Images courtesy of: ESPNcricinfo
Singh and Ashwin absolutely demolished Australia
India all-rounder Yuvraj Singh smashed a magnificent half-century and spinner Ravichandran Ashwin claimed four wickets to decimate Australia by 73 runs in Mirpur.
Australia captain George Bailey would have been delighted with his decision to bowl first as India opener Rohit Sharma was caught by James Muirhead at point off the bowling of Brad Hodge for five runs.
Virat Kohli managed to make 23 runs before he was caught by Cameron White at long-off off the bowling of Muirhead.
Ajinkya Rahane scored 19 runs before he was caught behind off the bowling of Doug Bollinger.
Suresh Raina only made six runs before he was caught by Aaron Finch at long-on off the bowling of Glenn Maxwell.
Singh and India skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni stabilised the innings with an 84-run partnership, during which Singh brought up his half-century, before Dhoni was clean bowled by Mitchell Starc for 24.
Singh ended up making 60 off 43 balls, which included five boundaries and four sixes, before he was caught by Maxwell at long-off off the bowling of Shane Watson.
Ravindra Jadeja only scored three runs before he was run out by Watson.
India eventually finished on 159/7 at the end of their 20 overs.
Watson, Maxwell, Starc, Hodge, Bollinger and Muirhead all took one wicket each.
Chasing 160 to win, Australia got off to an awful start as Finch was caught by Kohli at mid-on off the bowling of Ashwin for six runs.
White only lasted two balls before he was caught by Jadeja at mid-off off the bowling of Bhuvneshwar Kumar.
Things went from bad to worse for Australia when Watson had his stumps rearranged by debutant Mohit Sharma for only one run.
David Warner managed to 19 runs, but failed to convert it into a bigger score as he was caught by Rohit Sharma at deep midwicket off the bowling of Ashwin.
Maxwell made a quickfire 23 before he was cleaned up by Ashwin.
Bailey failed to save his team from sinking as he himself was caught by Kohli at deep midwicket off the bowling of Jadeja for eight runs.
Wicketkeeper Brad Haddin fared no better as he was caught by Rahane at deep square leg off the bowling of Amit Mishra for six runs.
Starc only made two runs before he was run out by Raina.
Hodge scored 13 runs before he was caught by Jadeja off the bowling of Mishra.
Ashwin put Australia out of their misery when Muirhead was caught behind for just three runs.
Australia were bowled out for a dismal 86, which left them 73 runs short of their target.
Ashwin was the most successful bowler with four wickets, while Mishra snapped up two and Kumar, Sharma and Jadeja chipped in with one wicket apiece.
Ashwin’s 4-11 were the best bowling figures for an Indian in Twenty20 International history.
Bailey was disgusted with his team’s performance and said: “I don’t think we’ve been fans of the way we’ve been playing. Lack of game sense on a number of occasions. Not much turn more than what you would expect. Hopefully we can play well against the host nation.”
Dhoni lauded Singh for his brilliant knock, and said: “We all know what kind of a player Yuvi is. I think this format ideally suits it (getting back into form). He decided to give himself time to play himself in. In the middle overs he wasn’t able to rotate but in the end overs we knew the firepower we had. Rahane opens in difficult conditions. This also gives Shikhar some free time to think about his game so both players will benefit.
“Today there was no dew at all. We need a day’s rest. Soccer is something the boys really love so we might come back and play. We play so much cricket all round the year so it’s difficult to get the guys to come out and train all the time so soccer is something they enjoy to get fit.”
Ashwin was named Man of the Match, and said: “Thought 160 was just above par. You have to cut the width for the right-hander, the line I’m bowling is not too wide outside off. We were stretched quite a bit while batting but we’re playing well the way we are.”