India recorded their first ever bilateral series triumph on Australian soil as they clinched the Twenty20 rubber by taking an unassailable 2-0 lead with a comprehensive 27-run victory in the second match, riding on an all-round show here on Friday.
Put in to bat, India relied on brilliant innings by Rohit Sharma (60) and Virat Kohli (59), along with a useful 42 by opener Shikhar Dhawan, to post a competitive 184/3.
Defending the target, the Indian bowlers put up a fine effort to rip through Australia’s middle order and restrict the hosts to 157/8 in 20 overs.
The Indians thus took a 2-0 lead in the three-match series, which ends on Sunday in Sydney.
This was India’s first ever bilateral series win Down Under. The Indians had earlier won a tri-series in 2007-08 and the Benson and Hedges World Championship in 1985.
The triumph is a remarkable turnaround for the Indians, who suffered a 1-4 debacle in the preceding ODI series.
In the day’s match as well, it was a turnaround of sorts by the bowlers, who withstood the early onslaught to make good recovery.
Chasing 185, Australia got off to a rollicking start as Shaun Marsh (23) paired up with skipper Aaron Finch (74, 48b, 8x4, 2x6) at the top.
India opened with Ashish Nehra (0/34) and Jasprit Bumrah (2/37), but instead of rotating the bowlers at the beginning like in Adelaide, the two were persisted with for the first six overs.
And they bled runs as the 50-mark came up for Australia in 31 balls. As soon as the power play got over though, Ravindra Jadeja (2/32) was brought into the attack and things started happening, though not in India’s favour. MS Dhoni missed a regulation stumping of Marsh, while at the other end Finch completed his 6th T20I fifty off just 27 balls, bringing it up with a six off R Ashwin (1/27).
Thereafter, Finch survived thrice. The bowlers continued to suffer and the only bright spark was when Hardik Pandya finally caught Marsh at long on.
It was also perhaps the turning point. The all-rounder removed Chris Lynn (2) in the next over, caught behind. Yuvraj Singh (1/7) had Glenn Maxwell (1) stumped in the 12th over, Dhoni not missing this time.
While the 100-mark came up for Australia, Shane Watson (15) looked like staying at the wicket and giving support to Finch, who continued hitting big as he was suffering from a hamstring problem.
The duo added 20 runs and were looking to calm things down. But Jadeja took a stunning reflex return catch off Watson in the 15th over.
And the match swung in India’s favour finally when Finch was run out off a superb throw from Jadeja.
score board
INDIA
Rohit (run out) 60
(47b, 5x4, 2x6)
Dhawan c Lynn b Maxwell 42
(32b, 3x4, 2x6)
Kohli (not out) 59
(33b, 7x4, 1x6)
Dhoni c Watson b Tye 14
(9b, 2x4)
Raina (not out) 0
Extras (LB-7, W-1, NB-1) 9
Total (For 3 wkts, 20 overs) 184
Fall of wickets: 1-97, 2-143, 3-181.
Bowling: Shane Watson 3-0-17-0, John Hastings 3-0-35-0, Scott Boland 4-0-30-0, James Faulkner 3-0-35-0, Andrew Tye 4-0-28-1, Nathan Lyon 1-0-15-0, Glenn Maxwell 2-0-17-1.
AUSTRALIA
Finch (run out) 74
(48b, 8x4, 2x6)
Marsh c Pandya b Ashwin 23
(23b, 2x4)
Lynn c Dhoni b Pandya 2
(4b)
Maxwell st Dhoni b Yuvraj 1
(2b)
Watson c & b Jadeja 15
(11b, 2x4)
Wade (not out) 16
(15b, 1x6)
Faulkner st Dhoni b Jadeja 10
(7b, 1x6)
Hastings b Bumrah 4
(6b)
Tye b Bumrah 4
(4b, 1x4)
Extras (B-1, LB-2, W-5) 8
Total (for 8 wkts, 20 overs) 157
Fall of wickets: 1-94, 2-99, 3-101, 4-121, 5-124, 6-137, 7-152, 8-157.
Bowling: Ashish Nehra 4-0-34-0, Jasprit Bumrah 4-0-37-2, Ravindra Jadeja 4-0-32-2, R Ashwin 4-0-27-1, Hardik Pandya 2-0-17-1, Yuvraj Singh 2-0-7-1.
