India takes 1-0 T20 series lead against Australia despite stunning century from Josh Inglis
Australia has fallen just short in its opening T20 match against India, with the hosts chasing down a huge total with just one ball remaining.
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A blistering maiden international century from World Cup hero Josh Inglis wasn’t enough to deny swift revenge for India’s loss in last week’s final in a high-scoring opening T20 in Visakhapatnam.
Backing up just four days after taking five catches in Australia’s epic triumph, Inglis smashed 110 off just 50 balls, including 11 fours and eight sixes, to guide his team, playing without the still recovering Travis Head, to 3-208 batting first.
But then Indian captain Suryakumar Yadav, the only member of the beaten World Cup final team to turn out for the home team, smashed an unbeaten 80 off 42-balls, taking down a new-look Australian attack, to get his team over the line.
The hosts needed seven runs off the final over and got there with a ball to spare to exact a modicum of revenge for their heartbreaking defeat last weekend.
Having rested Head, spinner Adam Zampa and superstar Glenn Maxwell, new skipper Matthew Wade gave credit to his bowlers for “hanging in” as all bar one went for more than 10 runs an over on a batting-friendly pitch.
“It was a good match in the end. Inglis played a terrific innings,” Wade said.
“We had plans, but it is easier said that done. We bowled pretty well. (Jason) Behrendorff and (Tanveer) Sangha (2-47) were great. A lot of positives to take out of it.
“We wanted to hang in. It got down to the last ball. All credit to us and the boys for hanging in.”
Steve Smith took his opportunity to open the batting and made 52, before being run out, in a 130 run partnership with Inglis off just 67 balls.
Inglis raised his fifty off 29 balls and completed his hundred in 47 balls as he jumped and punched the air and the Australian dressing room stood up to applaud.
The match was the first of five with Head, Zampa and Maxwell expected[ to take some part in the series.
Originally published as India takes 1-0 T20 series lead against Australia despite stunning century from Josh Inglis
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