India Vs Australia: Wade, Green Help Australia Chase Down 209 To Go 1-0 Up

Mohali: Another nail-biting finish… but it is a home loss for India. Hardik Pandya’s sparkling half-century went in vain for India as Cameron Green and Matthew Wade powered Australia to a four-wicket victory in the first T20 international.

Cameron Green countered Hardik Pandya’s sparkling half-century with his highest T20I score of 61 as Australia made a mockery of the Indian bowling attack to gun down their highest-ever run-chase against India and race to a four-wicket win in the opening T20I in Mohali on Tuesday.

Green hit four sixes and eight fours and reached his maiden T20I fifty from 26 balls as Australia topped India’s 208 for 6 with 5 balls to register a five-wicket win in Mohali. After Green’s departure, Matthew Wade and Tim David ensured Australia romped home with ease as India dropped three catches in the series opener.

Earlier, Hardik Pandya scored 71 not out off 30 balls after KL Rahul’s 55 off 35 to help India post 208/6 in 20 overs. After senior batters Virat Kohli (2) and Rohit Sharma (11) fell inside the fifth over, Suryakumar Yadav (46 off 25 balls) and Rahul batted with maturity to laid the platform before Hardik fetch the most out of it.

KL Rahul, whose strike rate was being scrutinized, asserted himself with a solid 55 off 35 deliveries before Hardik hammered an unbeaten 71 off only 30 deliveries, including five sixes. In his 46 off 25 balls, Suryakumar Yadav too produced some breathtaking strokes.