comes back in. Yadav looks to flick but misses to get hit on the pads. He is right in front and the umpire has no hesitation in lifting the finger. |
| Yuzvendra Chahal walks in at number 9. |
| 16.6 : Pat Cummins to Y Chahal, Good solid defense and the crowd here cheers. Length ball on off, Chahal blocks it out. |
| 17.1 : J Richardson to MS Dhoni, Continues hitting the back of a length, Dhoni can't free his arms. He pushes it to mid off. |
| 17.2 : J Richardson to MS Dhoni, A wild hoick! Not off the middle, off the inner half to mid-wicket. Two dots in a row. |
| 17.3 : J Richardson to MS Dhoni, In the air... short! More importantly another dot. Short and Jhye bends his back on this one. Dhoni is hurried onto the pull It hits the splice and goes on the bounce to short mid-wicket. |
| 17.4 : J Richardson to MS Dhoni, FIVE WIDES! That will help India. Vital runs and bonus runs. Down the leg side, it tails back in late. Dhoni looks to flick but misses. Handscomb dives to his left but is unable to stop it. Much-needed this. |
| J Richardson to MS Dhoni, Takes a run now! Shorter in length on middle, the batter pushes it towards mid on and gets to the other end. Chahal has two balls to face here. |
| 17.5 : J Richardson to Y Chahal, Another solid defense. Back of a length on middle, Chahal keeps it out. He only has to protect his wicket at the moment. |
| 17.6 : J Richardson to Y Chahal, Chahal negotiates the two deliveries. Shorter in length and on middle, Chahal goes back and keeps it out. Two overs to go, 20 runs off the last two? India would desperately need that. End of Richardson's spell, in a night where the bowlers have done really well, he probably won't be happy with his figures, still good though. It reads 4-0-31-0. |
| 18.1 : Pat Cummins to MS Dhoni, Does not get hold of this one either. A length ball on top of off stump and Dhoni pulls it flat-batted towards long on but refuses the single. |
| 18.2 : Pat Cummins to MS Dhoni, A length ball outside off and Dhoni cuts it through backward point. Picks up a couple as the third man fielder makes a tumbling stop. |
| 18.3 : Pat Cummins to MS Dhoni, Another run declined! Dhoni has no option though, has to back himself to get the boundary here. A length ball on middle and MS fails to middle it. Pulls it away to mid-wicket on a couple of bounces. |
| 18.4 : Pat Cummins to MS Dhoni, Mistimed again! Either the Aussie bowlers are just too good here or the pitch is really slow or the Indian batsmen are out of flow. A length ball outside off and MS goes for a swipe through the line but gets it on the bottom of the bat towards mid on. There is a single available but it is declined once more. |
| Change of bat for Dhoni! He has not been able to find the middle with this one, India would hope the change of bat brings change in fortunes. Australia will hope the other way though. |
| 18.5 : Pat Cummins to MS Dhoni, Short of a length outside off, patted towards cover by Dhoni as he picks up a run. That leaves Chahal with a ball to face in this over. |
| 18.6 : Pat Cummins to Y Chahal, Length ball on top of middle and Chahal looks to hit it into the stands but the ball hurries onto him and goes onto the bottom of the bat. Rolls towards long on but the single is not taken as Dhoni wants the strike in the last over. Cummins ends the evening with amazing figures of 4-0-19-1. |
| Nathan Coulter-Nile to bowl the last over. |
| 19.1 : N Coulter-Nile to MS Dhoni, Still is unable to find the middle. He comes down the track and swings but it goes off the inner half towards mid-wicket. A dot to begin the last over. |
| 19.2 : N Coulter-Nile to MS Dhoni, SIX! Finds the middle this time and a much, much-needed biggie for India. Width on offer and it is fuller. Dhoni clears his front leg and hits it over covers for a maximum. A couple more is what India need. |
| 19.3 : N Coulter-Nile to MS Dhoni, Good comeback! Cramps the batsman for room by bowling it on his body, Dhoni can only push it back to the bowler. |
| 19.4 : N Coulter-Nile to MS Dhoni, Swing and a miss! Two dots after the biggie! Dhoni uses his feet again and tries to hit it out of the park! He only connects with thin air though. |
| 19.5 : N Coulter-Nile to MS Dhoni, In the air... but safe! What is interesting here is, Dhoni does not run. There was surely two available there. Coulter-Nile goes short, Dhoni looks to pull but gets a top edge. The fielder from fine leg can't get to it but the batsmen don't run. |
| 19.6 : N Coulter-Nile to MS Dhoni, Wide! Down the leg side, Dhoni looks to pull but misses. Will the extra ball prove to costly? |
| N Coulter-Nile to MS Dhoni, Absolutely not! Just a leg bye from it. So despite it going for a biggie early in the over, just 8 comes from the over. Another one which is on a shorter length. Dhoni looks to pull but the ball hits the thigh pad, it rolls towards short third man and the batsmen cross over. INDIA END WITH 127 for 7! |
| Despite that lusty blow from MS Dhoni in the last over, the Aussies will surely enter the break as the happier side. This is a brilliant bowling performance from the visitors, to restrict the Indians to 126 after they were 80/3 at the half-way mark. A 61-ball gap between two boundaries off the bat tells us a story in itself. After Aaron Finch won the coin flip and elected to bowl first, the home side were looking decent at the beginning despite losing their star opener Rohit Sharma to a miscued |
| As for the Aussie bowling, everyone looked on their mark this night but the stand out bowler was Nathan Coulter-Nile who picked up 3 wickets. The worst economy rate on show still was below 8, and that tells us a story in itself. Such was the display that even Glenn Maxwell and Marcus Stoinis were not required to bowl. A brilliant bowling show, and we have one of the Aussie players at the sideline to talk to us. |
| Jason Behrendorff who is up for an interview says he is very happy with the bowler's performance. Reckons the wicket is a tough one to bat one but he hopes his batsmen can do the job. Mentions back of a length is the length to bowl on this wicket. Ends by saying he was really happy with the run out as they have been working on their fielding. |
| So, 127 is the target. Looks like it will be a walk in the park for the visitors. Will it be so or does the home side have anything special in store? Join us in a bit to find out as we return for the chase... |
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