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India defeated Australia by 11 r✱uns in t🀅he first T20I of the three-match series at Manuka Oval in Canberra on Friday.
Chasing 162, Australia openers D Arcy Short (34), and Aaron Finch (35) took their side off to a flyer. The duo stitched a 56-run partnership⭕ for the opening wicket and were cruising towards the victory.
However, Yuzvendra Chahal, who came in as a concussion substitute for Ravindra Jadeja, drew the first blood bܫy dismissing Finch ༒in the eighth over.
Chahal did not just stop there and picked up the important wicket of Steve Smith (12) in the 10th over. Soon T Natarajan, who was making his T20I debut sent dangerous Glenn Maxwell (2) back to the hut.
Australia, in fact, kept on losing wickets at regular intervals. All-rounder Moises Henriques did try to contribute with a handy knock of 30 runs, but it wasn’t enough to take his side over the finish line.
In the end, ♎Australia only managed to r🐬each 150/7, losing the contest by 11 runs.
Rahul, Jadeja propel India to 161/7
Earlier, KL Rahul and Jadeja helped India to set a competitive total of 161/7. While Rahul smashed his T20I career’s 13th half-century, Jadeja contributed with a quickfire 23-ball 44 in the later stages of India innings.
Rahܫul scored 51 off 40 deliveries laced up with five fours and a maximum. Similarly, Jadeja also put up a good show✤ with the willow. The left-hander slammed six boundaries, including a humungous six.
For the hosts, Henriques was the pick of the bowlers. He bagged three wickets for 22 runs in his quota of 4 overs. Apart from him, Mitchell Starc earned two scalps w♈hile conceding 34 runs in 4 overs.
Mitchell Swepson, who was playing his second T20I for Australia, got the big fish Virat Kohli (9) as his only wicket in the match. Another leg-spinner, Adam Zampa too picked up one scalp in the contest.
Here is how Twitter reacted:
What a debu🤪t for , Amazing bowling to pick up 3 and hope he keeps bow🐲ling those brilliant yorkers ! Another fine spell by . Amazing win for India
— Kris Srikkanth (@KrisSrikkanth)
Here it goes. Well bowled, Natarajan 🥳
— Aakash Chopra (@cricketaakash)
Very promising ꩵtwo ga🐼mes for India from T Natarajan. Stay fit.
— Jamie Alter 🇮🇳 (@alter_jamie)
Whatever the discussion around his presence, once on has de♋livered a game changing 🔜performance.
— Harsha Bhogle (@bhogleharsha)
Brilliant 👌
— Harbhajan Turbanator (@harbhajan_singh)
Clinical win👏🔥👏
— Surya Kumar Yadav (@surya_14kumar)
MoM: Ravindra Chahal 😉
— Wasim Jaffer (@WasimJaffer14)
Nattuuuuuu Thatttuuuu 🙌🏻
— Ashwin 🇮🇳 (@ashwinravi99)
Took some time for ♍ batting to come alive at the international stage but now he is batting as good as anyone lower down order.
— Irfan Pathan (@IrfanPathan)
Sanjay Manjrekar called J�🌊�adeja as "Batting all-rounder". That is the success of Ravi Jadeja in limited overs. He has improved, improved a lot.
— Johns. (@CricCrazyJohns)
seems to be rightfully following hisꦅ gur💃us footsteps! Brilliant comeback. Hope he is good to bowl.
— Pragyan Ojha (@pragyanojha)
No Doctor or Physio came out to Test Jadeja for concussion … he then looks like his has done something to his leg … then they pull the concussion replacement .. !!!!!
— Michael Vaughan (@MichaelVaughan)
T Natarajan has put Chinnappampat🌼ti on the world map. What a lovely story. Fro💧m someone who played tennis ball cricket there to winning games for India: the journey has been inspiring
— Sarang Bhalerao (@bhaleraosarang)
Yuzvendra Chahal is Player of 💮the Match for his 3✤-25 (4)
— cricket.com.au (@cricketcomau)
