India’s men and women teams celebrate Republic Day with wins
Impressive, Harmanpreet Kaur judged Person of the Match as the top scoring cricketer with her 46 runs
By Kersi Meher-Homji
What a day, what a way to celebrate India’s Republic Day! Cheered on by over 40,000 spectators, many dressed in Indian tricolours, India under MS Dhoni defeated Australia by 37 runs in Adelaide, the first Twenty20 international in the series.
A few hours earlier, India’s women team won their T20 match by five wickets. To Australian women’s total of 5 for 140, the Indian girls made 5 for 141 with eight balls to spare. Harmanpreet Kaur was adjudged Person of the Match by top-scoring in the match with 46.
Soon after this match commenced the first T20 match between Dhoni’s men and Australia.
Inspired by their six wicket victory in the Sydney ODI three days ago, India powered to 3 for 188 in 20 overs. Virat Kohli was at his best, smashing an unbeaten 90 in only 55 balls with nine fours and two sixes. It was one of his finest innings.
Dhoni faced only three balls and hit 6, 4 and 1 to register 11 heart-warming runs.
India’s total appeared inadequate as Aussie openers Aaron Finch and David Warner put on a rapid-fire 41 in only 31 balls for the first wicket.
But India’s medium-pacer Jasprit Bumrah, making his T20 debut, dismissed Warner and the game’s complexion turned India’s way. He ended the match with excellent figures of 3 for 23 off 3.3 economical overs.
One could say in a light-hearted way that Bumrah made Australia “gum-raah” (lose their way)!
With experienced spinners Ravichandran Ashwin back in the team to join Ravindra Jadeja, wickets started toppling and Australia under a new skipper, Finch, was all out for 151 to lose by 37 runs.
Medium-pacer Hardik Pandya started his T20 International career in a shocking way, bowling three wides. His first over read: wide, wide, wide, dot, 2, 1, 6, wide, 1, wide and 4.
Thus his 11-ball over included five wides as he conceded 19 runs. But Dhoni had faith in him and Pandya ended with figures of 2 for 37.
Yuvraj Singh made a good comeback by taking a tall catch.
Kohli with his unbeaten and swashbuckling 90 was the popular Man of the Match. He said at the presentation, “I could take this stadium with me wherever I bat. Just trying to keep things simple. I believe that in T20 as well. This stadium is right up there with anywhere in the world. I would love to thank the fans for coming out and supporting us.”
Will India continue their winning ways in the second T20 International in Melbourne on Friday?
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