OZ WIN THE WADE WAY

Aussie Wicketkeeper-Batter's Crucial 21-Ball 45*, Green's Allround Show Hand India Four-Wicket Defeat In T20I

- 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 I'm working on." On Tuesday, the right-hander made a breezy 35-ball 55, mixing aggression with caution as he dealt with the early dismissals of Rohit Sharma (11) and Virat Kohli (2). However, towards the end, it was allrounder 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 meant the hosts finished on the losing side as Australia reached the formidable target with four balls and four wickets to spare.

Complacency against an Australian outfit can be costly. Cameron Green, playing only his second T20I, proved that by setting the platform for the chase with a flamboyant 30-ball 61, containing eight hits to the fence and four over it.

Promoted to open the innings, the allrounder started off with four consecutive boundaries off Umesh Yadav, playing his first T20I in three years. He raced to a half century before Axar Patel (3/17) and Umesh (2/27) pulled India back into the contest with three wickets in 14 balls.

Green and Smith launching a stellar counter-attack to take the tourists to 109 for one by the 10th over. Two dropped catches made matters worse for the Indians. However, Axar quickly got into the act by removing Green.