Travis Head\u2019s 28 provided early impetus, along with Marsh\u2019s knock, ensuring that the hosts reached home with 40 balls remaining. The duo\u2019s early stand ensured Australia never looked in trouble to chase 126, despite a few wickets falling at the fag end. India\u2019s bowlers did manage to inject some late drama into the contest, but it was too little, too late.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Josh Hazlewood was the standout performer with the ball, delivering a decisive opening spell that dismantled India\u2019s top order. His figures of 3-13 laid the foundation for Australia\u2019s win, with the rest of the bowling unit offering solid support to restrict India to 125 in 18.4 overs, despite Abhishek Sharma top-scoring with 68.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Australia\u2019s chase was aided early by an uncharacteristically expensive over from Jasprit Bumrah, as he conceded 18 runs in the third over. That released early pressure and handed momentum to the hosts. Harshit Rana\u2019s no-ball and being hit for two sixes added to India\u2019s woes, as 20 runs came off the fourth over.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Captain Suryakumar Yadav was forced to turn to his spin-bowling options, and Varun Chakaravarthy provided India with their first breakthrough - dismissing a rollicking Head courtesy of a sensational boundary catch from Tilak Varma, who tossed the ball in the air, went out, and then came back in to complete the catch.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Marsh continued to lead Australia\u2019s charge by punishing anything in the good-length zone with powerful strokes through the leg side off Kuldeep and Chakaravarthy. India did manage to remove Marsh for 46 off 26 balls in the eighth over when Kuldeep\u2019s wide and full delivery forced him to hole out to long-off. Ironically, the over also turned out to be Kuldeep\u2019s most expensive in T20Is, leaking 20 runs.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Captain Suryakumar Yadav was forced to turn to his spin-bowling options, and Varun Chakaravarthy provided India with their first breakthrough - dismissing a rollicking Head courtesy of a sensational boundary catch from Tilak Varma, who tossed the ball in the air, went out, and then came back in to complete the catch.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Brief Scores: India 125\/10 in 18.4 overs (Abhishek Sharma 68, Harshit Rana 35; Josh Hazlewood 3-13, Nathan Ellis 2-21) lost to Australia 126\/6 in 13.2 overs (Mitchell Marsh 46, Travis Head 28, Varun Chakaravarthy 2-23, Kuldeep Yadav 2-45) by four wickets.<\/p>\r\n\r\n