Aussies primed for T20 decider

AFTER emphatically ending India’s dominance against them in the shortest form of the game, Australia are ready to prove they’re no T20 easybeats.

Hyderabad is the final stop on a one- month limited overs tour of India, with Friday’s match a chance to steal victory in the three- match series. The gulf between the two sides was evident in the one- day international series where the hosts prevailed 4- 1.

And when it looked as though the T20 series was destined for a similar fate after Australia lost a rain- affected match in Ranchi, they avoided an eighth- straight defeat by India in Guwahati.

Despite the remarkable growth of the Big Bash League and Australian players’ success in the IPL and other domestic competitions, the national side has failed to make an impact.

Australia has been knocked out of the last three World Twenty20 tournaments before the group stage and are currently ranked No. 6 in the world, one place behind India.

A win will see Australia switch positions with India, in a series where they’ve been without services of Chris Lynn, skipper Steve Smith in addition to front- line quicks Mitch Starc, Pat Cummins and Josh Hazlewood.

Australia’s resurgence was led by two players who were free of any scars picked up in the demoralising ODI series _ fast bowler Jason Behrendorff and all- rounder Moises Henriques. Behrendorff’s spell of 4- 21 set up an easily attainable target which Henriques ( 62 off 46) pursued in concert with Travis Head ( 48 off 34). It was a breakthrough knock for Head who struggled to build rhythm in his ODI innings.

“We spoke about keeping improving and getting better. We felt like during the ODIs that didn’t happen,” leg- spinner Adam Zampa said.