Washington Sundar top scored with 49 runs as India defeated Australia by 5 wickets at Hobart and levelled the series 1-1. Washington slammed 4 sixes and 3 boundaries as he helped the Men in Blue cross the line.
Chasing 186, Abhishek Sharma started in familiar fashion, scoring 25 runs off 16 balls before falling to Nathan Ellis. Ellis would strike again to send back vice-captain Shubman Gill for 15. Skipper Suryakumar Yadav looked in good nick before he was snapped up by Marcus Stoinis for 24.
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Tilak Varma and Axar Patel also chipped in with 17 and 29 before Ellis and Xavier Bartlett sent them packing.
Earlier, Tim David bludgeoned the Indian bowling attack to take Australia to 186 for six. Opting to bowl in nippy conditions, India started well courtesy Arshdeep Singh who struck twice in a two-over spell on his return to the side.
Playing his first game of the series, India’s leading wicket taker in the format removed the dangerous Travis Head and Josh Inglis to leave Australia at 14 for two.
However, India’s early advantage was negated by David (74 off 38) who targeted every Indian bowler in an exemplary show of power-hitting. Four of his five sixes came down the ground while one was a was slap over cover off Axar Patel.
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Following his dismissal, the seasoned Marcus Stoinis (64 off 39) stepped up on the offensive to take Australia to a competitive total.
Whether it was the peerless Jasprit Bumrah or mystery spinner Varun Chakaravarthy, David just looked to dominate.
David got a reprieve batting on 20 when Washington Sundar dropped him at point off Bumrah. It was a regulation catch though the ball literally flew towards him.
India missed the services of injured all-rounder Hardik Pandya with Shivam Dube being taken to the cleaners by both David and Stoinis.
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The sixth bowling option was Washington Sundar but the team opted for left-arm spin of Abhishek Sharma who leaked 13 runs in his only over. It was more to do with no left-handers at the crease during a specific time.
After Arshdeep’s twin strike in the powerplay, it was Chakravarthy who put brakes on the scoring rate by dismissing Mitchell Marsh and Mitchell Owen in successive balls. The incoming delivery to Owen, flicked through the fingers, was a peach.
India 188/5 (Washington Sundar 49, Tilak Varma 29; Nathan Ellis 3/36) vs Australia: 186 for 6 in 20 overs (Tim David 74, Marcus Stoinis 64; Arshdeep Singh 3/35, Varun Chakravarthy 2/33, Shivam Dube 1/43).
(With agency inputs)
