||Desk Report||

Australia started their India tour with a nail-biting 3-wicket-win over the hosts in the first T20I in Visakhapatnam on Sunday. In the low-scoring match, India set a target of 127 for the visitors. But Glenn Maxwell's 56 and Pat Cummins’ last-ball-finish handed the visitors the nail-biting victory.

Earlier, after winning the toss, Aussies invited the hosts to bat first. India lost their first wicket of Rohit Sharma for 5. But Lokesh Rahul along with the skipper Virat Kholi made 55-run-stand, before Kholi’s departure for 24. However, Rahul continued his domination and knocked 50 off 36 including 4 fours and 1 sixer.

India lost all important wickets at 94 while Rahul was removed by Nathan Coulter-Nile after his half-ton. Before Rahul’s departure, Rishabh Pant was sent back for 3 by a run out. However, India were 94 for 5 while MS Dhoni came to the crease, held one side of the wicket and remained unbeaten at 29. Among others, Dinesh Karthik scored 1, Krunal Pandya 1, Umesh Yadav 2 and Yuzvendra Chahal was 0 not out. India posted 126 for 7. The fast bowler Nathan Coulter-Nile took 3 for 26.

In chasing of 127, Australia got an early blow while Marcus Stoinis (1) was sent back by run out and the captain Aaron Finch (0) was dismissed by Jasprit Bumrah for the total of 5. Then, Glenn Maxwell came to the crease and made 84-run-stand with D Arcy Short that lifter the visitors to 89 for 2. Maxwell knocked 56 off 43 while D Arcy Short scored 37 off 37.

But, Australian batting line-up collided after the departure of this duo. The visitors lost 5 wickets for 24 runs, scored 113/7. Peter Handscomb was removed for 13 while Ashton Turner dismissed for the duck, following Nathan Coulter-Nile for 4. But, it were Pat Cummins and Jhye Richardson who knocked two boundaries in the last over by Umesh Yadav and handed victory Australia in the sensational first T20I. Nathan Coulter-Nile announced as the ‘Man of the match’.

Brief Score  

India: 126/7

Rahul 50, Coulter-Nile 3-26

Australia: 127/7