After Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli Fifties, India Spinners Seal T20 Series Win vs Australia
Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli slammed blazing fifties to help India post a record score at the MCG. Ravindra Jadeja led the spinners to choke the Australians for an emphatic T20 series win. Catch all the highlights here.
A record opening partnership at the MCG between Rohit Sharma and Shikhar Dhawan and a Virat Kohli blitzkrieg powered India to the highest total in Melbourne. However, Australia made a flying start as Aaron Finch smashed his 6th T20 fifty to put the hosts in the driver's seat but Australia lost wickets in quick succession to hand India the win. Catch all the highlights here. (SCORECARD | SCHEDULE | NEWS)
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15:58 hrs IST: That's all from us folks!! See you for the final T20 game on Sunday at Sydney!!
15:49 hrs IST: Bumrah has been consistent at the death overs. His action and yorkers are important for us. He will only get better: MS Dhoni
15:48 hrs IST: It's fun for the fans. They wanted India to win the series. Thanks to them: MS Dhoni
15:47 hrs IST: India's spinners are very skilled. They make it challenging. We didn't have partnerships: Shane Watson
15:46 hrs IST: Rohit and Shikhar have laid some great platforms for me to express myself. I am timing the ball well and not complicate things: Virat Kohli
15:45 hrs IST: Love coming to Australia. Happy to see support from Indians. Feels like home: Virat Kohli, Man of Match in MCG T20
15:42 hrs IST: Great day for India in Melbourne!! First the women's cricket team clinched the T20 series, then Sania Mirza, partnering Martina Hingis, won the women's doubles Australian Open crown, and now the men's cricket team have added the cherry on the cake.
- cricket.com.au (@CricketAus) January 29, 2016
15:36 hrs IST: Out!! Bowled!! Bumrah cleans up Tye in the last ball of the match. India have won the second T20 by 27 runs and also clinched the series 2-0 with a match to spare. What a performance from the Men in Blue!!
India get the W at the 'G! #AUSvIND pic.twitter.com/Zra0MRQTSR
- cricket.com.au (@CricketAus) January 29, 2016
15:33 hrs IST: Four!! That was crunched through the covers by Andrew Tye. Little too late though!!
15:31 hrs IST: Out!! John Hastings is clean bowled from a Bumrah full length delivery. Great bowling!! Hosts lose their seventh wicket.
15:29 hrs IST: Nehra bowling really well. All yorkers from the lanky pacer - impossible to get away! Australia need 34 off the last six ball. Remember Yuvraj's six sixes - anything is possible!!
15:23 hrs IST: Six!! Wade comes down the wicket and smashes Ashwin over deep mid-wicket.
15:19 hrs IST: Out!! Faulkner is stumped off Jadeja's bowling. But that was lucky for Dhoni and India. Faulkner goes for a cut but misses it, the ball ricochets off Dhoni's pad and into the stumps. Faulkner was just outside his crease. Australia now need 48 off 18 balls.
Faulkner is incredibly stumped without Dhoni using his gloves! Out for 10, Aus 6-137 #AUSvIND pic.twitter.com/9CO9ccBsGv
- cricket.com.au (@CricketAus) January 29, 2016
15:17 hrs IST: Six!!Faulkner swats Jadeja over the deep mid-wicket boundary. Australia refusing to give up and till the time Faulkner is there, they still have a chance.
15:15 hrs IST: What a dramatic turnaround for India!! They looked down and out but just brilliant fielding has brought them back from the dead. Imagine three dropped catches in the midst. Australia require 57 off 22 balls
17:11 hrs IST: Out!! Finch is run out for 74 off 48 balls. Australia have lost the plot here.
Finch is run out! And it looks like the skipper has hurt his hamstring. Gone for 74, Aus 5-124 (15.2) #AUSvIND pic.twitter.com/TVCcvSnfVk
- cricket.com.au (@CricketAus) January 29, 2016
17:09 hrs IST: Watson just couldn't believe it. Jadeja caught a bullet in thin air!! Brilliant stuff! Australia are 124-4 after 15 overs.
17:06 hrs IST: Out!! Watson is gone for 15 off 11 balls. Brilliant return catch from Jadeja!! That was struck really hard but the Indian all-rounder takes a blinder. Australia lose their fourth wicket.
17:05 hrs IST: Watson sweeps Jadeja delivery but Yadav makes a brilliant stop to save two runs.
