Photo: SAT/NN
From Neeraj Nanda
Sydney, 31 January: Australian Captain Shane Watson was speaking after his side’s seven-wicket loss to India at the Sydney Cricket Ground in the final Twenty20 International of the KFC Series, a result that gave India a clean sweep of all the three matches against Australia on Sunday night.
Shane said Australia will take the positives from the loss and had no doubt India wearing the tag of favorite for the ICC World Twenty20 in March to be held in India.
Shane made an unbeaten 124 out of his side’s 5-197 but India chased down the score, winning with a four off the last ball to finish on 3-200 with 52 to Rohit Sharma, 50 for player of the series Virat Kohli and an unbeaten 49 from Suresh Raina.
Raina who hit the winning boundary on the last ball of the match said, “Australia has no need to panic despite the series loss coming so close to the ICC World Twenty20.”
And added he won’t be blaming the loss on debutant wicketkeeper Cameron Bancroft, who missed a tough stumping chance to dismiss Raina before he had started scoring.
Australia’s next action is on Wednesday when it plays the first One-Day International of three on the Qantas Tour of New Zealand, with two Tests to follow.
– SAT News Service
