3rd T20I: David and Stoinis guide Australia to 186/6 against India

Hobart — A blistering 74 from Tim David and a fluent 64 from Marcus Stoinis powered Australia to a strong total of 186/6 against India in the third T20I at Bellerive Oval on Sunday.

David’s onslaught came off just 38 balls, featuring eight fours and five towering sixes, while Stoinis maintained the tempo with a 39-ball knock studded with eight fours and two sixes.

For India, left-arm pacer Arshdeep Singh, returning to the side, impressed with figures of 3/35, while Varun Chakaravarthy chipped in with 2/33. Arshdeep and Jasprit Bumrah closed out the innings brilliantly, conceding only 16 runs in the final two overs with a mix of yorkers and low full tosses.

Australia’s innings began with Travis Head driving Arshdeep for a boundary, but he departed next ball, miscuing a pull to mid-off. Arshdeep struck again soon after when Josh Inglis pulled straight to square leg.

Promoted up the order, Tim David wasted no time, driving and lofting both Arshdeep and Bumrah for early boundaries. He took on Chakaravarthy in his first over, hitting a six and a four, and received a life on 20 when Washington Sundar dropped a sharp chance at point off Bumrah.

David then punished Axar Patel with two massive sixes — the second a monstrous 129-metre hit that landed on the stadium roof. He reached his fifty off just 23 balls, cutting Shivam Dube through backward point for four.

However, Chakaravarthy brought India back with a double strike in the ninth over, removing Mitchell Marsh and Mitchell Owen off consecutive deliveries. Marsh, unable to find his timing, lofted tamely to long-off, while Owen was bowled through the gate by a slower turning delivery.

David responded by hammering two sixes off Chakaravarthy in his next over, but his explosive innings ended when he miscued Dube to long-off, who held the catch.

Stoinis kept up the scoring rate, pulling and flicking Dube for back-to-back sixes, and along with Matthew Short, added crucial runs to push the total past 150. Stoinis was lucky to survive when a low catch by substitute Rinku Singh was ruled not clean, though he eventually fell in the final over — flicking Arshdeep to deep mid-wicket.

Despite the late wickets, Australia’s powerful hitting ensured they crossed the 180-run mark.

Brief Scores: Australia 186/6 in 20 overs (Tim David 74, Marcus Stoinis 64; Arshdeep Singh 3/35, Varun Chakaravarthy 2/33) vs India.

With inputs from IANS