17:03 hrs IST: Great over from Yuvraj. Just 4 runs from it!! Australia are 119-3 after 14 overs.
17:02 hrs IST: Australia need 69 off 40 balls. We are in for a humdinger!! But India need more wickets.
A cracking finish coming up at the @MCG! Predictions? #AUSvIND pic.twitter.com/mMM95FEVnh
- cricket.com.au (@CricketAus) January 29, 2016
17:00 hrs IST: Four!! Shane Watson with a beautiful cut shot, giving the short third man and point fielder no chance. Australia are 115-3 after 13 overs.
16:58 hrs IST: Indian fans are loving it at the MCG!!
Listen to the fans! #AUSvIND pic.twitter.com/LpgRfTw7To
- cricket.com.au (@CricketAus) January 29, 2016
16:53 hrs IST: Out!! Yuvraj does it for India again!! Maxwell comes charging down the wicket but missed a full length ball from Yuvi. Dhoni this times makes no mistake and removes the bails in a flash. Triple strike for India as Maxwell is stumped for just 1 run.
16:52 hrs IST: Yuvraj into the attack and the crowd goes mad. 'The Yuvi Effect'
16:49 hrs IST: Out!! Chris Lynn tries to pull Pandya but top edges it. The ball went high up and was swirling around but Dhoni kept his cool to dismiss Lynn for 2 off 4 balls. Australia lose their second wicket.
16:45 hrs IST: Out!! Finally India hold on to a catch. Marsh tried to clear the long on fielder but couldn't make a proper connection and Pandya pouches it safely. Marsh gone for 23 off 23 balls. Australia are 95-1 after 10 overs.
16:44 hrs IST: Dropped Again!! What is happening here. Finch lofts that to deep mid-wicket with Dhawan stationed there and the Indian opener drops a sitter. Third lifeline for Finch.
16:42 hrs IST: Dropped!! Finch is dropped again and this time its Rishi Dhawan, who came running from fine leg but made a hash of things.
16:38 hrs IST: Six!! Finch again tries to deposit the ball over deep mid-wicket boundary but there was a fielder there. Umesh Yadav, the substitute fielder made a valiant effort but failed to grasp the catch as the ball went over the ropes. Australia are 89-0 after 20 overs.
16:35 hrs IST: Six!! Ashwin is greeted with a maximum as Finch launches that over deep mid-wicket. That is also fifty for Finch - his 6th T20 half-century and second against India.
16:34 hrs IST: Ashwin into the attack!!
16:32 hrs IST: Chance gone!! Dhoni misses a stumping off Jadeja's bowling. Marsh given a lifeline!!
Marsh survives a stumping chance due to a Dhoni fumble #AUSvIND pic.twitter.com/epAvFgLMgE
- cricket.com.au (@CricketAus) January 29, 2016
16:30 hrs IST: Australia are motoring along now and India desperately need a wicket. Australia are 62-0 after 6 overs.
16:26 hrs IST: Four!! Short from Bumrah and Marsh puts it away to the square leg boundary with a brilliant pull.
16:25 hrs IST: Four!! Another boundary for Finch and its again Nehra, who has bowled a poor delivery.
16:17 hrs IST: Four!! Bumrah bowls a short one and takes Finch's top edge and goes to the boundary.
16:16 hrs IST: Another Four!! Third on the trot. Nehra taken to the cleaners. 16 runs from that over. Australia are 30-0 after 3 overs.
16:15 hrs IST: Four more!! Short and Finch punishes it through mid-wicket boundary. Nehra coming under pressure.
16:14 hrs IST: Four!! Nehra strays down the leg and Finch just glances it to fine leg boundary.
16:12 hrs IST: Excellent fielding from Hardik Pandya. Saves 1 run as the Aussies run three!
16:10 hrs IST: Four!! Finch joins the party. Caresses Bumrah's delivery straight down the ground. Australia are 14-0 after 2 overs.
16:09 hrs IST: Some bad news for Delhi fans! The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) on Friday announced that the venue of the second Twenty20 International match of the three-match home series against Sri Lanka has been shifted from Delhi to Ranchi.
16:08 hrs IST: Four!! Marsh gets his first boundary off Jasprit Bumrah's bowling.
16:03 hrs IST: Ashish Nehra gives a single off the first ball.
Here we go! #AUSvIND pic.twitter.com/4mJPpIFnR4
- cricket.com.au (@CricketAus) January 29, 2016
16:01 hrs IST: Players are out in the field and we are about to start, what is set to be a mouthwatering chase.
