GREEN & YELLOW RULE OVER BLUE

Opener's Rapid 61, Wade's Cameo Help Aussies Chase Down 208 With 4 Balls Left

- Tridib.Baparnash @timesgroup.com

Mohali: What criticism? In the pre-match presser on Monday, KL Rahul had downplayed questions on his tempered down approach and strike-rate in T20 cricket, saying "it is something he is working on." On Tuesday, the right-hander walked the talk with a whirlwind 35-ball 55, mixing aggression with caution, especially after the early dismissals of his opening partner Rohit Sharma (11) and Virat Kohli (2). However, towards the end, it was all-rounder Hardik Pandya (71 not out off 30 balls), who breathed fire with a hat-trick of sixes in the final over to power India to an imposing 208/6.

But three dropped catches and poor death bowling leaves question marks over India's preparedness for the T20 World Cup. And more than that, complacency against an Australian outfit, even in the absence of their regulars could prove costly. Cameron Green - playing only his second T20I, proved that right, by setting the platform for the tall chase with a flamboyant 30-ball 61 (8x4, 4x6).

Promoted to open the innings, the all-rounder who had taken Suryakumar Yadav's wicket in India's innings, started off with four consecutive boundaries against an off-color Umesh Yadav, playing his first T20I in three years. Well, that was just the trailer, as he rode her luck to a fiery half century before Axar Patel (3/17) and Umesh (2/27) almost pulled India back into the contest with three wickets in 14 balls.