Wicketkeeper-batsman Matthew Wade scored a brilliant 80 anda quick-fire fifty from Glenn Maxwell helped Australia set an imposing 187-runtarget for India in the third and final T20I at the Sydney Cricket Ground onTuesday.
Put into bat, Australia didn't have a great start as theylost skipper Aaron Finch in the second over. Finch, while trying to collect aboundary against Washington Sundar, was caught by Hardik Pandya at mid-off andwent back to the pavilion without troubling the scorers.
Wade, who was leading the hosts in the second T20I, howeverkept scoring boundaries at the other end and alongside Steve Smith, moved theAustralian innings forward.
The duo took the team's score to 51/1 at the end of thepowerplay. Both added 65 runs for the second-wicket partnership before Smithgot out by Sundar in the 10th over at his individual score of 24.
The keeper-batsman, who had scored a well-rounded 58 in thesecond T20I, brought his second consecutive fifty in the 11th over bowled byleft-arm sensation T Natarajan.
Glenn Maxwell, who came into bat next, then stitched another50-plus partnership with Wade to take Australia on course of a big score.
Maxwell, in particular, was at his menacing best as heclubbed two sixes in the final over of leg-spinner Yuzvendra Chahal who wentfor 41 in his four overs. The right-handed batsman played plenty of reversesweeps and switch hits during the course of his 36-ball innings.
The duo added 90 runs off just 53 balls before Wade got outin the penultimate over of the innings after contributing with 80, a 53-ballinning studded with seven fours and two sixes.
Maxwell, after scoring 54 with the help of three fours andthree sixes, got bowled by Natarajan in the final over. D'Arcy Short scoredseven off three before he was run-out. In the end, Moises Henriques and DanielSams remained unbeaten on 5 and 0 respectively.
For India, Sundar returned with figures of 2/34 whileNatarajan picked a wicket while conceding 33 runs in his four overs.
Brief scores: Australia 186/5 (Matthew Wade 80, GlennMaxwell 54; Washington Sundar 2/34)