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15:41 hrs IST: Single off the last ball takes India to 184-3 after 20 overs. Australia will have to bat out of their skins to overhaul this total.
15:40 hrs IST: Two runs by Kohli!! Highest total at MCG!!
15:39 hrs IST: Out!! Dhoni is holed out at long off! Tye gets his maiden T20 international wicket. He has bowled well today and deserved that wicket. India are 181-3 after 19.4 overs.
15:37 hrs IST: Two singles after that. India are about to overhaul the highest score at the MCG. 182-9 by Australia against South Africa in 2009!
15:34 hrs IST: Four!! Fifty for Kohli!! His 11th T20 career half-century. What a tremendous player!! 53 off just 29 balls!!
15:31 hrs IST: Four!! That was hit with mind boggling power. Dhoni almost took out Faulkner's head there.
15:28 hrs IST: Four!! Full toss and Dhoni smashes hit to the square leg boundary. India are 166-2 after 18 overs.
What a venue! More than 53,000 fans here at the @MCG enjoying tonight's action #AUSvIND pic.twitter.com/dqZ8akr3tO
- cricket.com.au (@CricketAus) January 29, 2016
15:27 hrs IST: Four!! Kohli gets a thick edge and the ball runs away to the third man boundary.
15:24 hrs IST: Four!! Kohli with another tremendous shot. India are 152-2 after 17 overs.
15:22 hrs IST: Dhoni walks out to bat!! No Yuvraj yet.
15:19 hrs IST: Out!! Rohit is run out!! Big misunderstanding between Rohit and Kohli leaves the former stranded. Sad end to a brilliant innings. He is gone for 60 off 47 balls.
15:16 hrs IST: Four!! Kohli is dealing in boundaries!! He has moved on to 29 off 15 balls.
15:14 hrs IST: Indian fans are being treated to a batting masterclass!!
Four more to the score! #AUSvIND pic.twitter.com/DCYApQ2MYy
- cricket.com.au (@CricketAus) January 29, 2016
15:13 hrs IST: Six!! Kohli is in full flow now. He deposits that over long off for his first maximum of the match.
15:10 hrs IST: Four!! Kohli crunches another one over cover. India are 122-1 after 14 overs.
15:08 hrs IST: Back to back fours!! Virat Kohli in the thick of things now. One over square and then over cover.ÂÂ
14:59 hrs IST: Four!! Rohit reaches his eighth T20 fifty and his second against Australia.
Highlights of Shikhar Dhawan's swashbuckling knock: https://t.co/anr7GcsEUr #AUSvIND pic.twitter.com/uDRmzsMllJ
- cricket.com.au (@CricketAus) January 29, 2016
14:57 hrs IST: Out!! Dhawan tries a reverse sweep but only manages to find a fielder at point. India lose their first wicket and Maxwell gets his man.
14:54 hrs IST: Six!! Rohit has smashed that straight down the ground off the bowling of Maxwell.
14:51 hrs IST: Boland is bowling well. One run off his first over and now just 3 off the next. India are 86-0 after 10 overs.
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14:47 hrs IST: This is the highest T20 stand in T20s played at the MCG.
14:45 hrs IST: Lyon's debut over in T20 cricket goes for 15 runs. India are 77-0 after 8 overs.
14:44 hrs IST: Six!! Rohit deposits a Nathan Lyon delivery to the mid-wicket boundary with disdain.
14:39 hrs IST: Six!! Behind the wicket this time. He glides that with an uppercut to third man boundary.
14:38 hrs IST: Four!! Dhawan comes down the track and hits it straight. Not a convincing shot but effective nonetheless.
14:34 hrs IST: Andrew Tye has started well. Just six off that over.
14:29 hrs IST: Four!! Now that's just class. After the all that power now a lovely touch from Rohit. He just glides that to the third man boundary. India are flying at 44-0 after 5 overs.
14:28 hrs IST: Four!! Smashed straight down the ground by Rohit. Wow!! What batting!! What clean hitting!
14:27 hrs IST: Four!! Rohit paddles a Faulkner delivery to the fine leg boundary for another four for India.
14:24 hrs IST: Six!! What a shot!! Smashes that over square leg for the maximum. Dhawan seems to be in the mood and Hastings is bearing the brunt. 17 off the over. India are 29-0 after 4 overs.
