 "Suresh Raina")
In a scintillating display of the ability to chase a huge target, India completed a whitewash (3-0) of the three-match Twenty20 Internationals (T20Is), scoring two runs off the last ball to win the game that went down to the wire. India chased 197 runs set by Australia in the final game. Shane Watson was declared the man of the match for his century-run performance, while Virat Kohli was awarded as the man of the series for his all-round batting performance. The win has also helped India become the number one team in T20I rankings from number seven before the start of the series.
Choosing to bat first at the Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG), Australia got off to a flier, scoring 50 runs in just 31 balls. Captain Shane Watson plundered the Indians with his 124 (not out) from 71 deliveries with 10 boundaries and six shots out of the park. Watson almost single-handedly took the hosts to the mammoth total at the end of 20 overs.
The Indian batsmen kept the momentum going right from the word ‘go’ looking to chase the target. Shikhar Dhawan and Rohit Sharma put up 46 runs for the first wicket before the former caught behind. Sharma and vice-captain Virat Kohli, with half centuries each, made sure the team was in the race for a complete washout in the 3-match T20I series. However, both batsmen lost their wickets a few overs before the innings could be completed.
Yuvraj Singh, batting for the first time in the series, struggled initially, but received enough support from partner Suresh Raina at the other end. Needing 17 runs in the last over, some meaty blows by Singh got the game back in India’s favour with the team needing seven from four deliveries. Raina, in the final deliveries scored some neat shots to seal the deal for India and remained unbeaten at 49. India finished with 200/3 after 20 overs.
3-0 BOOOOOOOM #BleedBlue #AUSvIND pic.twitter.com/bmyBkv15qJ
— BCCI (@BCCI) January 31, 2016
