As the duo Virat Kohli and Suryakumar Yadav fashioned India’s series-clinching six wicket win over Australia in the third and final T20 International on Sunday, Virat Kohli’s scintillating strokeplay found its match in maverick Suryakumar Yadav’s batting techniques. Kohli (63 off 48 balls) and Suryakumar (69 off 36 balls) shared a 104-run partnership to lay the platform for the victory of India. India won the three-match series 2-1.
Cameron Green (52) scored upfront while Tim David (54) provided the final flourish as Australia posted 186 for 6 after being invited to bat. Axar Patel (3/33) picked three wickets, with the pitch offering grip and turn and Yuzvendra Chahal (1/22) was also in his element. Chasing 187, India didn’t have the best of starts as openers KL Rahul (1) and Rohit Sharma (17) were out inside the first tour overs.
At the halfway mark, India needed 96 with 8 wickets in hand. Suryakumar brought his fifty as the duo plundered 15 off Adam Zampa’s 13th over. Australia fashioned a comeback, ending Suryakumar’s excellent innings with India needing 53 off the last six overs. Australia bowled some tight overs to keep themselves in the hunt. But Hardik (25 not out) and Kohli slammed two sixes but the latter was out leaving India in need of five runs from 4 balls.
In the 13th over, captain Rohit Sharma introduced Harshal Patel (1/18) but his obstacles were progressed. The medium pacer has first hit for six, which was followed by a no-ball and a wide. Rohit then brought Axar back into the attack and the left-armer immediately repaid the captain’s faith by getting away from the danger man Matthew Wade. The strapping David slammed two consecutive sixes and a four off Bhuvneshwar, who missed his length in the 18th over.