14:23 hrs IST: Four!! Dhawan smashes it through point this time. Comes down the track and hits it grounded.
14:22 hrs IST: Four!! BOOM! That was crunched through the covers by Rohit. Some width and he throws the kitchen sink at it.
14:17 hrs IST: Just one run from the next five balls. Hastings got his radar back quickly. India are 10-0 after 2 overs.
14:14 hrs IST: Four!! Dhawan clips a Hastings delivery on his leg to the fine-leg boundary. India off to a good start.
14:12 hrs IST: Four!! Leg byes down to fine-leg. Hits the pad of Rohit. India are 5-0 after 1 over.
14:11 hrs IST: Watson with a wide ball. But has beaten the bat couple of times.
14:08 hrs IST: Players are out in the field. Rohit Sharma and Shikhar Dhawan to open. And Shane Watson to start the proceedings.
13:59 hrs IST: It's been a great day for Indians in Melbourne and hopefully it will continue. First, the cricket women's team clinched the T20 series by winning the second T20 and following that in a different sport, Sania Mirza and her women's doubles partner Martina Hingis clinched the Australian Open crown.
13:52 hrs IST: India XI: MS Dhoni (c), Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, Yuvraj Singh, Shikhar Dhawan, Suresh Raina, Ravindra Jadeja, Hardik Pandya, Ravichandran Ashwin, Jasprit Bumrah, Ashish Nehra
Australia XI: Aaron Finch (c), Shaun Marsh, Chris Lynn, Glenn Maxwell, Shane Watson, Mathew Wade, James Faulkner, John stings, Scott Boland, Andrew Tye, Nathan Lyon
13:40 hrs IST: Australia captain Aaron Finch won the toss and India will bat again. India have unchanged side while six changes for the hosts.
Australia have won the toss and elected to BOWL! #AUSvIND pic.twitter.com/34Dc65goF1
- cricket.com.au (@CricketAus) January 29, 2016
13:38 hrs IST: No David Warner and Steven Smith for Australia. Nathan Lyon, Scott Boland and Andrew Tye will make their debut.
The great @r_harris413 presents @sboland24, @NathLyon421 and @aj191 with their Aussie T20 caps! #AUSvIND pic.twitter.com/AtTAnm7iVn
- cricket.com.au (@CricketAus) January 29, 2016
13:34 hrs IST: Rain threatens to play spoilsport but as of now the rain gods are showing some mercy. India already have something to cheer about as the women's team took an unbeatable 2-0 lead against Australia in the T20 series. Hope the men can do the same.
Pitch prep at the @MCG. Coin toss in 10 minutes #AUSvIND pic.twitter.com/RweaQ1pVFQ
- cricket.com.au (@CricketAus) January 29, 2016
13:32 hrs IST: Welcome to the second Twenty20 match of the series. India will be looking to inflict more pain after winning the first game quite comfortably. Toss is just minutes away.ÂÂ
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In the first Twenty20 international in Adelaide, which India won by 37 runs, Virat Kohli continued his sizzling form to score an unbeaten 90 off just 55 balls. He was assisted well by Suresh Raina (41), Rohit Sharma (31) and Dhoni (11*).
After a long gap, the Indian bowlers too fired in unison with Jasprit Bumrah being the pick of the lot. The youngster returned with figures of 3/23. Ravindra Jadeja, Ravichandran Ashwin and debutant Hardik Pandya too were amongst the wickets.
Ahead of the World Twenty20 at home in March-April, the way Team India coped with pressure against Australia definitely augurs well for future.
To add to India's benefit, Australia will be without David Warner and Steven Smith, who have left the squad to prepare for the upcoming New Zealand tour. Though the duo could not do well in the first Twenty20, their presence alone can change the course of the game.
In their absence, a fit-again Glenn Maxwell and Shaun Marsh are likely to have a look in and India need to tackle the big-hitters cautiously. Aaron Finch has been the lone bright spot for Kangaroos, but the likes of Shane Watson, Chris Lynn can be dangerous.
On the bowling front, with the exception of Watson, all other bowlers including Kane Richardson, James Faulkner and Shaun Tait had an economy rate of more than 7.50. While Australia would be eager to change that stat, Indian batsmen would not be too concerned as they have been going through a purple patch of late.
Only opener Shikhar Dhawan has been a bit shaky. If he can pull up his socks in time, this Indian side would definitely be the favourites for the 2016 World Twenty20, as predicted by former India captain Sunil Gavaskar to NDTV.