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India defeated Australia by 11 runs in the fi𓆏rst T20I of the thre🐼e-match series at Manuka Oval in Canberra on Friday.
Chasing 162, Australia openers D Arcy Short (34), and Aaron Finch (35) took their side off to a flyer. The duo stitched a 56-run partnership for th🍌e opening wicket and were cruising towards the victory𒉰.
However, Yuzvendra Chahal, who came in as a concussion substitute for Ravindra Jadeja, drew the first blood by dismissing Finch in the eighth ove🤪r.
Chahal did not just stop there and picked up the important wicket of Steve Smith (12) in the 10th over. Soon T Natarajan, who was making his T20I debut sent dangerous Glenn Maxwell (2) back to the hut.
Australia, in fact, kept on losing wickets at regular intervals. All-rounder Moises Henriques did try to contribute with a handy knock of 30 runs, but it wasn’t enough to take his side over the finish line.
In the end, Australia on🌼ly manꦰaged to reach 150/7, losing the contest by 11 runs.
Rahul, Jadeja propel India to 161/7
Earlier, KL Rahul and Jadeja helped India to set a competitive total of 161/7. While Rahul smashed his T20I career’s 13th half-century, Jadeja contributed with a quickfire 23-ball 44 in the later stages of India innings.
Rahul scored 51 off 40 deliver📖ies laced up with five fours and a maximum. Sim🍬ilarly, Jadeja also put up a good show with the willow. The left-hander slammed six boundaries, including a humungous six.
For the hosts, Henriques was the pick of the bowlers. He bagged three wickets for 22 runs in his quota of 4 overs. Apart from him, Mitchell Starc earned two scalps while conceding 34 𝓰runs in 4 overs.
Mitchell Swepson, who was playing his second T20I for Australia, got the big fish Virat Kohli (9) as his only wicket in the match. Another leg-spinner, Adam Zampa too picked up one scalp in the contest.
Here is how Twitter reacted:
What a debut for , Amazing bowling to pick up 3 and hope he keeps bowling൲ those brilliant yorkers ! Another fine spell by . Amazing win for India
— Kris Srikkanth (@KrisSrikkanth)
Here it goes. Well bowled, Natarajan 🥳
— Aakash Chopra (@cricketaakash)
Very promising two games for India from T Natarajaඣn. Stay fit.
— Jamie Alter 🇮🇳 (@alter_jamie)
Whatever the discussion around his presence, once on has delivered a game cha𝕴nging performance.
— Harsha Bhogle (@bhogleharsha)
Brilliant 👌
— Harbhajan Turbanator (@harbhajan_singh)
Clinical win👏🔥👏
— Surya Kumar Yadav (@surya_14kumar)
MoM: Ravindra Chahal 😉
— Wasim Jaffer (@WasimJaffer14)
Nattuuuuuu Thatttuuuu 🙌🏻
— Ashwin 🇮🇳 (@ashwinravi99)
Took some time for batting to come alive at the ཧinternational stage but now he is batting as good as anyone lower down order.
— Irfan Pathan (@IrfanPathan)
Sanjay Manjrekar 💮called Jadeja as "Batting all-rounder&quoౠt;. That is the success of Ravi Jadeja in limited overs. He has improved, improved a lot.
— Johns. (@CricCrazyJohns)
seems to be rightfully following his gurus footsteps! 🐓Brilliant comeback. Hope he is good to bowl.
— Pragyan Ojha (@pragyanojha)
No Doctor or Physio came out to Test Jadeja for concussion … he then looks like his has done something to his leg … then they pull the concussion replacement .. !!!!!
— Michael Vaughan (@MichaelVaughan)
T Nata✱rajan has put Chinnappampatti on the world map. What a lovely story. From someone who played tennis ball cricket there to winning games for In🧸dia: the journey has been inspiring
— Sarang Bhalerao (@bhaleraosarang)
Yuzvendra Chahal is Player of the Match for hi💞s 3-25 (4)
— cricket.com.au (@cricketcomau)