India, Australia share T20I series as wet outfield abandons series decider in Hyderabad

The third and final match of the T20I series was abandoned in Hyderabad due to wet outfield after rain lashed the city over the last week. India, Australia shared the series 1-1.

MS Dhoni Virat Kohli — File photo of Virat Kohli with MS DhoniJEWEL SAMAD/AFP/Getty Images

The final T20I of the three-match series between India and Australia was abandoned due to a wet outfield in Hyderabad on Friday, October 13. The series ended in a draw after both teams had won a match each.

The 3rd T20I against Australia has been called off due to a wet outfield. The series is drawn 1-1 #INDvAUS pic.twitter.com/mzM9dZUKzS
— BCCI (@BCCI) October 13, 2017

The weather gods were kind, but the outfield was soggy due to rain that had lashed the city over the last two weeks. The umpires had multiple inspections, but the conditions did not improve despite tireless work from the groundsmen at the Rajiv Gandhi International stadium.

The outfield was deemed unfit for play as it was soggy and layers of grass were coming off easily as the umpires and the match referee were inspecting the ground. There was disappointment in store for more than 20,000 people who had come to witness the series decider on Friday.

Full marks and more to this Hyderabad crowd for the manner in which they took the disappointment of a no-show today.
— Harsha Bhogle (@bhogleharsha) October 13, 2017

Earlier in the series, India won the rain-affected opening T20I in Ranchi by nine wickets after bowling limiting the visitors to 118/8 in 18.4 overs. Virat Kohli was miffed with the revised target of 48 in 6 overs, but the skipper led from the front to take India past the line.

Waner's Australia though bounced back in Guwahati on Tuesday, October 10 and comprehensively outplayed the hosts.

The Sunrisers Hyderabad skipper led the side brilliantly well in Guwahati. Left-arm pacer Jason Behrendorff gave the visitors the start -- four wickets in the powerplay, including Kohli for 0 -- they were needing after a disastrous ODI series and the first T20I.

Moises Henriques and Travis Head showed Australia were not just dependent on openers Warner and Aaron Finch while Adam Zampa, who had been struggling ever since Hardik Pandya took him to the cleaners in the first match of the tour in Chennai, fought back with two important wickets in the middle order.

Meanwhile, India will next take on a visiting New Zealand side in the first of a three-match ODI series on October 22 at the Wankhede Stadium. Kane Williamson's men will also play a three-match T20I series during their tour to India.