||Desk Report||

Marcus Stoinis led Australia’s revival with his all-round efforts as they defeated India in the series-opening T20I in Brisbane, breaking a four-match losing streak in the format. A four-run victory has earned the hosts a 1-0 lead in the three-match series.

Losing the toss, Australia were inserted to bat first. The match was reduced to 17 overs per side after rain interrupted play during Australia’s innings.

Aussie opener D’Arcy Short again failed to shine with the bat, returning early to the pavilion with 7 runs to his name.

Chris Lynn (37) and Aaron Finch (27) resurrected the innings, before Kuldeep Yadav removed them in successive overs.

Glenn Mazwell and Marcus Stoinis then launched an assault against the opponents and shared a 78-run stand off just 37 balls.

Maxwell made 42 runs off 24 deliveries and was removed by Bumrah in the very last over. Stoinis remained unbeaten on 33 runs from 19 balls as Australia registered a total of 158 runs, losing four wickets.

While Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Bumrah, and Kuldeep bowled controlled spells, Khaleel Ahmed and Krunal Pandya leaked too many runs.

Krunal conceded 55 runs in four overs and Khaleel allowed 42 runs in three overs, with each being hit for three sixes in an over against Lynn and Maxwell, respectively.

Coming on to chase a revised target of 174 runs, Shikhar Dhawan’s lone efforts gave India a flying start. India were 105/4 in 11.4 overs when Dhawan got out. 76 runs of the total came from his bat, with Rohit Sharma, Lokesh Rahul, and Virat Kohli failing to make an impact.

Following Dhawan’s departure, Rishabh Pant and Dinesh Karthik formed a 51-run partnership off 23 deliveries. Pant was out scoring 20 runs, but Karthik kept India in the fray until the last over, when India needed 13 runs to win.

Stoinis bowled a brilliant over for Australia, sending Krunal and Pandya back to the hut in successive deliveries in the last over. Karthik made 30 runs off just 13 balls, but the late shake caused by Stoinis, saw India stop at 169/7 in 17 overs.

Adam Zampa took the two important wickets of Kohli and Rahul and was named the Man of the Match. Billy Stanlake, Andrew Tye and Jason Behrendroff got one wicket each, with the last two of them bowling some expensive overs.

The second T20I between the two sides will be held in Melbourne on Friday (November 23).