India defeated Australia by 5 wickets in the third match of the five-match T20I series, leveling the series 1-1. After winning the toss, India opted to bowl first. Australia posted 186/6 in 20 overs, but India chased down the target of 188/5 with 9 balls to spare. Tim David and Marcus Stonnis were two half-centurions from the Australian side, and Arshdeep was the highest wicket-taker from the Indian side and became man of the match. Australia’s Batting:
Tim David and Stoinis Lead Recovery
Australia’s openers Travis Head and Mitchell Marsh had a tough start. Head was dismissed by Arshdeep Singh in the first over, leaving Australia at 6/1. Josh Inglis soon followed, also falling to Arshdeep in the third over with the score at 14/2.
Tim David and Mitchell Marsh then steadied the innings with a 59-run stand off 35 balls. David played an aggressive knock of 74 off 38 deliveries, smashing 8 fours and 5 sixes. Marcus Stoinis continued the momentum, scoring 64 off 39 balls, including 8 fours and 2 sixes. A late cameo from Matthew Short (26 off 15) helped Australia reach a competitive 186/6.
Arshdeep Singh Leads Indian Bowling Attack with Match-Winning Spell
Arshdeep Singh delivered a brilliant spell, taking 3 wickets and earning the Player of the Match award. Varun Chakaravarthy also impressed with 2 wickets. Jasprit Bumrah bowled economically but remained wicketless. However, Axar Patel and Shivam Dube proved expensive in the middle overs, where Australia gained momentum.
Washington Sundar and Jitesh Sharma Guide India to Comfortable Victory
Chasing 187, Indian openers Abhishek Sharma and Shubman Gill gave a decent start before Abhishek fell for 33/1 in the 4th over. Suryakumar Yadav played a fiery cameo of 24 off 11 balls, hitting one four and two sixes. Tilak Varma contributed 29 off 26 balls.
Washington Sundar played a composed match-winning knock of 45*, while Jitesh Sharma added a crucial 22* to finish the chase efficiently. India reached 188/5 in just 18.3 overs.
Australian Bowling Struggles to Contain India Under Pressure
Australia missed their experienced bowlers in the bowling department. Nathan Ellis was the standout performer with 3 wickets, while Xavier Bartlett and Marcus Stoinis picked up one each. Despite taking wickets, Australia failed to maintain pressure on new batters, allowing India to chase comfortably.
What's next
Australia needs a more stable start from their openers and must address issues in their bowling attack. For India, Shubman Gill will look to regain form after a quiet comeback. The bowlers also need to maintain pressure in the middle overs going forward.
With two matches remaining and the series tied 1-1, the contest now moves into an exciting phase with both teams aiming to gain the upper hand.