Blistering Inglis century in vain as India beat Australia in final-over ...
Updated November 24, 2023 — 6.51am
Rinku Singh’s last-ball, fence-clearing blow has launched India to a nail-biting two-wicket win over Australia in the first Twenty20 international at Visakhapatnam.
Nothing will ever bring back the World Cup but India were able to exact some retribution for that heartbreak four days earlier, with Rinku their last-gasp hero in Thursday’s (Friday AEDT) thriller.
After Josh Inglis’s spectacular 110 off 50 deliveries lifted Australia to 3-208, Suryakumar Yadav bludgeoned 80 to have India comfortably placed before Nathan Ellis’s tight 19th over and three wickets in as many balls – including two runouts – in Sean Abbott’s 20th created a murmur.
In the space of three deliveries, with two runs required, Abbott caught-and-bowled Axar Patel (2) before Ravi Bishnoi and Hardeep Singh were both run out for ducks, sacrificed to get Rinku on strike.
WIth one run needed, Rinku deposited the sixth delivery over the long-on fence, although his spectacular finish wasn’t rewarded on the scoreboard with Sean Abbott getting called for a match-losing no-ball.
India’s chase had started poorly, with Ruturaj Gaikwad run out without facing a ball after a horrible mix-up and opening partner Yashasvi Jaiswal (21) bunting Matt Short tamely to Steve Smith at mid-off.
Josh Inglis celebrates his century during the first T20 cricket match between India and Australia.Credit: AP
Suryakumar, who had a ragged World Cup campaign with 106 runs at 17.66, was back in his preferred format and showed why he is the No.1 ranked T20 batter in the world.
Together with Ishan Kishan (58), who spent most of the World Cup on the bench, he added 112 for the third wicket to put India in control.
Earlier, Inglis crunched 11 fours and eight sixes, raising his maiden ton off 47 balls to equal the record held by Aaron Finch – set against England at Southampton in 2013 – for the quickest T20 hundred by an Australian.
“Josh Inglis played a terrific knock for us and got us to a score we thought we could defend,” Australia captain Matthew Wade said.
India’s captain Suryakumar Yadav and Ishan Kishan runs between the wickets.Credit: Getty Images
“To see him come in at No.3 and play shots from ball one, he was the class batter on the night.
“But India came out hard and showed their class.”
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Inglis became just the fifth Australian – after Finch, Glenn Maxwell, Shane Watson and David Warner – to score a T20 international hundred.
Inglis wasn’t required to bat in Sunday’s upset World Cup final triumph and scored only 159 runs at 19.87 for the tournament, but he showcased his talents – and Australia’s depth – when given a chance at No.3.
Inglis and Smith (52) combined for a 130-run second-wicket partnership to put India’s unrecognisable, second-string attack under the pump.
AAP
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