India has taken the Dettol T20I series against Australia. The 2nd T20I between India and Australia lived up to its promise of being a thriller at the SCG. The thriller lit up the crowd, with Pandya’s heroics at the end. Pandya bailed out India just when Australia looked like taking the game away with 42 off 22 Balls. He hit two breathtaking sixes in the last over to put Indian supporters over the moon.
Australia Set a Big Target
As expected, Australia came out with the intent to score runs on a batting-friendly SCG, which had seen high scoring games in ODIs. Mathew Wade, captaining the side in place of Finch, was the aggressor. He showed his intent in the first over scoring 13 runs with 3 fours. Short left early when Natarajan got him in the fifth over.
Wade continued to score off seamers and Sundar in the powerplay. Like in the previous T20I, Australia scored at a run rate of 10 in the powerplay. However, the pitch looked batting friendly and Aussies were in no mood to let this match go out of hands. Wade finally got out in a funny fashion. Virat Kohli dropped a sitter in the circle and then threw at the striker’s end to catch Wade out of the crease – a much-needed breakthrough for India.
Steve Smith and Glen Maxwell, now at the crease, were in no mood to waste a good start. They scored runs rapidly with Maxwell taking a liking to the spinners. Smith on the other hand, rotated the strike, and hitting odd boundaries. It was clear that Aussies wanted to keep the pace alive in the middle overs.
Maxwell was first to go scooping a catch at point off Thakur’s bowling. Smith tried to keep the scoring rate high but vanished in the 18th over, scoring valuable 46 off 38 balls. Stoinis and Henriques scored quick 20s to get Australia to a formidable 194-4.
For India, the bowlers had an off day with Australia looking to be aggressive right from the first ball. All bowlers, except Natarajan, went for almost 10 an over. Natarajan, playing only his 2nd T20 international, bowled an exceptional spell of 2-20 in 4 overs. India might need to relook at its strategy in the last T20I to prevent leakage of runs.
India Chase Down with a Thrilling Finish
WIth no Starc and Hazelwood in the attack, India must have favored their chances. Still scoring at 10 an over to win the match, India needed to play the shots. India started slow, with India scoring only 9 in the first two overs. The floodgates opened when Rahul got a free hit and bludgeoned it over the covers for six. Both Rahul and Dhawan then scored freely to stitch together a partnership of 52. Rahul was the first to go, falling in the sixth over.
Dhawan and Kohli carried on the momentum, till Dhawan fell sweeping the ball in the deep. Kohli looked more focused, and had the fans in frenzy when he hit an ABD like six! Samsun had a brief stay at the crease, hitting just one long six and a boundary. Pandya came ahead of Shreyas Iyer, and much depended on him in the absence of Ravindra Jadeja.
Kohli did score fast, but fell to a wide bouncer, making 40 off just 22 balls. Pandya and Iyer had a mountain to climb in the last three overs. The 18th over from Zampa saw 12 runs, with Iyer hitting a 117 m six. The 19th oversaw two boundaries, with 15 to get off the last over.
Tye was given the responsibility of defending 15, and Australia looked good. Pandya, however, had other plans. He nonchalantly hit two towering sixes to get India a series win. Australian bowlers leaked runs regularly, and it was eventually India’s day. India now have ten consecutive T20I wins.
The next T20I match will be held on December 8 at the same ground. Though a dead rubber, Australia will have pride to play for. It will be interesting to see if India makes any changes