Mohali, India, Sept 20 (AFP\/APP): Matthew Wade steered Australia to a four wicket victory over India after a blistering knock by Cameron Green in the opening game of the three match Twenty20 series in Mohali on Tuesday.<\/p>\n
Wade’s unbeaten 45 off 21 helped the visitors chase down India’s mammoth 209 runs with four balls remaining after Australia had stuttered briefly in the middle overs following quick losses.<\/p>\n
But it was the all-rounder Green, who replaced star batsman David Warner for the India tour, who laid the foundation for the high score run chase, smashing 61 off 30 balls.<\/p>\n
Green, the man of the match, smashed eight fours and four sixes after the Aussies lost skipper Aaron Finch for 22 in the third over.<\/p>\n
The right-hand all-rounder stitched a 70-run partnership with Steve Smith before he was caught by Virat Kohli off Axar Patel.<\/p>\n
Smith with 35 off 25 departed in the next over followed by Glenn Maxwell’s wicket in the same over for one.<\/p>\n
However Wade displayed a powerful batting performance, hitting six fours and two sixes helping the visitors to chase down the target in the 19th over.<\/p>\n
Tim David, who made his Twenty20 debut, scored 18 off 14 balls while Josh Inglis made 17 off 10 balls.<\/p>\n
Pat Cummins hit the winning shot off Yuzvendra Chahal to reach 211-6.
\nPatel picked three for 17 while Umesh Yadav took 2 wickets for 27.
\nIt was Australia’s second highest successful chase in the white-ball format and highest against India.<\/p>\n
“At this ground it didn’t worry us too much. Anywhere between 12-14 an over at the back end on a wicket like this and an outfield like this we back ourselves to get them,” Wade said.<\/p>\n
In the first half, the visitors won the toss and opted to field, with all-rounder Hardik Pandya smashing a rapid 71 to help the hosts post a challenging total of 208-6.<\/p>\n
Opener KL Rahul also made a half-century while Suryakumar Yadav hit 46 after losing skipper Rohit Sharma for 11 and star batsman Kohli for two in the powerplay.<\/p>\n
Rahul compiled 55 off 35 balls, hitting four fours and three sixes before he was caught by Nathan Ellis off Josh Hazlewood at deep square-leg.
\nYadav hit four sixes in his 25-ball stay before he was caught behind off Green.<\/p>\n
But Pandya increased the scoring rate further, hammering 71 off 30 deliveries.<\/p>\n
The 28-year-old all-rounder hit seven fours and five sixes including three back-to-back hits in the last three balls of the innings.<\/p>\n
Ellis was the most successful bowler and finished with figures of three for 30.<\/p>\n
The three-match series is being used as a warm-up for next month’s T20 World Cup in Australia.<\/p>\n
The visitors are playing without pace spearhead Mitchell Starc and all-rounders Marcus Stoinis and Mitchell Marsh due to injuries.
\nIndia are looking to bounce back after crashing out of the Asia Cup this month before the knockout stage.<\/p>\n
The teams will meet on Friday for the second Twenty20 match in Nagpur.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Mohali, India, Sept 20 (AFP\/APP): Matthew Wade steered Australia to a four wicket victory over India after a blistering knock by Cameron Green in the opening game of the three match Twenty20 series in Mohali on Tuesday. Wade’s unbeaten 45 off 21 helped the visitors […]<\/p>\n
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