Washington Sundar guided India to a five-wicket victory over Australia in the third Twenty20 international by scoring an unbeaten 49 as they successfully chased down a target of 187 runs. Australia posted a total of 186-6, with Tim David smashing 74 runs from 38 balls and Marcus Stoinis contributing with a brisk 64 off 39 deliveries. Arshdeep Singh impressed with figures of 3-35 in his bowling spell.
India’s batting lineup performed collectively to secure the win with nine balls to spare, leveling the series at 1-1. Skipper Suryakumar Yadav highlighted the team effort in both departments, expressing satisfaction with the victory. The series now stands finely balanced at 1-1, with two matches remaining in the series scheduled at the Gold Coast and Brisbane.
Australia felt the absence of Josh Hazlewood, who opted out of the squad to prepare for the Ashes series against England, as his replacement Sean Abbott was expensive, conceding 56 runs in 3.3 overs. Despite Australia’s commendable efforts, Mitchell Marsh acknowledged the need to bridge the gap of runs and emphasized the fine margins in T20 cricket that can determine the outcome of a match.
Abhishek Sharma and Sundar played crucial roles in India’s chase, with Sharma providing a quick start and Sundar steering the team towards victory comfortably. Key wickets from the Indian bowling attack, especially Varun Chakravarthy’s double blow, kept them in the game during Australia’s innings. Tim David’s explosive knock was the highlight of Australia’s batting, but his dismissal by Tilak Varma proved pivotal in India’s comeback.
The match showcased a competitive battle between the two sides, setting the stage for an exciting conclusion to the series in the upcoming matches.