3rd T20I: India defeat Australia by 6 wickets to level series 1-1

India defeated Australia by six wickets in the final T20I clash at the Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG) on Sunday.

Image Credits: Reuters

Indian skipper Virat Kohli smashed a blistering half-century to help the Men in Blue not only clinch a six-wicket win over Australia in the third and final T20I but also end the series with a 1-1 draw at the Sydney Cricket Ground on Sunday. 

Chasing a target of 165 runs, openers Rohit Sharma (23) and Shikhar Dhawan (41) provided a strong start to the visiting side, stitching a crucial 67-run partnership for the opening wicket before falling prey to Adam Zampa and Mitchell Starc, respectively. 

After India lost KL Rahul and Rishabh Pant in quick succession, Kohli not only notched up an unbeaten knock of 61 off 41 balls, but also shared a 60-run partnership for the fourth wicket with Dinesh Karthik (unbeaten at 22) to help his side register a vital win. 

Earlier, Australia posted a respectable score of 164 for six after skipper Aaron Finch won the toss and opted to bat first. 

D'Arcy Short (33 off 29) and Finch (28 off 23 balls) who shared a partnership of 68 runs for the opening wicket were the notable scorers for the home side. While Alex Carey also contributed with 27 runs, Marcus Stoinis and Nathan Coulter-Nile remained unbeaten at 25 and 13 runs, respectively.

Krunal Pandya was the pick of the bowlers for India as he claimed his maiden four-wicket haul, finishing with terrific figures of four for 36. Pandya also scripted a new record as he posted the best bowling figures by any Indian bowler in T20I cricket in Australia. 

Meanwhile, Kuldeep Yadav also chipped in with a wicket for India.

Here are the highlights:

# India win by six wickets to level T20I series 1-1! 

INDIA WIN!

Level the three match series 1-1 #AUSvIND pic.twitter.com/m5DeOC6KO2 — BCCI (@BCCI) November 25, 2018

# 50 for Virat Kohli who has delivered an excellent performance in this crucial clash!  

# Dinesh Karthik is the next player to join Kohli! 

# Wicket! Rishabh Pant is dismissed for a duck after attempting to smash runs off an inch-perfect delivery by Andrew Tye resulting in a solid edge to wicketkeeper Carey. India 108/4 (13.1 overs)

# Wicket! K.L Rahul departs for just 14 in an innings where he has failed to make his presence felt, handing an easy catch to Nathan Coulter Nile off a Glenn Maxwell delivery. India 108/3 (12.6 overs)

# K.L Rahul makes his way down to the middle!

# Wicket! Rohit Sharma has been bowled by Adam Zampa off a quick delivery which leaves the batsman in no position to negotiate the delivery, earning Australia a second wicket. India 67/2 (6.5 overs)

A wicket-maiden from Zampa to begin! https://t.co/SKzJqZd9Ap #AUSvIND pic.twitter.com/ulO5xB6bpu — cricket.com.au (@cricketcomau) November 25, 2018

# Virat Kohli is the new man in! 

# Wicket! Mitchell Starc strikes for Australia, accounting for the key wicket of Shikhar Dhawan who ensured a stable start for India in the initial overs with a quickfire 22 ball 31. India 67/1 (5.3 overs)

Shikhar Dhawan lit up the early stages of the run chase with some awesome strokeplay!#AUSvIND @toyota_aus pic.twitter.com/COK9uOLP33 — cricket.com.au (@cricketcomau) November 25, 2018

# India need 165 runs to win in 20 overs!

# Coulter-Nile is the next batsman in! 

# Wicket! A stunning direct throw by Jasprit Bumrah send Chris Lynn back to the pavillion, at a very crucial stage, leaving Australia in deep trouble at a crucial stage. Australia 131/6 (17.1 overs)

# Marcus Stoinis, the new man in looks to finish off the innings on a high note!

# Wicket! 4 Wickets for Krunal Pandya who has been sensational to say the least in the clash so far, accounting for the key wickets of Short, Maxwell when it mattered the most Australia 119/5 (15.5 overs)

# India are dominating at this stage having restricted their opponents to a score of 107 runs for the loss of 4 wickets in 15 overs. They will be looking to ensure more of the same in the last 5 overs. 

