India defeated Australia by 6 wickets to bag the three-match T20i series at Sydney Cricket Ground on Sunday. Hardik Pandya gets a new name of a finisher as, with 14 runs needed off the last over he finished off the match with two balls spare, hitting two 6’s.
The visitors won the toss and choose to bowl first, with Matthew Wade smashing a half-century with support from Steve Smith. Later on, Marcus Stoinis and Henriques added support to them. Mitchell Swepson was the pick of the bowlers for Australia. The leg-spinner picked up a wicket and gave away just 25 runs.
Chasing a huge total of 195 runs, Shikhar Dhawan gave the visitors the perfect platform with a rapid half-century with great support from skipper Virat Kohli making 40 runs, KL Rahul making 30 runs and Shreyas Iyer coming in the middle orders. Hardik Pandya then smashed an unbeaten knock of 42 by hitting two 6’s.
T Natarajan’s lethal yorkers and Yuzvendra Chahal’s magical spin added to India’s win with the help of Deepak Chahar and Shardul Thakur.
Another funny incidence occurred during the match During the thrilling second T20i between Australia and India. Australian wicket-keeper and stand-in captain Matthew Wade rued not being as quick as Dhoni, after a close call on an attempted stumping against India opener Shikhar Dhawan. Immediately after the third umpire decision, Wade was heard telling Dhawan that he was not as quick as MS Dhoni. “Not Dhoni, not quick enough like Dhoni,” Wade is heard saying from behind the stumps as Dhawan breaks into a laugh.
A spirited all-round performance from India saw them registering a comprehensive win over Australia in the second T20I at the Sydney Cricket Ground on Friday and take an unassailable 2-0 lead in the 3 match T20 series.
