Tim David’s 54 powers Australia to 186-7 v India

Tim David in full flow yesterday. Pic/AFP

Two towering right-handers feasted on India's bowling at either end of the innings, drawing grudging admiration from a crowd in excess of 35,000 which enthusiastically welcomed the return of international cricket to the Rajiv Gandhi International Cricket Stadium after 33 months.

Cameron Green, only in the playing XI because David Warner is unavailable, and the exciting Tim David picked India's bowlers off with tremendous gusto in the third and decisive T20I on Sunday with bruising half-centuries that exposed India's vulnerabilities when the batsmen come hard at them. These two spectacular knocks propelled Australia to 186-7 after being inserted by Rohit Sharma.

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As superbly as spin twins Axar Patel (3-33) and Yuzvendra Chahal (1-22), who justified the think-tank's vote of confidence, bowled on a largely excellent batting surface, India's pace attack came apart at the seams when Green at the start and David at the death teed off without inhibition, mocking the length of the boundary in a jaw-dropping exhibition of power hitting.

Jasprit Bumrah felt the full fury of these scything willows, conceding a mammoth 50 runs from his four overs, including 21 in a furious 19th over when Daniel Sams decided to join the party with two sixes to diametrically opposite parts of the park. Sams had walked in with Australia in a spot at 117-6 in the 14th over, but quickly hit his stride in David's company as India crumbled under the onslaught and ended up conceding 63 in the last five overs.

Brief scores
Australia 186-7 (T David 54, C Green 52; A Patel 3-33) v India (scores incomplete)

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