Watson to lead Australia for final India T20

Australia’s stand-in skipper Shane Watson has declared his preference for opening the batting with a blistering 124 not out against India, just weeks out from the ICC World Twenty20.

Suresh Raina (49 not out) and comeback man Yuvraj Singh (15 not out) kept their cool as they blasted the required 17 runs off the final over to chase down a mammoth target of 198 set by Australia.

Virat Kohli was adjudthe man of the series. Later, Kohli completed his 12th T20I fifty – third in the series – but soon lost his wicket being bowled by Boyce with India needing 51 runs in 5.1 overs.

Watson said because the series were so close, it had meant that players have “come in and out a lot more regularly than what would normally have happened”.

Left-handed batsman Usman Khawaja has replaced Finch in the squad for Sunday’s match and has also been included in Australia’s one-day worldwide squad for the tour of New Zealand.

“When Yuvraj got going, he delivered”.

“There will be time when you will not score runs, so when you are scoring runs, keep scoring”. Left-hander Marsh (9) had his stumps shattered when he went for a mistimed slog sweep off off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin.

After Kohli departed, Raina put together a 53 run partnership with Yuvraj Singh, who found it hard to get going initially. Travis Head then joined Watson in the middle and provided the muscle.

Watson also benefitted from India’s generosity.

Watson credited fellow allrounder Jacques Kallis with a reversal in form that saw him post consecutive half-centuries for the Thunder, which undoubtedly played a key role in his call-up to the national T20 side.

Finch hit eight fours and two sixes in his 48-ball knock before he was run out trying to steal a quick single.

After the hundred, he again hit Jadeja for a six and one off Nehra as his team mustered a total of 197 for five.

Australia now has the same number points as the West Indies, but it has played one less round of matches.