3.33 AM Friday, 29 March 2024
  • City Fajr Shuruq Duhr Asr Magrib Isha
  • Dubai 04:56 06:10 12:26 15:53 18:37 19:52
29 March 2024

India vs Australia 3rd T20: India top ranking after sweep

Published
By Cricket Correspondent and Agencies

Shane Watson's unbeaten hundred could not prevent Australia falling to a seven-wicket defeat to India in the third and final Twenty20 match on Sunday as Suresh Raina hit a four on the last ball to complete a 3-0 clean sweep in the series.

India were chasing 198 to win and needed 17 runs in the final over as Yuvraj Singh hit a four and a six off the first two balls from paceman Andrew Tye and Raina hit the final ball through point with his team needing two.

All-rounder Watson, leading Australia in the absence of the injured Aaron Finch, powered the hosts to 197-5 with an unbeaten 124 after winning the toss and opting to bat.

Australia made five changes to the side that lost the last match in Melbourne to concede an unassailable 2-0 lead in the series, handing debuts to batsman Usman Khawaja and part-time wicketkeeper Cameron Bancroft.

Watson, named player of the match, was the fulcrum around which the hosts' batting revolved and it was due to his 71-ball knock, which was studded with 10 fours and six sixes, that Australia posted a strong total.

India replied with half-centuries from in-form opener Rohit Sharma (52) and Virat Kohli (50), who was named the player of the series, and then Raina's 25-ball 49 to chase down the steep target.

Rohit and Shikhar Dhawan got India off to a rollicking start, scoring 46 in just 3.2 overs, with fast bowler Shaun Tait going for 24 runs in the third over.

Rohit and Kohli then added 78 for the second wicket to keep India strongly on course, before both batsmen fell to leg spinner Cameron Boyce.

Yuvraj, who did not get an opportunity to bat in the last two matches, was sent in ahead of captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni at number five and though the left-hander struggled initially to put bat on ball, he produced the goods when his team needed.

Raina and Yuvraj added 53 for the unbroken fourth wicket.

The 3-0 sweep in Australia took India to the top of the T20 rankings in a timely boost ahead of the World Twenty20 at home from March 8-April 3.

India won the T20 series against Australia 3-0 with a last gasp victory in the final match at Sydney on Sunday.

Chasing a target of 198, India were on course riding on half centuries by Rohit Sharma (52) and Virat Kohli (50) before Australia clawed their way back.

In a tense finish, Suresh Raina remained unbeaten on a 25-ball 49 during a 53-run unbroken stand with Yuvraj (15) who blasted a boundary and six when India needed 17 off the last over bowled by Tye to finish on 200-3.

Needing two off the last ball, Raina lofts Tye over extra cover for a boundary to steer India to victory.

Yuvraj swings the first ball from Tye for a boundary followed by a six to the long-on fence.

Watson bowls an excellent penulimate over and India need 17 off the last six. Ind 181-3, 19 overs.

India need 22 off the last two overs.

Raina gets India closer to the target with a couple of streaky boundaries past the keeper on either side of the wicket. Ind 176-3, 18 overs.

India need 34 off 19 with Raina and Yuvraj in the middle and seven wickets in hand.

Raina has swung Watson to backward square leg for a boundary to put pressure on Australia. Ind 164-3, 17 overs.

Boyce gets the prized wicket of Kohli soon after he completes his 11th T20 half century being bowled off his pads. Ind 147-3, 14.5 overs.

Virat Kohli b Boyce 50 (36b 2x4 1x6)

Raina gets a boundary off Tait who finishes his spell returning figures of 4-0-46-0. Ind 139-2, 14 overs.

Raina survives a stumping chance without having score before swinging Boyce for a six. Ind 130-2, 13 overs.

Boyce strikes as Rohit chips to midwicket. Ind 124-2, 12.3 overs.

Rohit Sharma c Watson b Boyce 52 (38b 5x4 1x6)

Rohit is on fire belting Boland for a boundary before bring up his half century off 35 balls.

