In a breathtaking display of power-hitting and nerve, Australia stunned India in the first T20I at Visakhapatnam's ACA-VDCA Stadium, chasing down a mammoth 209-run target with four wickets to spare. The victory gives the visitors a crucial 1-0 lead in the five-match series.
Inglis Blazes Trail with Maiden Century
Josh Inglis emerged as the architect of Australia's remarkable chase, smashing a sensational 110 runs off just 50 deliveries. The wicketkeeper-batsman announced his arrival on the international stage with a blistering innings that included 11 boundaries and 8 massive sixes, completely dismantling the Indian bowling attack.
"Inglis' innings was a masterclass in modern T20 batting," cricket experts noted. "He never allowed the Indian bowlers to settle, maintaining a strike rate of 220 throughout his stay at the crease."
Indian Innings: Suryakumar's Captain's Knock
Earlier in the evening, newly appointed captain Suryakumar Yadav led from the front with a spectacular 80 runs off just 42 balls. His innings, studded with 9 fours and 4 sixes, propelled India to a competitive 208/3 in their 20 overs.
Ishan Kishan provided solid support with a quickfire 58 off 39 balls, while Ruturaj Gaikwad (0) fell early. The Indian total seemed imposing, especially with the home crowd backing their team.
The Dramatic Final Over
With the match hanging in balance, Tim David played the finisher's role to perfection. The big-hitting all-rounder smashed 14 runs off the final over bowled by Prasidh Krishna, sealing the victory with one ball to spare.
Key moments from the chase:
- Josh Inglis and Steve Smith's 130-run partnership
- Axar Patel's crucial breakthrough dismissing Smith
- Ravi Bishnoi's double strike in the 18th over
- Tim David's match-winning final over assault
Bowling Concerns for Both Sides
The high-scoring encounter exposed bowling vulnerabilities on both sides. Indian bowlers struggled to contain the Australian batters, with only Ravi Bishnoi (2/32) and Axar Patel (1/41) managing some control.
For Australia, Tanveer Sangha was the pick of the bowlers with 2 wickets, though the visitors too conceded over 10 runs per over.
What This Means for the Series
Australia's victory sets up an exciting remainder of the series, with India now under pressure to bounce back in the second T20I. The win gives the World Champions massive confidence as they look to build momentum ahead of the T20 World Cup next year.
The teams now move to Thiruvananthapuram for the second T20I on November 26, where India will be desperate to level the series while Australia aims to extend their lead.
