Daniel Sams snared the prized scalp of Virat Kohli but got hit for two sixes by Hardik Pandya, as India claimed a thrilling final-over victory against Australia in Sunday night’s Twenty20 international.
Key points:
- India needed 14 runs off the last over and clinched victory with two balls to spare
- Hardik Pandya showed cool nerves to score an unbeaten 42 off 22 balls
- India holds an unassailable 2-0 lead in the three-match series
A rampaging Pandya scored 42 off 22 balls at the SCG, where his 28-minute blitz blasted the tourists to a six-wicket win and unassailable 2-0 lead in the three-match series.
A caretaker captain’s knock of 58 from Matthew Wade, which ended prematurely after a bizarre mix-up with Steve Smith, helped the understrength hosts compile a total of 5-194 after being asked to bat.
Aaron Finch, David Warner, Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood and Ashton Agar — all part of Australia’s first-choice T20 side — were unavailable for a variety of reasons.
Starc withdrew from the Australian squad for the remainder of the T20 series on compassionate grounds.
Kohli threatened to personally march India to another victory, only to become a memorable maiden wicket for Sam in the 17th over of the innings.
Pandya and Shreyas Iyer were undeterred and reduced their side’s victory equation to 14 runs from the final over, which was delivered by Sams.
Pandya heaved the second and fourth balls of the final over clear of the boundary rope to secure victory, with India finishing on 4-195.
Kohli was on 40, with the match in the balance and his side requiring 46 runs from the final four overs, when he slashed at a delivery.
It would likely have been called wide if India’s skipper shouldered arms, but instead a leaping Wade snaffled the edge.
Sams conceded five runs off the opening over of the innings before a rollicking Shikhar Dhawan belted 52, rocketing India to 0-56 from five overs with help from KL Rahul.
Mitch Swepson returned tidy figures of 1-25 from four overs to help Australia regain momentum before Pandya fired back in the topsy-turvy tussle.
Sams earlier finished 8 not out.
Wade was run out on 58 after a breakdown in communication with batting partner Smith in a moment of madness that ended the eighth over.
Wade gave Kohli some catching practice in the covers, only for his Indian counterpart to spill the ball.
Smith and Wade both suddenly found themselves standing in the middle of the pitch, with the latter having turned to the pavilion and given up hope of a reprieve from Kohli.
Kohli could not help but chuckle after returning the ball to keeper Rahul, who whipped off the bails as Wade shot Smith a dirty look before trudging off the field.
Smith, who was on three at the time of Wade’s dismissal, scored 46 from 38 balls.
Thangarasu Natarajan snared 2-19 in the absence of rested quicks Mohammed Shami and Jasprit Bumrah.
Australia and India meet again in the final match of the series at the SCG on Tuesday night.
AAP
