India'sconcussion substitute Yuzvendra Chahal, who came in for Ravindra Jadeja duringAustralia's innings, picked three for 25 in his four overs to help India beatAustralia by 11 runs in the first T20 International at the Manuka Oval onFriday.
This wasIndia's sixth win over Australia in 10 T20Is on Australian soil. The win helpedIndia take 1-0 lead in the three-match T20I series. India had earlier lost theODI series 1-2.
Chahal(3/25), who took the field as Jadeja could not play as a bowler in Australia'sinnings after taking a hit on his head off Mitchell Starc's short ball duringhis unbeaten knock of 23-ball 44, took the important wickets of skipper AaronFinch, Steve Smith and Matthew Wade to dent the Aussie chase of 162.
TheAustralians had got off to a good start but Chahal removed Finch and Smith inhis first two overs. He came back to get rid of Wade as the Aussie middle-orderbatsman looked for a big hit in the face of a rising required run rate. TNatarajan (3/30) was the other successful bowler as he picked the wickets ofGlenn Maxwell, D'Arcy Short and Mitchell Starc.
Thedecision to bring in Chahal for Jadeja, who just before getting hit on his headwas already limping did not please Australia coach Justin Langer who was seendiscussing the issue with match referee David Boon.
Earlier, awell compiled half century from KL Rahul and the late onslaught from Jadejahelped India post 161.
Put intobat, India didn't have a great start as they lost a wicket early in theinnings. Shikhar Dhawan was undone by an out-swinger in the third over bowledby Mitchell Starc and went back to the pavilion after scoring just one.
SkipperVirat Kohli, who came into bat next, then stitched a little partnership withRahul and took the Indian score to 48. Just when the scoring rate seemed to begoing up, Mitchell Swepson got the prized scalp of Kohli who was caught &bowled by the leg-spinner at his individual score of 9.
However,Rahul continued his good run and kept scoring boundaries whenever the Australianbowlers erred and along with Sanju Samson, took the Indian innings forward.Samson, during his stay at the wicket, played beautiful shots and made 23 off15 before he was caught at covers while trying to hit a boundary against MoisesHenriques.
Nextbatsman Manish Pandey (2 off 8) didn't stay long at the crease and was sentback to the dressing room by Adam Zampa.
Rahul, whowas till then holding one end up, soon became the second scalp of Henriques whohad the India wicketkeeper-batsman caught in the deep by Sean Abbott. Rahulsmashed five fours and a six during his 40-ball innings.
Starall-rounder Hardik Pandya scored 16 off 15 before getting caught at long-off bySteve Smith while trying to go for a maximum against Henriques.
However,Jadeja who has been among the runs in recent times, provided India themuch-needed impetus and scored 44 off just 23 balls, with the help of fivefours and a six to help the team end their innings at 161/7.
Henriqueswas the pick of the Australian bowlers as he returned with figures of 3/22.Starc took two wickets while Zampa and Swepson picked one wicket apiece.
Briefscores: India 161/7 (KL Rahul 51, Ravindra Jadeja 44*; Moises Henriques 3/22)beat Australia 150/7 in 20 overs (A Finch 35, M Henriques 30, Y Chahal 3/25, TNatarajan 3/30)