Chasing a challenging target of 223 after Ruturaj Gaikwad slammed 123 not out off 57, Australia were in trouble at 134/5 in the 14th over. However, Maxwell slammed eight fours and as many sixes, featuring in an unbroken sixth-wicket stand of 91 with skipper Matthew Wade (28 not out off 16).
With 43 needed off 12 balls, India seemed to have the game in control. However, Axar Patel conceded 22 runs in the penultimate over. Maxwell then slammed Prasidh Krishna for a six and three fours off the last four balls of the match to pull Australia to a famous win.
Australia got off a good start in the chase as their openers added 47 in under five overs. India, however, hit back with the wickets of Aaron Hardie (16 off 12), Travis Head (35 off 18) and Josh Inglis (10). Even as Maxwell made merry at one end, Axar dismissed Marcus Stoinis (17 off 21), while Ravi Bishnoi accounted for Tim David. Maxwell and Wade, however, combined forces to turn the heat on the hosts.
Maxwell’s brilliance with the bat meant Indian opener Gaikwad’s splendid maiden T20I ton went in vain. The Men in Blue got off to a poor start, losing Yashasvi Jaiswal for 6 to Jason Behrendorff and Ishan Kishan for a duck to Kane Richardson.
Captain Suryakumar Yadav (39 off 29) and Gaikwad added 57 runs for the third wicket to give the Indian innings some momentum. The former struck five fours and two sixes before perishing to Hardie. Gaikwad then launched into the Aussie bowlers, racing towards three figures.
He hammered Hardie for three sixes and a four in the 18th over, which cost Australia 25. Maxwell bowled the last over, which went for 30 as Gaikwad clubbed three sixes and as many fours. The Big Show, though, eventually had the last laugh.
Speaking after being named Player of the Match, Maxwell commented, “It all went pretty quickly. It was hard work for them to bowl yorkers with so much dew. We didn’t really have a number in mind. Knew we would be in the game if we could take it down to the final over. Wade was brilliant out there, the way he went helped me as well.”
--By A Cricket Correspondent
