Canberra, Dec 4 (UNI) Half century from KL Rahul and Ravindra Jadeja's quickfire not out 44 off 23 helped India post a challenging 161/7 in 20 overs against Australia in the first T20 here on Friday.
Rahul 51 off 40 with 5 fours and one six and Jadeja's knock of 44 off 23 balls with 5 fours and a six took India to a challenging total.
The visitors lost opener Shikhar Dhawan early for just 1 in 2.5 over bowled by Starc after departure of Dhawan wickets continued to fall in form of skipper Virat Kohli at 9 in 6.4 over, Sanju Samson 23 off 15 (1 four, 1 six) in 11.1 over, Manish Pandey 2 in 12.4 over, Rahul 51 in 13.5 over,
Hardik Pandya 16 in 16.5 over and Washington Sundar 7 in 19.3 over.
The top scorer was KL Rahul 51 followed by Jadeja 44 not out, Samson 23, Pandya 16.
But it was heroics from Rahul 51 and Jadeja's 44 not out and in the middle order 23 from Samson and another 16 runs from Hardik taking India to 161/7.
For Australia Henriques picked 3/22, Starc 2/34, Zampa 1/20, Swepson 1/21.
UNI NC 1623