Clinical India nudge ahead to go 2-1 up

A clinical performance from India saw them nudge ahead in the five-match T20I series against Australia and take a 2-1 lead. On a surface where batting wasn't the easiest, India posted a moderate score on the board before defending it with ease in the end with all six bowlers picking up at least one wicket. With just one game left now, India have put themselves in a position where they cannot lose the series.

Batting first, India finished with a modest 167/8 after losing another toss. Making four changes to their XI, Australia managed to keep India's openers fairly quiet in the PowerPlay given Abhishek Sharma was still out there by the end of the sixth over. Abhishek and Shubman Gill managed to score 49 in the PowerPlay with the left-hander batting on 22 off 18. But the first ball he faced spin, Abhishek tonked Adam Zampa for a six to break the shackles, only for the legspinner to storm back with his wicket just two balls later.

Earning a promotion, Shivam Dube got off to a stuttering start as well before a massive six down the ground got him going. Even though India's run rate at this stage was 8, Gill certainly needed a push having consumed 30 balls for 34. But at the other end, Australia struck again with Nathan Ellis coming back into the attack to get rid of Dube. Suryakumar Yadav walked out with intent to smash back-to-back sixes and Gill in the very next over cleared one over the ropes as well as India looked in command to finish big.

However, Australia pulled things back big time at the death beginning with Ellis hitting timber with an excellent slower delivery that saw Gill walk back for 46. In the very next over, Suryakumar departed as well to leave the onus on the middle order to fight back. But the wickets kept tumbling as Zampa finished his spell with the wickets of Tilak Varma and Jitesh Sharma in the same over to stun the visitors. If not for a mini cameo from Axar Patel right at the end, India would have struggled to breach 160.

In reply, Australia didn't get off to the brightest of starts either. After knocking off only 11 runs from the opening two overs, Matthew Short took apart Arshdeep Singh before welcoming Varun Chakaravarthy with a six in the next over. But India's decision to review a lbw call against Short in the next over worked big time as Axar struck gold in his first over. Even though Josh Inglis began with a spark, fetching two boundaries off Bumrah, he just couldn't make it count and became Axar's second victim of the evening when he got castled. Dube then came into the attack and used the slower delivery to good effect to send Mitchell Marsh back to the pavilion.

At 77/3 after ten overs, the game was tantalisingly poised. But once Dube got the big wicket of Tim David with a short ball, India edged ahead. Arshdeep came back to dismiss Josh Philippe and Chakaravarthy finished off an excellent spell with the massive wicket of Glenn Maxwell to rattle Australia big time. From thereon, Australia needed a miracle to claw back as they needed 65 from 30 with just four wickets in hand. That miracle never arrived as Australia collapsed without putting up a fight with Washington Sundar managing to pick three out of the final four wickets.

Brief scores: India 167/8 in 20 overs (Shubman Gill 46; Nathan Ellis 3/21) beat Australia 119 in 18.2 overs (Mitchell Marsh 30; Washington Sundar 3/3, Axar Patel 2/20) by 48 runs