India vs Australia 3rd T20I: As it happened

There was a chance for the Virat Kohli-led side to complete a second T20I series whitewash over the Aussies in Australia.

Photo: Twitter/@ICC

Syndey: The Men in Blue who have already taken the series couldn't inflict another whitewash over the Australians as Matthew Wade and Mitchell Swepson helped their side beat India by 12 runs in the 3rd and the final T20I at the Sydney Cricket Ground on Tuesday (December 8, 2020). 

The Kangaroos were put in to bat first and posted a total of 186-5 in their 20-over quota after their opener Wade's brilliant 80 off 53 balls (7 fours, 2 sixes) innings. The wicketkeeper-batsman was opening for the second time in the series and was well supported by all-rounder Glenn Maxwell who blasted 54 runs off 36 deliveries (3 fours, 3 sixes).

For India, Washington Sundar bagged two wickets and T Natarajan and Shardul Thakur took one each.

In reply, India lost their opener, KL Rahul, in the very first over as he departed for a golden duck off a Maxwell delivery. Shikhar Dhawan and captain Virat Kohli then held a 50-runs partnership before the left-hander (28 off 21) was dismissed in the 9th over by Mitchell Swepson.

Swepson then took two more crucial wickets of Sanju Samson and Shreyas Iyer to make sure his side avoids the clean sweep.

Skipper Kohli (85 off 61), however, tried taking India home but was sent back after Daniel Sams' brilliant catch at the deep point. The Indian side then could only reach 174-7 in 20 overs and lost the match by 12 runs. 

Here are the highlights:

08 December 2020

17:27 PM IST

Late fireworks by Shardul Thakur go in vain as Australia avoid clean sweep, beat India by 12 runs.

17:07 PM IST

WICKET! Again a brilliant catch by Daniel Sams. Skipper Kohli back to the pavilion off Andrew Tye. Shardul Thakur comes out to bat.

17:05 PM IST

WICKET! Hardik Pandya departs, Zampa strikes for Australia. Washington Sundar joins Kohli in the middle.

17:05 PM IST

Meanwhile, watch how Steven Smith saves a six.

Flying Smith  pic.twitter.com/0DnDqbwbAJ

— ICC (@ICC) December 8, 2020

17:02 PM IST

It's going to be a close fight again. Pandya trying his best to finish as he hits a four and a six in the seventeenth over.

16:56 PM IST

Kohli hits back to back sixes off Sams. The Indian skipper is not going to leave the chase until the last ball. Pandya also delivers one out of the park.

16:55 PM IST

India struggling to chase Australia's 187 as skipper Virat Kohli stays in the middle with last T20Is MOM Hardik Pandya.

16:48 PM IST

WICKET! Another grab for Australia as Shreyas Iyer is out LBW. Swepson takes his third. Hardik Pandya comes in to bat at number 6.

16:39 PM IST

WICKET! Swepson gets his second. Samson gets caught on long-on. Shreyas Iyer comes to the middle.

16:24 PM IST

WICKET! Daniel Sams takes a brilliant diving catch in the deep to dismiss Shikhar Dhawan off Swepson. Sanju Samson joins his skipper in the middle.

16:14 PM IST

Virat Kohli and Shikhar Dhawan bring up 50-runs partnership.

16:05 PM IST

ICC is telling who's having a good day out there.

Who's having a good day?  pic.twitter.com/YMKG9WulVk

— ICC (@ICC) December 8, 2020

15:59 PM IST

DROPPED! It's a match of dropped catches as Smith drops Kohli at the boundary. The ex-Aussie skipper puts down a sitter at deep mid-wicket. Let's see how costly it's going to be for the Kangaroos.

15:58 PM IST

Read the first innings report: Matthew Wade top-scores with 80 off 53 balls as Aussies post 186/5

15:55 PM IST

Skipper Virat Kohli comes to the middle. Dhawan and Kohli currently rotating strikes to make sure India chase 187.

15:48 PM IST

WICKET! KL Rahul departs for a duck on the second ball of the chase. Maxwell trick works for the Aussie. Rahul tries to clear the deep square leg where Steven Smith takes a sitter.

15:48 PM IST

WICKET! KL Rahul departs for a duck on the second ball of the chase. Maxwell trick works for the Aussie. Rahul tries to clear the deep square leg where Steven Smith takes a sitter.

15:47 PM IST

Shikhar Dhawan, KL Rahul begin India's chase. Glenn Maxwell to bowl the first over.

15:32 PM IST

Australia finish with 186/5 on the back of fifties from Glenn Maxwell and Matthew Wade!

What are your predictions for the chase? #AUSvIND SCORECARD  https://t.co/aLozLSAnsU pic.twitter.com/EnDwHzsPzJ

— ICC (@ICC) December 8, 2020

15:30 PM IST

Matthew Wade (80 off 53) and Glenn Maxwell (54 off 36) take Aussies to 186-5 in 20 overs.

