India v Australia T20: Brilliant Yuvraj powers India to six-wicket win

Yuvraj Singh showed why he is cut above the rest as he announced his comeback in style hammering an unbeaten 35-ball 77 to power India to a comfortable six-wicket victory over Australia in the only Twenty20 match in Rajkot.

Yuvraj's knock was studded with eight boundaries and five sixes.

He also shared an unbeaten 102-run stand in 51 balls with skipper MS Dhoni who was surprisingly playing the second fiddle remaining unbeaten on 24 from 21 balls.

Earlier, Dhawan smashed a 19-ball 32 and Virat Kohli 29 to give India a strong start.

Put in to bat first, Australian opener Aaron Finch (89) was in splendid form as he and his partner Nic Maddinson dealt only with boundaries and sixes in the opening stage of the match.

When Maddinson was out in the fifth over, Australia had already crossed half century.

Glenn Maxwell smashed four sixes to score a 13-ball 27 and some cameos down the order ensured Australia had a competitive total.

For India, Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Vinay Kumar took three wickets each.

INDIA INNINGS

Dhoni gives the finishing touches as India pull off a thrilling victory. Ind 202-4 in 19.4 overs.

Needing just seven from six balls should not be a difficult one for India with Yuvraj still around. But Watson takes the ball to bowl the last over. Ind 195-4 in 19 overs.

Yuvraj continues to hammer the Australian bowlers. It's now a pretty much easy calculation. India 187-4 in 18 overs.

Two lovely sixes and five wides completely change the calculations for India. They are within reach now. Ind 173-4 in 17 overs.

Doherty bowls a fine over at this stage. Just a single boundary and seven runs from that over. Ind 153-4 in 16 overs.

Yuvraj is going strong as India are in good position now. They need this partnership going for a while now. Ind 146-4 in 15 overs.

Yuvraj smashes two sixes and a boundary as India get closer to the target. Watson made a great effort on the line to stop a six but was not successful. They need 69 from 36 balls. Ind 133-4 in 14 overs.

India need 87 from 42 deliveries. Dhoni looks in good shape. Ind 115-4 in 13 overs.

Yuvraj is joined by Dhoni. Can both of them pull it off for India? Ind 106-4 in 12 overs.

Kohli is out as McKay gets his second wicket. Caught in the deep comfortably by Faulkner. Ind 100-4 in 11.1 overs.

V Kohli c Faulkner b McKay 29 (22b 2x4 1x6)

India reach 100. They need 102 from 54 balls. India have the big hitters so the game is still on. Ind 100-3 in 11 overs.

Yuvraj shows form. Fine boundary from him. Ind 91-3 in 10 overs.

Yuvraj joins Kohli. India need 119 from 66 balls. Ind 83-3 in 9 overs.

Dhawan was looking good. But good bowling from Doherty as Dhawan returns. Ind 80-3 in 8.3 over.

S Dhawan st Haddin b Doherty 32 (19b 5x4 0x6)

Kohli and Dhawan get going, dealing with boundaries. Ind 74-2 in 8 overs.

Required run rate is 11 for India. They have some more batting to go but it's still a long way away. Ind 59-2 in 7 overs.

Raina gets a six but is out immediately. Coulter-Nile strikes as India are 50-2 in 5.3 overs.

Suresh Raina c Watson b Coulter-Nile 19 (13b 2x4 1x6)

India need 158 in 90 overs. Ind 44-1 in 5 overs.

Three hits to the fence; Two from Dhawan and one from Raina, as India take charge. Ind 39-1 in 4 overs.

Fine over for India. 11 runs coming off it. India need 177 for 102 balls. Ind 25-1 in 3 overs.

Australia strike early. Rohit Sharma goes for a wild shot and gets the edge. Ind 14-1 in 2 overs.

R Sharma c Haddin b McKay 8 (8b 0x4 1x6)

A good over from Watson. India have to be aggressive from the start. Ind 2-0 in 1 over.

Rohit Sharma and Shikar Dhawan open for India. Shane Watson picks the ball.

Aaron Finch smashed a 52-ball 89 as Australia posted a strong 201 for seven in 20 overs in the only Twenty20 against India in Rajkot.

AUSTRALIA INNINGS

Last over from Ishant was fine before Coulter-Nile fired a six off the last ball to ensure Australia crossed the 200-run mark. Aus 201-7 in 20 overs.

