The adrenaline was flowing in Guwahati on Tuesday as a third T20I match between India and Australia unfolded into a high-octane thriller. India, propelled by Ruturaj Gaikwad’s scintillating 57-ball 123, posted a formidable 222/3 on the scoreboard. Yet, it was the Glenn Maxwell show that captivated the audience; his blistering 48-ball 104* saw Australia snatch a five-wicket victory, reviving their hopes in the series. The match remained on a knife-edge with Australia consistently losing wickets, but Maxwell along with skipper Matthew Wade, with an unbeaten 28, constructed a vital 91-run partnership for the sixth wicket, guiding Australia to triumph.
The clash had its fair share of contentious moments, notably involving Indian wicketkeeper Ishan Kishan’s appeal for a stumping against Matthew Wade. During the tense penultimate over delivered by spinner Axar Patel, Kishan quickly dislodged the bails as Wade missed the ball. Kishan was convinced it was a legitimate stumping opportunity. However, the TV umpire replay unveiled that Kishan’s gloves were ahead of the stumps at the time of collecting the ball, leading to the dismissal being overruled and a no-ball being declared. This gave Australia a free-hit, which Patel was hammered for a six, further tilting the match in Australia’s favor.
This incident went viral, with social media exploding into a meme fest. One user humorously suggested that legendary wicketkeeper MS Dhoni might have stumped thrice in the time it took for the play to unfold, while others joined in with jests at Kishan’s expense.
According to the MCC’s Laws of Cricket, Law 27.3.1 states that a wicket-keeper must not move in front of the stumps before a ball delivered by the bowler has touched the bat or passed the stumps. In case of infringement, Law 27.3.2 mandates the umpire to call and signal no-ball.
Maxwell’s scintillating innings may well serve as a retort to his critics, recalling his staggering double century against Afghanistan in the recent 50-over World Cup. Though the stage wasn’t as grand, his hundred was critical in establishing Australia’s position in this series. It seemed like poetic justice for Maxwell, who had conceded 30 runs in India’s final over earlier.
Requiring 21 runs from the last over bowled by Prasidh Krishna, Australia seemed to be a far cry from victory till Maxwell’s final over heroics. He remarkably achieved his fourth T20I century from just 47 deliveries, matching Josh Inglis and Aaron Finch for the fastest century by an Australian in T20Is.
Compounding India’s woes was the slow over-rate penalty that led them to field with five inside the ring during the fateful final over. Conversely, Australia faced a daunting task needing 43 runs from the last 12 balls. The cost of Kishan’s error became all too apparent as the subsequent free-hit was dispatched for a six by Wade, resulting in a pivotal swing of 22 runs in that over.
Australia’s tenacity across the game, capped off by Maxwell’s indomitable century, ensured that the match will not be remembered solely for the controversial no-ball but as an exemplar of T20 cricket at its most exciting.
With inputs from PTI, cricket enthusiasts will now eagerly await updates on the future encounters in the India-Australia 2023 series. For more sports updates and schedules, fans can follow on social media platforms or download the dedicated cricket apps for their devices.