15:23 PM IST

WICKET! Natarajan bowls Maxwell. Not Natarajan's usual yorker, but Maxwell departs after trying a reverse sweep. D'arcy Short joins Henriques.

15:20 PM IST

One wicket, one misfield and one dropped catch. Nineteenth over of the Australian innings was quite eventful. 

15:17 PM IST

WICKET! Shardul Thakur takes his first wicket, gets Wade who departs after a fine knock of 80 (53). Moises Henriques comes in to bat now with Maxwell.

15:16 PM IST

Super Sanju 

The hit from Maxwell was destined to go for six, before Sanju Samson made a sensational stop at the boundary!#AUSvIND pic.twitter.com/qneXSpHwYj

— ICC (@ICC) December 8, 2020

15:01 PM IST

Maxwell and Wade hit all around the park as they eye towards a big total. Dropped catches and missed chances increase trouble for the Indian side.

15:00 PM IST

Maxwell hits two SIXES off Chahal to bring up a 50-runs partnership with Wade. Aussies looking for a strong finish.

14:43 PM IST

Almost a WICKET! Maxwell tries to go for a six but hits the ball high in the air, KL Rahul takes the catch off Yuzi Chahal. Turns out it was a no-ball. Maxwell has tried two reverse sweeps in the over and has got one four.

14:38 PM IST

Wade brings up his FIFTY, second of the series and Australia their 100. The left-hander welcomes Shardul Thakur with a SIX over the square leg, before Maxwell also picks up a boundary as he flicks over short fine leg. Thakur gives away 14 runs in the twelfth over.

14:25 PM IST

WICKET! Sundar bowls Smith after he tried to cut it through point. Wade had earlier survived in the same as KL Rahul missed a stumping chance. Maxwell comes to the crease now.

14:18 PM IST

Wade and Smith bring up fifty runs partnership as Australia looking towards a fine total. Sundar concedes 9 runs in the eighth over.

14:09 PM IST

Skipper Kohli brings in T Natarajan into the attack who concedes 6 runs in the sixth over.

13:59 PM IST

Wade starts the fifth over with back to back boundaries. Chahar struggles to find his line and length.

13:56 PM IST

Sundar starts his second over with a wide, which goes for a four, whereas, Wade continues his form from the second T20I match, hits one boundary in the over.

13:54 PM IST

Steven Smith joins Wade in the middle. Brilliant economical over by Chahar.

13:46 PM IST

WICKET!! Aaron Finch goes for a duck while trying to clear the mid-off. Washington Sundar strikes. 

13:42 PM IST

Wade off to an explosive start, hits two boundaries off Chahar.

13:41 PM IST

Aaron Finch and Matthew Wade open Aussies' innings, whereas, Deepak Chahar comes up with the first over of the match.

13:36 PM IST

Lets' play!

One final time with white ball in the #AUSvIND series. pic.twitter.com/NUNiDW8CMz

— BCCI (@BCCI) December 8, 2020

13:18 PM IST

3rd T20I playing XI:

Australia XI: A Finch, M Wade, S Smith, G Maxwell, M Henriques, D Short, D Sams, S Abbott, A Tye, M Swepson, A Zampa

India XI: S Dhawan, KL Rahul, V Kohli, S Iyer, S Samson, H Pandya, S Thakur, W Sundar, D Chahar, Y Chahal, T Natarajan

13:13 PM IST

Tails was the call and tails it is. #TeamIndia captain @imVkohli wins the toss and has opted to bowl first. We are playing the same XI as the previous game. #AUSvIND pic.twitter.com/vOM9Rtlec5

— BCCI (@BCCI) December 8, 2020

13:12 PM IST

Virat Kohli opts to bowl first, aiming for clean sweep.

12:51 PM IST

Something that'd cheer up the Indian fans, but will also make them nostalgic. (Video from the second T20I when Mathew Wade couldn't stump Shikhar Dhawan)

pic.twitter.com/nLuojeEDcG

— ICC (@ICC) December 7, 2020

12:50 PM IST

Man of the match of the second T20I Hardik Pandya on the Australia tour so far:

Hardik Pandya on the Australia tour so far:

 Scores  42*, 16, 92*, 28, 90
 Average 89.33
 Strike rate  121.81

Will he finish the #AUSvIND T20I series with another fiery knock? pic.twitter.com/KpDQbmM2kT

— ICC (@ICC) December 8, 2020

12:48 PM IST

Have a look at India's tour of Australia 2020 so far:

The #AUSvIND contest so far:

First ODI 
Second ODI 
Third ODI 

First T20I 
Second T20I 
Third T20I 

Will the T20Is also end 2-1 or can India complete a sweep? pic.twitter.com/eavwG4O6Om

— ICC (@ICC) December 8, 2020

12:47 PM IST

The toss for India vs Australia 3rd T20I is going to take place shortly.