Canberra T20I washed out just as SKY hits much-needed form

India’s first chance to erase some of the pain from the recent ODI series loss to Australia and show the local fans what they can do in T20Is was ultimately dashed by rain in Canberra, where the opening match was abandoned due to rain after 9.4 overs.

In that time, India put up 97/1 on the board, with captain Suryakumar Yadav showing a return to form with 39 not out from 24 deliveries and ODI skipper Shubman Gill getting his first score of note on tour, and unbeaten 37 off 20. The only wicket to fall was that of the No 1 ranked batsman in T20Is, Abhishek Sharma, who charged down first ball faced in Australia from Josh Hazlewood during a brief stay at the crease which gave him 19 off 14. 

Rain twice interrupted play, and the second shower proved a dampener for the fans gathered at Manuka Oval. After the first break in play the match was reduced to 18 overs, but in the end the whole affair was called off before 10pm local time as the rain increased. 

The next match is at the MCG on Friday, where over 80,000 fans are expected to attend. 

Suryakumar, coming off a lean run of form in T20Is, looked a different batsman in the little time he had to bat. He struck two sixes and three fours in his unbeaten innings, which formed the bulk of a partnership of 62 from 35 balls. Gill, who struggled in the ODI series, hit four fours and a six.

Abhishek was the only wicket to fall when he drove a ball from Nathan Ellis to Tim David at mid-off in the fourth over, after Australia captain Mitchell Marsh opted to field for the 18th straight time in T20I cricket. 

Rain first stopped play with India’s score at 43/1 after five overs, and later at 97/1 with SKY showing signs of putting up a big score. This was just the second time since the IPL that he had passed 30 in T20Is, with his previous 14 games for India yielding an average of 10.50.