Australian skipper Matthew Wade showered praise on Glenn Maxwell after they registered a thrilling win of five wickets against India in the third T20I at the Barsapara Cricket Stadium, Guwahati on Tuesday. Australia were in all kind of trouble at 134-5 while chasing 223 but Maxwell was able to get his team over the line with a blistering knock of 104 off just 48 balls.
Maxwell scored the joint-fastest T20I hundred for Australia and joined Josh Inglis and Aaron Finch as he completed his personal milestone off just 47 balls. This was Maxwell’s fourth T20I century and he leveled Rohit Sharma’s tally.
Meanwhile, Maxwell scored eight fours and as many sixes in his blistering knock and scored at a blistering strike rate of 216.67. In fact, 43 runs were needed off the final two overs but Maxwell and Wade were able to get their team over the line against Axar Patel and Prasidh Krishna.
Maxwell smashed Prasidh Krishna for 18 runs on the last four balls as the lanky pacer could not execute his plans.
On the other hand, Wade revealed he had to give the final over to Glenn Maxwell because of injury to Kane Richardson. Maxwell was taken for 30 runs by Ruturaj Gaikwad but he was able to deliver with the bat.
Matthew Wade said in the post-match presentation, “You don’t get much better than that. It was hard work. Injury to Kane (Richardson) threw a spanner in the works and had to bowl Maxi in the last over. He played brilliantly, got a 100 in his 100th T20I. Wouldn’t say I was confident, I was a bit grumpy going in at the halfway mark.”
He added, “Thought we were in the game at 190 after the 19th over but the last over went for 30. Richardson hurt himself so I was one over short. All in good fun in the end, Maxi probably wouldn’t have got a 100 if he didn’t toss up 30 in that over. The boys are in good spirits, hopefully we can pinch another one in the next game and take it down to the last game.”
The fourth T20I between India and Australia will be played at the Shaheed Veer Narayan Singh International Stadium, Raipur on Friday.
