When Umesh Yadav’s Final Over Handed Australia a Last-Ball Victory in Vizag

The clash swung back and forth, keeping fans on edge with every delivery. Just when India seemed to have the upper hand, the game turned dramatically in the final over. Against all odds, Australia’s tailenders held their nerve and steered their side to an unexpected victory. It was a reminder of how quickly fortunes can change in T20 cricket, leaving fans stunned.

India vs Australia: 1st T20

When India took to the crease in Visakhapatnam on February 24, 2019, they were up against a sharp Australian bowling side in the first T20I of the series. Australia won the toss and decided to bowl first, putting India’s batsmen on the spot to set a good total on a pitch that was tough to score on. Rohit Sharma and KL Rahul opened the batting, but things started poorly. Rohit, who’s usually a big hitter, couldn’t get going and scored just 5 runs off 8 balls. In the third over, Jason Behrendorff got him to nick one to Adam Zampa, and India were 14/1, already feeling the heat.

KL Rahul stepped up after the early loss. He played with a lot of confidence, hitting the ball cleanly and keeping the runs coming. Virat Kohli, the captain, came in next, and the two put on a solid 55-run stand for the second wicket in just 33 balls. Rahul was in great touch, scoring 50 runs off 36 balls with six fours and one six, striking at 138.88. His shots were smooth, and he handled the bowlers well. Kohli chipped in with 24 runs off 17 balls, including three fours, looking as classy as ever. By the 8.4th over, India were 69/2, and they scored 49 runs in the powerplay for the loss of one wicket, which was a decent start.

But Australia’s bowlers weren’t going to let them run away with it. Adam Zampa got Kohli out, caught by Nathan Coulter-Nile, which slowed things down. Rishabh Pant came in but didn’t last long, getting run out for 3 runs off 5 balls after a mix-up. India were 80/3 in the 10th over, and the middle order had to step up. Rahul’s fine knock ended when Coulter-Nile bowled him for 50, and Dinesh Karthik was out soon after for just 1 run off 3 balls, also to Coulter-Nile. Coulter-Nile was the pick of the bowlers, finishing with 3 wickets for 26 runs in four overs, making life tough for India with his pace and accuracy.

The middle order found it hard to keep the scoreboard ticking on a pitch that wasn’t easy. Krunal Pandya scored only 1 run off 6 balls before getting caught off Coulter-Nile, and Umesh Yadav was out for 2 runs, trapped lbw by Pat Cummins. By the 16.5th over, India were 109/7, and things were looking shaky. MS Dhoni, batting at five, took a cautious approach, focusing on staying in rather than going for big shots. He ended not out on 29 runs off 37 balls, hitting just one six, with a strike rate of 78.37. Some thought he was too slow, but he was trying to hold things together. Yuzvendra Chahal was at the other end, scoring 0 off 4 balls, and couldn’t add much as India struggled late on.

Australia’s bowlers kept the pressure on. Pat Cummins was tight, giving away just 19 runs in four overs and taking one wicket. Behrendorff bowled well too, with 1 wicket for 16 runs in three overs. Zampa took 1 for 22, and Jhye Richardson, though he didn’t get a wicket, gave away 31 runs. D’Arcy Short bowled two overs for 10 runs, making it harder for India. After the powerplay, India slowed down, scoring just 77 runs in the last 14 overs. They reached 100 in the 14.5th over but couldn’t push on, ending at 126/7 in 20 overs. Extras added 11 runs, with 9 wides and 2 leg byes, but the batsmen didn’t make the most of loose balls. Rahul’s fifty and Kohli’s quick 24 were the bright spots, but the middle order’s struggles and Dhoni’s slow innings left India with a modest target of 127.

As Australia started chasing 127, they knew they were up against a tough Indian bowling attack, led by Jasprit Bumrah, on a pitch that wasn’t easy to bat on. Things went wrong right away. Marcus Stoinis was run out for 1 run off 5 balls in the second over after a quick throw from Krunal Pandya to MS Dhoni. Aaron Finch, the captain, was out next, trapped lbw by Bumrah for a duck in the same over, leaving Australia at 5/2 and in big trouble. It was a shaky start, but D’Arcy Short and Glenn Maxwell came together to steady things with an important 84-run partnership for the third wicket.

Maxwell was the star, playing a bold knock of 56 runs off 43 balls, with six fours and two sixes, at a strike rate of 130.23. He took on the bowlers, hitting through the gaps and clearing the boundary, especially in the powerplay, where Australia scored 41 runs despite losing two wickets. Short played a calmer role, scoring 37 runs off 37 balls with five fours, holding one end up while Maxwell went for it. Their stand took Australia to 89/3 by the 13.3rd over, and Maxwell got to his fifty off 40 balls, looking like he would take his team home. But Yuzvendra Chahal got him out, caught by KL Rahul, and things started to unravel.

Short was run out soon after for 37, and Ashton Turner was bowled by Krunal Pandya for a duck off 5 balls, leaving Australia at 102/5 in the 16.2nd over. The chase got really tense as Peter Handscomb and Nathan Coulter-Nile found it hard to score quickly. Handscomb made 13 runs off 15 balls but was caught by Dhoni off Bumrah in the 19th over. Bumrah also got Coulter-Nile, bowled for 4 runs off 8 balls, in the same over. That 19th over from Bumrah was a game-changer, giving away just 2 runs and taking two wickets, leaving Australia needing 14 runs off the last over from Umesh Yadav.

The final over was a heart-stopper. Yadav started with a single to Pat Cummins. Then Jhye Richardson smashed a four off a length ball, quieting the crowd. He followed with two runs off a yorker and another single. With 6 runs needed off two balls, Cummins hit a full toss for four through the covers, turning the game. Needing 2 runs off the last ball, Cummins hit a full ball past the bowler, and the Australians ran hard for two, finishing at 127/7 in 20 overs. Cummins was not out on 7 off 3 balls, and Richardson was unbeaten on 7 off 3, both striking at 233.33.

Bumrah was India’s best bowler, taking 3 wickets for 16 runs in four overs, with his 19th over almost winning it for India. Krunal Pandya bowled well, taking 1 for 17, and Chahal got 1 for 28. Umesh Yadav was expensive, giving away 35 runs, and Mayank Markande went wicketless for 31. Maxwell’s fiery fifty and Short’s steady 37 kept Australia in the game, but it was Cummins and Richardson who stayed cool in the end. Despite India’s strong fight, Australia’s nerve in the final moments gave them a thrilling three-wicket win, going 1-0 up in the series.