Aaron Finch-led Australian Team got the better of the second-ranked team in T20 International –Indian Cricket Team by upsetting them early in the three-match series by winning the first match at Adelaide Oval.
However, the Melbourne T20I was called off after rain played a spoilsport in the series decider contest, but Ben McDermott is confident of winning the series over India, saying Australia will have the edge over India in the third and final T20I to be played in Sydney on Sunday (November 25).
The Men in Blue started off their Australia tour on a negative note after losing the opening T20I in Brisbane, and McDermott said the hosts are just one win away from taking the series from India, saying Australia will not let go the great opportunity to outclass such a formidable line-up at home.
McDermott told reporters at the post-match press conference, “It is not every day you have the opportunity to win a series for Australia (against a team like India). We’re doing the right things and we’ve got one win on the board, we just need that one more.”
Meanwhile, the 23-year-old right-hander has impressed everyone with his unbeaten 30-ball 32 knock to take his side from 74/6 to 132/7 in 19 overs before rain stopped the proceedings. Later, the target was curtailed to 90 in 11 overs and 46 from five overs, but India could not even lay foot on the field because of the poor weather, resulting match ended with no result and McDermott said it was really frustrating.
He further added, “It was very frustrating especially with the rain following us around (in all T20 matches). We had set ourselves up nicely for the 19th over but we lost momentum with Jasprit Bumrah bowling the 18th over. But overall it was very frustrating night being on and off with rain.”
The batsman also lamented the early loss of wickets in the Power Play, saying: “Three down in the power play as opposed to one the other day made the difference. We saw at the Gabba we were 1 for 38, which isn’t a massive power play, but we only lost one wicket, so I think that was the main talking point. Losing wickets throughout the whole innings was tough. But I was happy I could contribute and get us to when we came back out it was 90 off 11, which is actually pretty good for us.”
He also admitted that India has some of the best batters in the world and a win against such a tough side is always tough, but Australians are eyeing for a series win, hoping for a good weather and wicket in the third match to be played at the SCG.
McDermott signed off by saying, “If we’re building a big total then we need to get those guys (Australian top-order) batting for longer periods of time. They’re some of the best batters in the world. We just need to sharpen up on that and I think that’ll come with hopefully a nicer day and wicket (in Sydney).”
(With Press Trust of India Inputs)
