India v Australia hosts win first T20 of series four days after final
India v Australia hosts win first T20 of series four days after final India edged past Australia in a high-scoring last-ball thriller in the first T20 in Visakhapatnam.
In their last over, when they only needed two runs to win, India lost three wickets in three balls.
As Rinku Singh smashed the last ball for six to seal victory emphatically, it was called a no-ball, which made the winning run.
Four days after the teams played in the final of the 50-over World Cup series, the five-match T20 series began.
Only Josh Inglis and Steve Smith from Australia and Suryakumar Yadav from India were involved in the final after Australia won by six wickets in the World Cup.
The wicketkeeper Inglis smashed 110 from 50 balls, including eight sixes and 11 fours, setting up Australia’s 208-3, while Smith made 52 from 41 deliveries at the top of the order.
A recovery from 22-2 was led by Suryakumar and Ishan Kishan, who scored 80 and 58 respectively from 42 balls.
India still needed 15 runs from 14 balls after Suryakumar was dismissed in the 18th over before their final over stalled at just seven runs.
As Rinku attempted to get back on strike, Axar Patel was caught by Sean Abbott and bowled for two by Abbott. Ravi Bishnoi and Arshdeep Singh were run out attempting to get Rinku going again.
Although Rinku did not make India’s World Cup squad, he scored 22 from 14 balls to steer them to victory despite a crucial last-ball six.