India secured a stunning two-wicket victory over Australia in the first T20I of their five-match series at Visakhapatnam on Thursday. Half-centuries from Suryakumar Yadav and Ishan Kishan helped India chase down a target of 209 runs, making it their highest successful run-chase in T20Is.
India got off to a solid start with Yashasvi Jaiswal hitting a four and a six in the first over, but a miscommunication with Ruturaj Gaikwad led to Gaikwad being run out for zero. India was 11/1 in 0.5 overs.
Jaiswal continued to attack in the next over but was dismissed by Matthew Short for 21 off 8 balls. Ishan Kishan and Suryakumar Yadav then formed a strong partnership and started hitting boundaries. Pacer Sean Abbott was hit for 20 runs in the fifth over.
India reached the 50-run mark in 4.5 overs and ended the powerplay at 63/2, with Suryakumar and Ishan still at the crease. They continued to score runs steadily, reaching the 100-run mark in 9.1 overs. At the halfway mark, India was 106/2.
Ishan Kishan brought up his half-century, his fourth in T20Is, in just 37 balls. However, he was caught by Short off the bowling of Tanveer Sangha for 58 off 39 balls. India was 134/3 in 12.3 overs.
India reached the 150-run mark in 14.2 overs but lost the wicket of Tilak, who was caught by Stoinis off Sangha’s bowling for 12. Suryakumar Yadav also fell soon after, skying a delivery from Jason Behrendorff and getting caught by Aaron Hardie. He scored a brilliant 80 off 42 balls.
India reached the 200-run mark in 18.5 overs, with Rinku Singh hitting a crucial four. However, Axar Patel and Ravi Bishnoi were dismissed in quick succession, leaving India needing two runs off two balls. Rinku attempted a double on the penultimate ball but got run out. With one run needed off the last ball, Rinku smashed a six, but it was not counted as a no-ball had been bowled.
Sangha was the best bowler for Australia, taking 2/47, while Short and Behrendorff picked up a wicket each.
Earlier, Australia posted a challenging total of 208/3 in their innings, thanks to a century by Josh Inglis and a 130-run partnership with Steve Smith. Inglis scored 110 off just 50 balls, while Smith contributed with 52 runs.
Despite the strong Australian total, India’s impressive batting performance led them to a thrilling victory in the end. The win gives India a 1-0 lead in the series.