One over to go as Australia are 190-7 in 19 overs.

Bhuvneshwar Kumar gets his third wicket. Henriques is gone. Aus 181-7 in 17.4 overs.

Moises Henriques c Yuvraj Singh b Kumar 12 (12b 1x4 0x6)

India will have some batting to do as Australia look for 200. They still have three overs to go. Aus 176-6 in 17 overs.

Finch is finally out. Good catch from Vinay Kumar off his own bowling. Finch has done the job for Australia putting them in a position of strength. Aus 174-6 in 16.3 overs.

Finch is nearing his century. He's on 88. Aus in a great position as they reach 172-5 in 16 overs.

Jadeja finishes his quota. A good performance conceding just 23 runs and picking a wicket. Aus 157-5 in 15 overs.

Finch battles on. Reaches 72. Aus 151-5 in 14 overs.

Bhuvneshwar Kumar gets his second wicket. A good over so far for India as Haddin returns. Aus 146-5 in 13.3 overs.

Brad Haddin c Dhoni b Kumar 5 (3b 1x4 0x6)

Kohli's over turns expensive. Two boundaries from it. Finch reaches 65. Aus 143-4 in 13 overs.

Good over from Jadeja. Aus 129-4 in 12 overs.

Dangerous Maxwell has to go after Ishant Sharma takes a fine catch on the boundary. Jadeja thrilled. Aus 124-4 in 11.3 overs.

Glenn Maxwell c I Sharma b Jadeja 27 (13b 0x4 4x6)

Dhoni throws the ball at Kohli. Does a fairly good job except for a six. 10 runs off it and Australia are in commanding position. Aus 124-3 in 11 overs.

Ashwin hammered for three sixes from Maxwell and a boundary from Finch. Big hitting from the Australians. Aus 114-3 in 10 overs.

A good over for India. Just four runs from it. Aus 90-3 in 9 overs.

Vinay on a roll here. Another wicket for him. Gets skipper George Bailey out caught in the deep. Aus 86-2 in 8 overs.

G Bailey c Jadeja b Vinay Kumar 0 (3b 0x4 0x6)

Vinay strikes but Watson is not happy. He felt there was an inside edge, but umpire feels he is out. Aus 84-2 in 7.2 overs.

Shane Watson lbw b Vinay Kumar 6 (5b 1x4 0x6)

Finch reaches 40s. Aus 82-1 in 7 overs.

Boundaries still coming at ease. Indian fielders adding to it with some bad fielding. Aus 74-1 in 6 overs.

Sloppy fielding from Ishant gets Watson a boundary. Aus 60-1 in 5 overs.

Bhuvneshwar Kumar strikes. A beauty of a ball takes the stumps off and Maddinson walks back. Aus 56-1 in 4.5 overs.

Nic Maddinson b Kumar 34 (16b 6x4 1x6)

Ishant Sharma also is welcomed with a six and a boundary. Another great over for Australia. 12 runs off it. Aus 48-0 in 4 overs.

Boundaries continue to flow. Dhon's move to introduce spinner does not work. Four boundaries this over. Aus 36-0 in 3 overs.

Maddinson dealing in boundaries. Two boundaries in this over of Vinay Kumar. Aus 19-0 in 2 overs.

Finch opens the score taking the aerial route to a fine boundary. Maddinson follows him also opening his account with a straight boundary. Aus 9-0 in 1 over.

Bhuvneshwar Kumar bowls for India. Aaron Finch and Nic Maddinson open for Australia.

India have won the toss and invited Australia to bat first in the only Twenty20 international at Saurashtra Cricket Association Stadium, Rajkot on Thursday.

Nic Maddinson will debut for Australia while Yuvraj Singh returns for India.

PLAYING XI

India: Shikhar Dhawan, Rohit Sharma, Suresh Raina, Virat Kohli, Yuvraj Singh, MS Dhoni, Ravindra Jadeja, Ravichandran Ashwin, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, R Vinay Kumar, Ishant Sharma
   
Australia: Nic Maddinson, Aaron Finch, Shane Watson, George Bailey, Glenn Maxwell, Brad Haddin, Moises Henriques, Nathan Coulter-Nile, James Faulkner, Clint McKay, Xavier Doherty
 

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