Rohit has whacked a full toss from Maxwell miles into orbit. Ind 112-1, 11 overs.

Kohli has stepped out and clobbered Tyne over long-on for a six. Ind 74-1, 6 overs.

Rohit stands and delivery clubbing Boland for a boundary to long-off. Ind 62-1, 5 overs.

Kohli is on his way thumping Boland past mid-off for a boundary.

Watson strikes as Dhawan giving the charge is caught behind. Ind 46-1, 3.2 overs.

Shikhar Dhawan c Bancroft b Watson 26 (9b 4x4 1x6)

Tait has gone for 24 with Dhawan slamming two boundaries and six. Ind 42-0, 3 overs.

Rohit makes himself room and lofts Boland over the infield for a boundary. Ind 18-0, 2 overs.

Dhawan gets into his stride cracking Boland past backward point for a boundary.

Rohit caresses the third ball from Tait through the covers for a boundary as India begin chasing 198. Ind 7-0, 1 over.

Australia innings

A blistering century by Shane Watson (124 off 71 balls) studded with 10 fours and six sixes has powered Australia to 197-5.

Jadeja takes a superb catch to send back Lynn. Aus 193-5, 19.4 overs.

Chris Lynn c Jadeja b Bumrah 13 (9b 2x4)

Watson has blasted another six off Nehra. Aus 187-4, 19 overs.

Jadeja goes for 19 before Head virtually yorks himself. Ausn 168-4, 17 overs.

Travis Head b Jadeja 26 (19b 1x4 1x6)

Jadeja has been pummelled for a six and boundary as Watson races to a 60-ball maiden T20 century. Aus 168-4, 17 overs.

Watson has clubbed Ashwin over the sight screen for another six. Aus 149-3, 16 overs.

Watson has smashed a full toss from Jadeja for a towering six. Aus 140-3, 15 overs.

Kohli fails to latch onto a diving effort in the deep off Watson (58) who smashes another off Pandya next ball. Aus 118-3, 13 overs.

Travis gets going despatching Yuvraj for a six and boundary. Aus 103-3, 12 overs.

Watson completes a 37-ball 50 by slamming Pandya for his seventh boundary.

Yuvraj strikes with his first delivery as Maxwell perishes. Aus 75-3, 9.1 overs.

Glenn Maxwell c Raina b Yuvraj Singh 3 (5b)

Ashwin strikes with Marsh playing all over a top spinner. Aus 69-2, 7.4 overs.

Shaun Marsh b Ashwin 9 (12b 1x4)

Ashwin and Jadeja have both been hit for boundaries by Watson. Aus 63-1, 7 overs.

Watson is leading from the slamming two consecutive boundaries off Nehra. Aus 48-1, 5 overs.

Watson opens his account by blasting Nehra over midwicket for a six. Aus 24-1, 3 overs.

Nehra strikes having Khawaja caught behind. Aus 16-1, 2.2 overs.

Usman Khawaja c Dhoni b Nehra 14 (6b 2x4)

Khawaja gets cracking slamming two consecutive boundaries off Bumrah. Aus 15-0, 2 overs.

Australia won the toss and elected to bat first.

Preview

All-rounder Shane Watson will lead Australia in the third and final Twenty20 international against India on Sunday in the absence of Aaron Finch, who was ruled out after damaging his left hamstring during Friday's second match in Melbourne.

Finch suffered the injury while batting during the team's 27-run loss at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, which saw India take an unassailable 2-0 lead in the three-match series.

Left-handed batsman Usman Khawaja has replaced Finch in the squad for Sunday's match and has also been included in Australia's one-day international squad for the tour of New Zealand.

"It is an honour to be asked to lead the side on Sunday, although the circumstances are far from ideal," Watson said in a Cricket Australia statement.

"We may have lost the series but there is a great deal to play for with the ICC World Twenty20 coming up and you can be sure we will be determined to do well in Sydney."

The 34-year-old Watson has previously captained Australia in a lone test and nine ODIs and is the country's second most experienced player in T20 internationals behind opening batsman David Warner.