AUS vs IND: 2nd T20I Review – Natarajan, Hardik deliver sizzling series win

India have defeated Australia in the second T20I of the three-match series to pocket the contest with one match to go. The visitors opted to bowl first after winning the toss only to face the wrath of Australia’s stand-in skipper Matthew Wade. He smashed a 25-ball half-century to get the team off to a brilliant start. However, his partner D’Arcy Short couldn’t get going and was dismissed early.

After Wade was sent back in the eighth over, Steve Smith and Glenn Maxwell joined hands and kept the momentum going. They added 45 runs in quick time before Shardul Thakur stunned the latter who was looking dangerous. Smith continued to force the pace, smashing 46 runs off 38 balls while Marcus Stoinis had some fun at the death scoring 16* off just seven balls.

Australia posted 194/5 in 20 overs and the best bowler for India turned out to be T Natarajan with figures of 2/20 in his four overs.

The chase wasn’t going to be easy for India as KL Rahul and Shikhar Dhawan started cautiously. However, a no-ball from Andrew Tye opened the floodgates and the duo added 56 runs in less than six overs. Rahul got out on 30 but his partner batted well to get to his half-century. Though, he was dismissed at the wrong time with India still needing 100 runs to win in less than 10 overs.

Virat Kohli and Sanju Samson scored some quick runs but the visitors lost both set batsmen in a short time and the onus was on Hardik Pandya to deliver. And the man didn’t disappoint as he took the team home in the last over with a couple of sixes (with 2 balls to spare).

Turning Points

Natarajan’s spell: In an innings when all the other Indian bowlers went for eight runs and above, Natarajan kept it tight with his stunning bowling. It was for his bowling that the tourists managed to restrict Australia under 200. He dismissed Short and Moises Henriques and stalled the run-scoring at one end.

Hardik Pandya’s 22-ball 42* – There’s not an iota of doubt about the junior Pandya’s capabilities as a match-winning finisher. Hardik came out to bat in the 14th over with India still needing 75 runs off 38 balls and soon lost Virat Kohli as well. But the Baroda boy kept his cool and despite not middling much, didn’t throw his wicket. He took the game deep with Shreyas Iyer and then farmed the strike more in the last couple of overs to script an emphatic win. Pandya’s unbeaten 42 off 22 balls included three fours and two sixes.

2️⃣-0️⃣ ?#AUSvIND pic.twitter.com/tPL0c6tanJ

— 100MB (@100MasterBlastr) December 6, 2020

Personal Milestones/Records

• This is India’s 11th consecutive T20I without a defeat
• Australia are yet to win against India at the SCG
• Matthew Wade smashed the fastest T20I fifty (25 balls) for an Australian against India

Way Ahead

The third and final T20I of the series is set to be played on December 8 at the same venue. India will look to whitewash the hosts while a depleted Australia side will be looking to pull one back on the visitors.