Hobart (Australia) | India skipper Suryakumar Yadav won the toss and opted to bowl against Australia in the third T20 International, here on Sunday.
India made three changes in the playing XI, bringing in Jitesh Sharma, Arshdeep Singh and Washington Sundar in place of Sanju Samson, Harshit Rana and Kuldeep Yadav.
Australia made one change, bringing in Sean Abbott in place of pacer Josh Hazlewood.
The first T20I of the five-match series in Canberra was abandoned due to rain, while the second was won by Australia.
Teams:
Australia: Mitchell Marsh, Travis Head, Josh Inglis (wk), Tim David, Mitchell Owen, Marcus Stoinis, Matt Short, Xavier Bartlett, Nathan Ellis, Sean Abbott, and Matt Kuhnemann.
India: Shubman Gill, Abhishek Sharma, Suryakumar Yadav (c), Tilak Varma, Axar Patel, Shivam Dube, Jitesh Sharma (wk), Washington Sundar, Arshdeep Singh, Varun Chakravarthy, and Jasprit Bumrah.
Tim David bludgeoned the Indian bowling attack to take Australia to 186 for six in the third T20 International here on Sunday.
Opting to bowl in nippy conditions, India started well courtesy Arshdeep Singh who struck twice in a two-over spell on his return to the side.
Playing his first game of the series, India's leading wicket taker in the format removed the dangerous Travis Head and Josh Inglis to leave Australia at 14 for two.
However, India's early advantage was negated by David (74 off 38) who targeted every Indian bowler in an exemplary show of power-hitting. Four of his five sixes came down the ground while one was a was slap over cover off Axar Patel.
Following his dismissal, the seasoned Marcus Stoinis (64 off 39) stepped up on the offensive to take Australia to a competitive total.
Whether it was the peerless Jasprit Bumrah or mystery spinner Varun Chakaravarthy, David just looked to dominate.
David got a reprieve batting on 20 when Washington Sundar dropped him at point off Bumrah. It was a regulation catch though the ball literally flew towards him.
India missed the services of injured all-rounder Hardik Pandya with Shivam Dube being taken to the cleaners by both David and Stoinis.
The sixth bowling option was Washington Sundar but the team opted for left-arm spin of Abhishek Sharma who leaked 13 runs in his only over. It was more to do with no left-handers at the crease during a specific time.
After Arshdeep's twin strike in the powerplay, it was Chakravarthy who put brakes on the scoring rate by dismissing Mitchell Marsh and Mitchell Owen in successive balls. The incoming delivery to Owen, flicked through the fingers, was a peach.
Arshdeep and Bumrah closed the innings well for the visitors.
Following is the scoreboard of India and Australia third T20I, here on Sunday.
Australia:
Travis Head c Yadav b Arshdeep Singh 6
Mitchell Marsh c Tilak Varma b Varun 11
Josh Inglis c Patel b Arshdeep Singh 1
Tim David c Tilak Varma b Dube 74
Mitchell Owen b Varun 0
Marcus Stoinis c sub (Rinku Singh) b Arshdeep Singh 64
Matthew Short not out 26
Xavier Bartlett not out 3
Extras: (lb-1) 1
Total: (for 6 wkts in 20 overs) 186
Fall of wickets: 1-6, 2-14, 3-73, 4-73, 5-118, 6-182.
Bowling: Arshdeep Singh 4-0-35-3, Jasprit Bumrah 4-0-26-0, Varun Chakravarthy 4-0-33-2, Axar Patel 4-0-35-0, Shivam Dube 3-0-43-1, Abhishek Sharma 1-0-13-0.