# Chris Lynn comes down in a finisher's role!

# Wicket! Massive wicket for India as Glenn Maxwell departs while attempting a big shot off a slow delivery by Krunal Pandya, resulting in an easy catch for Rohit Sharma who makes no mistakes this time. Australia 91/4 (13.2 overs)

#Alex Carey is the new man in! 

# Wicket! Krunal Pandya is on a hat trick, as he deceives Ben Mcdermott with a cracker which left the batsman in no position to play the shot, trapping him leg before wicket. Australia 73/3 (9.2 overs) 

# Ben McDermott is the next batsman on the crease!

#Wicket! D'Arcy Short strikes off his first delivery accounting for opener D'Arcy Short who had stitched a fine partnership with Finch upfront for Australia. Short has been dismissed leg before wicket with India sensing an opportunity to make a comeback! Australia 73/2 (9.1 overs)

# Glenn Maxwell is the new man in! 

# Wicket! Kuldeep Yadav strikes for India, accounting for the prized wicket of skipper Aaron Finch who seemed to be in good form in this crucial clash. Australia 68/1(8.3 overs)

Shot!

Watch via Kayo here: https://t.co/SKzJqZd9Ap #AUSvIND pic.twitter.com/7Ba6QE0oL9 — cricket.com.au (@cricketcomau) November 25, 2018

# Australian openers D'Arcy Short and Aaron Finch have walked down to the middle!   

India XI: Rohit Sharma, Shikhar Dhawan, Virat Kohli (c), KL Rahul, Rishabh Pant (wk), Dinesh Karthik, Krunal Pandya, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Kuldeep Yadav, Khaleel Ahmeed, Jasprit Bumrah.

Unchanged #AUSvIND — cricket.com.au (@cricketcomau) November 25, 2018

Australia XI: D'Arcy Short, Aaron Finch (c), Chris Lynn, Glenn Maxwell, Marcus Stoinis, Ben McDermott, Alex Carey (wk), Nathan Coulter-Nile, Mitchell Starc, Andrew Tye, Adam Zampa.

Starc in for Behrendorff #AUSvIND — cricket.com.au (@cricketcomau) November 25, 2018

# Aaron Finch wins toss, opts to bat first! 

Game mode on #TeamIndia #AUSvIND pic.twitter.com/P8VvnnZxi6 — BCCI (@BCCI) November 25, 2018

The Indian team led by Virat Kohli will be looking to end the three-match T20I series against Australia on a winning note when the two sides battle it out in the final clash at the Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG) on Sunday.

The second T20I at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) on Friday was abandoned after incessent rain played truant, in a clash dominated by the Indian bowlers. 

The bowling attack delivered an efficient performance, following skipper Virat Kohli's decision to field first.

Australia were restricted to a total of just 132/7, following tidy bowling spells by Indian pace bowlers- Jasprit Bumrah and Bhuvneshwar Kumar, who picked two wickets apiece.

They were further backed by an excellent performance from the fielders, who were inch-perfect with their throws and capitalised on any opportunities handed by their opponents.   

However, the Indian chase never really kicked off after constant delay caused due to rainfall resulted in the match being called off, robbing India of an opportunity to win the series. 

Squads for T20 series: 

India: Virat Kohli (C), Rohit Sharma (VC), Shikhar Dhawan, KL Rahul, Shreyas Iyer, Manish Pandey, Dinesh Karthick, Rishabh Pant (wk), Kuldeep Yadav, Yuzvendra Chahal, Washington Sundar, Krunal Pandya, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Jasprit Bumrah, Umesh Yadav, Khaleel Ahmed.

Australia: Aaron Finch (c), Alex Carey (vc, wk), Ashton Agar, Jason Behrendorff, Nathan Coulter-Nile, Chris Lynn, Glenn Maxwell, Ben McDermott, D'Arcy Short, Billy Stanlake, Marcus Stoinis, Andrew Tye, Adam Zampa.