Suryakumar Yadav stars as India beat Australia in last-ball thriller in first T20

Captain Suryakumar Yadav led from the front as the Indian men’s cricket team defeated Australia by two wickets in the first of the five-match T20 series at the ACA-VDCA Stadium in Visakhapatnam on Thursday.

Put into bat first, Australia posted 208/3 with the help of Josh Inglis’ century. In the run chase, Suryakumar Yadav and Ishan Kishan scored fifties before Rinku Singh provided a terrific finish under pressure to seal the match on the last ball.

Earlier in the day, Australia lost an early wicket after Ravi Bishnoi’s googly clattered Matthew Short’s stumps in the fifth over. However, Australia took control of the innings with Steve Smith and Josh Inglis building a 130-run partnership.

Smith anchored the innings as Inglis went after the bowlers. The duo, who featured in the ODI World Cup final on Sunday, upped the scoring rate smashing 68 runs between the 10th and 15th overs..

Steve Smith departed shortly after completing his half-century. The 34-year-old lost balance after a mistimed pull and ran himself out in an attempt to complete a single.

Inglis continued the onslaught and completed his first T20 international century in 47 balls and was eventually dismissed by Prasidh Krishna after a terrific 110 off 50 balls as Australia finished with 208/3.

In the chase, India lost both openers, Ruturaj Gaikwad and Yashavi Jaiswal, in quick succession by the third over. However, a 20-run over from Sean Abbott in the powerplay set the tone for the Indian innings with Ishan Kishan and Suryakumar Yadav.

Ishan Kishan, who was off to a slow start, smashed two sixes and a four in the ninth over off Tanvir Sangha, while the Indian captain picked up boundaries consistently. Their partnership hit three figures and Kishan completed his half-century in the 13th over, just before Sangha got his wicket with a well-floated googly. Kishan made 58 in 39 balls with the partnership producing 112 runs in just 60 deliveries.

The Aussie leg-spinner then picked up Tilak Verma’s wicket as well, but Suryakumar Yadav ensured India continued to march towards victory. Alongside Rinku Singh, Yadav accumulated 16 and 18 runs in the 16th and 17th over, respectively, as the required rate dipped below nine.

Yadav was dismissed for a well-made 80 off 42 balls and India lost quick wickets towards the end. But Rinku Singh (22* off 14 balls) saw the side through as India completed their most successful run chase in T20 internationals against Australia.

India vs Australia brief scores: Australia 208/3 in 20 overs (Josh Inglis 110, Steve Smith 52; Prasidh Krishna 1/50) lost to India 209/8 in 19.5 overs (Suryakumar Yadav 80, Ishan Kishan 58; Tanvir Sangha 2/47).