India vs Australia: Shane Watson Slams Maiden Twenty20 International Century in Sydney, Breaks Plethora of Records
Shane Watson became the first player to score a T20 international hundred against India, during the third and final match in Sydney.
Australia's stand-in captain Shane Watson struck a strokeful hundred against India in the third and final Twenty20 international in Sydney on Sunday. Watson's unbeaten 124 off 71 balls guided Australia to 197 for five. (Live Blog | Scorecard)
Watson, who was handed over the reigns after regular skipper Aaron Finch was ruled out due to a hamstring pull, took 60 balls to reach his maiden T20 international century when he drove Ravindra Jadeja for a four past mid wicket in the 17th over.
Batting at his favourite opening position in his 50th innings, Watson took on the Indian bowlers right from the start as he hit 10 fours and six sixes in his entertaining knock. Thanks to his blazing innings, he became the first Australian ever to score a hundred in all formats in international cricket.
Things got better for Watson as the day progressed. He got the vital wicket of Shikhar Dhawan for 26 and took the vital catch of Rohit Sharma for 52. He bowled a tight over towards the end to finish with figures of 4-0-30-1. However, his exploits were not enough as India chased down 197 to complete a 3-0 clean sweep. Watson ended up as the Man of the Match for his all-round exploits.
Other statistical highlights of Watson's innings:
# The 34-year-old all-rounder became the second Aussie after Finch to score a ton
# He also became the first player in the history of the shortest format to hit a hundred against India. The previous best was Chris Gayle's 98 in Bridgetown during the 2010 World Twenty20.
# He now holds the record for the highest score by a captain in T20Is, going past Faf du Plessis's 119 against the West Indies in Johannesburg in 2015.
# His 124 not out is also the second-highest individual score in T20Is. Finch holds the record for highest individual score of 156 against England in Southampton in 2013.
# His score is also the highest on Australian soil. Damien Martin had scored 96 against South Africa in Brisbane in 2009.