An incredible knock from Hardik Pandya has slipped Australia to its third defeat in a row.
Touring team India turned Matthew Wade's debut captaincy into a nightmare after chasing down the target of 195 with six wickets in hand as the men in blue continued their dominance with a third consecutive win of the tour in an undulating encounter at the Sydney Cricket Ground on Sunday.
Virat Kohli of India congratulates batsmen Shreyas Iyer ands Hardik Pandya following their win over Australia at the SCG, Sydney, Sunday, December 6, 2020. Source: AAP
Highlights:
- Hardik Pandya lined up his scoring zones with brutal efficiency to seal the series for India
- Hardik, Dhawan, Natarajan hand India unassailable 2-0 lead in T20 series
- Touring team India turned Matthew Wade's debutant captaincy run into a nightmare
Pandya steers India home to clinch series
The master finisher by no means played a lone hand in India’s sudden resurgence. Opener Shikhar Dhawan, KL Rahul and Virat Kohli made sure that India remained in the contest until its closing passages, whereupon Pandya lined up his scoring zones with brutal efficiency to seal the series for India.
India at one point required 75 runs off only 38 balls to dominate the game. That is when Hardik Pandya went to the crease and flipped the match on its head.
Shreyas Iyer (12 from 5) at that point ventured up with two boundaries toward the finish of the seventeenth over to leave Pandya with 25 more to pursue off the last two overs.
India's Hardik Pandya plays a shot during the second T20 international cricket match between Australia and India at the Sydney Cricket Ground in Sydney Source: AAP
The gun all-rounder required just 10 balls, raising the victory runs hitting two huge sixes in the final over to give India a dramatic win in the second T20I against Australia. Pandya finished it with 42 runs off 22 balls to be named man-of-the-match.
Virat Kohli of India hits a six during the second T20 cricket match between Australia and India at the SCG, Sydney, Sunday, December 6, 2020. Source: AAP
Natarajan shines to hand India victory:
Making his debut in the Australia tour currently underway, Thangarasu Natarajan has already contributed in two of India’s victories.
According to ESPNcricinfo's Smart Stats, Natarajan made the biggest impact in the match with 107.27 points.
After finishing the chase with a barrage of boundaries, Pandya said Natarajan should have been the Man of the Match instead of him.
Wade had his dream fade
Hosting team Australia was led by opener Matthew Wade in the absence of Aaron Finch who suffered a glute injury in Friday's series opener in Canberra, and he led the innings from the front with a swift half-century.
The rest of the Australian innings was fitful, and without Pat Cummins, Josh Hazlewood or Mitchell Starc, the bowling was well delivered but genuinely below the standard level of expertise.
It was unexpected when Wade tried to find or clear the boundary and hit the ball towards Kohli and then immediately turned on his heels as if he was already dismissed. This was a mistake, as Kohli dropped the catch and since Wade took his eyes off the ball, he found himself run out by Kohli’s return.
Matthew Wade of Australia walks from the pitch after being then run out of Virat Kohli of India during the second T20 cricket match between Australia and India Source: AAP
People in Australia must stay at least 1.5 metres away from others. Check your state’s restrictions on gathering limits.
If you are experiencing cold or flu symptoms, stay home and arrange a test by calling your doctor or contact the Coronavirus Health Information Hotline on 1800 020 080.
