IND VS AUS 3rd T20I: Gaekwad keeps Aussies out; 123 off 57 balls; The target is 223 runs

Guwahati: India beat the Australian bowlers in the third Twenty20. After losing the toss and batting, India set a huge victory target of 223 runs in front of Australia. India scored 222 runs for the loss of 3 wickets in the allotted 20 overs. Opener Rituraj Gaikwad (123* off 57 balls) scored a brilliant century for the hosts. Captain Suryakumar Yadav (39 off 29 balls) and Thilak Verma (31* off 24 balls) also put up good performances.

India came back after losing the first two wickets while scoring 24 runs in the first 3 overs. In the second over, opener Yashashvi Jaiswal (6 off 6 balls) was dismissed by Jason Behrendorff who dealt the first blow to India. In the very next over, Ishan Kishan, who shone in the first two matches, was sent back by Kane Richardson.

But later it was seen that Gaikwad-Suryakumar combination took India to the third wicket. Both of them added 57 runs on the scoreboard. Suryakumar’s innings consisted of 2 sixes and 5 fours. Suryakumar was dismissed by Aaron Hardy in the 11th over.

After scoring just 22 runs off the first 22 balls, Gaekwad went on to score 101 runs off the 35 balls he faced. Gaikwad’s super innings consists of 7 sixes and 13 fours. Gaekwad completed his maiden century in international Twenty20 by smashing Maxwell for a six in the first ball of the last over. Including this, 30 runs were scored in the last over.

Australian captain Matthew Wade won the toss and sent India into bat. In the Indian team, Mukesh Kumar has been replaced by Atzhu Khan in the playing eleven. The Aussie team includes World Cup final hero Travis Head in the playing eleven. Having won the first two matches, India can clinch the series if they win today.

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• First Published : November 28, 2023, 9:49 pm IST

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