 | « Back to article | Print this article |
Images from the second T20 International between Australia and India in Melbourne, on Friday.
Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli maintained their prolific form with the bat to give India a series-clinching 27-run victory over Australia in the second Twenty20 International at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on Friday.
India seal T20 series after big win at MCG
Man-of-the-series in India's 4-1 defeat in the One-day internationals that preceded the T20s, Rohit hit a 47-ball 60 and partner Shikhar Dhawan (42) to give the touring side a brisk start.
Put in to bat, India rode their opening stand of 97 to amass 184-3 in their 20 overs, with Kohli providing a late assault in a strong top-order performance with a swashbuckling, unbeaten knock of 59.
Kohli, who smashed an unbeaten 90 in India's 37-run victory in Adelaide on Tuesday, hit seven boundaries and a six during his 33-ball knock.
Australia, who made six changes in the side from their last defeat, also made a strong start, with captain Aaron Finch providing the fireworks.
Finch (74) and Shaun Marsh added 94 for the opening wicket to keep Australia, who handed T20 debuts to three players, in the hunt but India's spinners picked up quick wickets to halt their march.
Finch hit eight fours and two sixes in his 48-ball knock before he was run-out trying to steal a quick single.
India captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni missed a regulation stumping off Marsh but made amends with smart work with the gloves to dismiss dangerman Glenn Maxwell for one off left-arm spinner Yuvraj Singh.
Dhoni was also lucky when the ball ricocheted off his pads to hit the stumps with James Faulkner out of his crease, the dismissal snuffing out Australia's hopes of levelling the series at 1-1.
The hosts could only manage 157-8 in their 20 overs.
Left-arm spinner Ravindra Jadeja and Jasprit Bumrah picked two wickets.
The final match of the series is in Sydney on Sunday.