Mumbai: Arshdeep Singh and Washington Sundar, two players who got their first games in the series, stood out for Team India as the men in blue beat Australia by 5 wickets in the third T20 International at Hobart’s Bellerive Oval.
After a no-result in the first match due to rain, the series is now tied at 1-1, with two more games to be played.
Left-arm seamer Arshdeep, the first Indian bowler to capture 100 wickets in T20I cricket, rocked Australia with a wicket apiece in his first two overs – dismissing the dangerous Travis Head (4) and Josh Inglis (1).
Tim David showed his prowess as a powerful hitter, bludgeoning his way to 74 off just 38 balls, with 8 fours and 5 sixes.
But India kept taking wickets, with mystery spinner Varun Chakravarty sending back skipper Mitchell Marsh and Mitchell Owen off back-to-back deliveries.
Marcus Stoinis cracked a quickfire 64 off 39 balls, as Australia finished their 20 overs at 186/6.
India, needing to chase at 9.3 runs per over, tried to be ahead of the asking rate from the word go. Abhishek Sharma (25 off 16, 2×4, 2×6), Shubman Gill (15 off 12), Suryakumar Yadav (24 off 11) and Tilak Verma (29 off 26) and Axar Patel (17 off 12) kept playing their shots even as Nathan Ellis (3/36) struck some important blows.
Left-hander Washington Sundar, who did not get to bowl, showcased his batting skills with a brilliant unbeaten 49 off 23 balls, studded with 3 fours and 4 big sixes. Wicketkeeper Jitesh Sharma, who replaced Sanju Samson, hit three crisp fours to remain 22 not out as India cruised to the target with 9 balls to spare.
BRIEF SCORES
Australia 186/6 in 20 overs (Tim David 74, Marcus Stoinis 64; Arshdeep Singh 3/35, Varun Chakravarthy 2/33).
India 188/5 in 18.3 overs (Washington Sundar 49 not out, Tilak Verma 29; Nathan Ellis 3/36).
Result: India won by 5 wickets.
Player of the Match: Arshdeep Singh.
Next matches: 4th T20I on Nov 6 (1.45 pm IST at Gold Coast); 5th T20I on Nov 8 (1.45 pm at Brisbane).