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Jason Behrendorff's inspired spell of fast bowling had India reeling
Kedar Jadhav’s 27 and Hardik Pandya’s 25 were the only notable contributions with the bat for the hosts
India had a bad day in office in the second Twenty20 International against Australia at the Barsapara Cricket Stadium, in Guwahati, on Tuesday.
Nothing went right for the home side after Australia captain David Warner won the toss and chose to bowl.
Playing only his second international match, 27-year-old Jason Behrendorff scythed through India's top order. He took four wickets for 21 runs in an inspired spell of fast bowling to set up an eight-wicket victory and enable the tourists square the three-match series at 1-1.
The left-arm pacer dismissed opening batsman Rohit Sharma and India captain Virat Kohli in his first over and then took the wickets of Shikhar Dhawan and Manish Pandey to reduce the hosts to 27 for 4 inside the first five overs.
India never recovered from the terrible start and were all out for 118 in their 20 overs.
Kedar Jadhav’s 27 and Hardik Pandya’s 25 were the only notable contributions with the bat for the hosts.
Leg-spinner Adam Zampa maintained the pressure up on the Indian middle order, dismissing Mahendra Singh Dhoni and Kedar Jadhav for figures of two for 19 in his four overs.
The touring side, which lost the one-day series 4-1 and the first T20 by nine wickets, attained the target of 119 with 27 balls to spare.
"It was unbelievable. Bowling four (overs) upfront doesn't happen too often and I was lucky to do it," said Behrendorff, during the innings break.
"Bowling upfront and swinging the new ball is my strength and it is an honour to be opening the bowling for your country."
After a poor show with the bat, India's bowlers looked ordinary, offering too many loose balls to Travis Head and Moises Henriques.
Wrist spinners Kuldeep Yadav and Yuzvendra Chahal conceded 75 runs in 7.3 overs. Kuldeep had an ordinary day; he bowled too many loose deliveries in the middle overs, giving away 46 runs in his four.
Australia lost openers Warner and Aaron Finch early in their chase, giving India hope of an unlikely victory but Henriques and Head combined in an unbroken stand of 109 for the third wicket to take them to victory.
Henriques hit four sixes and an identical number of boundaries to remain unbeaten on 62 for his second half century in T20.
Head was not out on 48 as Australia completed a convincing victory.
Hyderabad will host the deciding match of the series on Friday.