By Our Special Correspondent
Virat Kohli's brilliant stroke-play found its match in the batting pyrotechnics of maverick Suryakumar Yadav as the duo clinched the series by six wickets against Australia in the third and final T20 International here on Sunday.
Kohli (63 off 48 balls) and Suryakumar (69 off 36 balls) made a partnership of 104 runs and laid the foundation for India's victory. India won the three-match series 2-1. Tim David (54) provided the final victory as Australia were 186 for six after being called to bat, with Cameron Green (52) leading the score.
While Suryakumar orchestrated the carnage, Kohli played second fiddle. At the halfway mark, India has eight wickets in hand and need 96 runs. Suryakumar immediately made his fifty as both of them scored 15 runs in the 13th over bowled by Adam Zampa. Australia staged a comeback, ending Suryakumar's brilliant innings, leaving India needing 53 off the last six overs.
However, Kohli continued his work, smashing Pat Cummins for a six in the very next over. He scored his maiden fifty of the series in just 36 balls. Australia bowled some tight over’s to keep themselves in the hunt. But Hardik (25 not out) and Kohli erupted with two sixes apiece as the latter dismissed India for five runs off four balls.
Earlier, Green was on the offensive from the start. He hit the second delivery for a massive six to square leg, followed by a boundary, as Australia scored 12 runs in the first over after being asked to bat. Green continued the onslaught, before hitting Jasprit Bumrah (0/50) for back-to-back sixes to the second row, much to the dismay of the partisan crowd.
With Australia 13 off the over, Axar gave the hosts their first breakthrough with slow bowling, with Aaron Finch (7) misfiring the ball at mid-on with a shot by Hardik. Green scored 50 off 19 balls in the fifth over, his innings studded with seven fours and three sixes.
But Glenn Maxwell's (6) woeful runs continued as Aksar executed a brilliant run-out with a direct hit from the boundary. There was doubt as to whether it would be a run-out as wicketkeeper Dinesh Karthik's glove dropped a single bail, but the decision ultimately went in India's favor.
Australia's innings broke open when Karthik stumped Smith (8) before the halfway mark after being deceived by Chahal's error. But Josh Inglis (24) and David held the Australian innings as the visitors staged a comeback. His struggles continued as captain Rohit Sharma introduced Harshal Patel (1/18) in the 13th over.
The medium pacer first hits a six, followed by a no ball and a wide. Rohit then brought Axar back into the attack and the left-armer repaid the captain's faith by promptly dismissing Inglis and danger-man Matthew Wade.
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