Oz thwart Kohli, India win 2-1

Sydney, December 8

Australian bowlers held their nerve to stop the charge of Virat Kohli, preventing an Indian clean sweep with a 12-run victory in the third and final T20I here today.

With this, India won the T20I series 2-1. The loss ended India’s 10-match winning streak in the format.

Kohli was dropped three times and he cashed in on the reprieves to smash 85 off 61 balls but India could reach only 174/7 in their pursuit of 187. Kohli fell in the 19th over when he skied the ball with a slash off Andrew Tye and the catch was plucked inches off the ground by Daniel Sams.

An over before that, Hardik Pandya fell to Adam Zampa, trying to to hit against the turn. After Pandya was gone, with 43 runs still needed off 17 balls, Kohli was left with too much to on his own, and this was one rare occasion when he failed to take the team home.

Earlier, Wade’s was well-complemented by Maxwell’s blazing strokeplay as Australia posted an imposing 186/5. — Agencies

Kohli’s ‘null’ review!

Virat Kohli’s DRS appeal against Matthew Wade off T Natarajan’s bowling was deemed “null and void” by the third umpire, who ruled that Kohli decided to review after the replay was shown on the big screen.