A brilliant attacking knock from Hardik Pandya [42 off 22 balls] has helped India seal the T20I series against Australia at the Sydney Cricket Ground. Chasing 195, India scored just 9 runs in the first two overs, but Andrew Tye gave away too many in the third over. Rahul and Dhawan took a full toll on Glenn Maxwell as the men in blue surpassed the 50-run mark in the 5th over. Tye provided Australia with a much-needed breakthrough by dismissing KL Rahul.
India scored 60 runs in the powerplay but they only managed to add 26 runs as Dhawan and Virat Kohli managed to play at low strike-rates. Dhawan completed his half-century off 34 balls, but Adam Zampa managed to dismiss the southpaw in the 12th over. Virat Kohli finally broke the shackles by smashing an inside-out six off Adam Zampa along with Sanju Samson getting off to a brilliant start as he smashed Daniel Sams for a ferocious square-cut and a pullover square-leg for a huge to take India’s total to 2-118 in 13 overs.
ALSO READ: Netizens Applaud Ajinkya Rahane For His Century In Practice Match
Kohli smashed an out-of-character scoop shot for size against Tye to bring down teh equation to India needing 54 off the last 30. Daniel Sams dealt India with a huge blow by dismissing Kohli with a delivery quite wide of off-stump. With 37 runs needed off the last 18 balls, Hardik Pandya and Shreyas Iyer took control as they smashed Adam Zampa for a four and a six in the 18th over. India needed 14 off the final over and Pandya finished the game with a couple of sixes to seal the deal for the Men in Blue.
Earlier in the day, stand-in skipper Matthew Wade gave the much-needed start to the host as he registered his 2nd 50+ score (1st one was also against India in 2012) ensuring that Australia made full use of the powerplay by getting to 1-59. The southpaw got out in a comical way after lobbing a simple catch to Virat, who dropped the catch but affected an easy run-out.
Yuzvendra Chahal (1/51) got smashed for plenty as he was taken to the cleaners by both Steve Smith and Glenn Maxwell before the latter was eventually dismissed courtesy of a brilliant slower ball by Shardul Thakur. T Natarajan was the pick of the bowlers as he scalped a couple of wickets and gave away just 5 runs in the 16th over.
WATCH – Matthew Wade Ran-out In A Comical Way As Kohli Drops Catch
Smith once again looked imperious while batting at the SCG. He smoked a couple of sixes off Yuzvendra Chahal in the next two overs before he eventually holed out at the long-off boundary after Hardik Pandya took a juggling catch. Natarajan returned to dismiss Moises Henriques caught-behind, finishing with figures of 2-20 in 4 overs. Deepak Chahar conceded 17 runs in the last over as Australia finished with 5/194.
Here is how Twitter reacted to India’s series win:
What a win. What a finish from @hardikpandya7 Well done Team India. Congrats on the series win. #INDVAUSt20
— VVS Laxman (@VVSLaxman281) December 6, 2020
Zabardast hitting by @hardikpandya7 .
Wonderful start from @SDhawan25 and @klrahul11 , @imVkohli and a sensational bowling spell from @Natarajan_91 . And India seal the T20 series with a game to go. Maza aa gaya. pic.twitter.com/VDgb6CwT33— Virender Sehwag (@virendersehwag) December 6, 2020
Winning it in style with a six @hardikpandya7 what an inn.. well done team @BCCI for leading the series by 2-0 .. Go for 3-0 👏👍
— Harbhajan Turbanator (@harbhajan_singh) December 6, 2020
From being in the storm to now being the storm. Fabjob @hardikpandya7 Two years of immeasurable hard work and discipline behind the scenes is now there for everyone to see. That beast mode and calmness together is such an asset for the team. Keep storming ahead brother #AUSvsIND
— Jatin Sapru (@jatinsapru) December 6, 2020
The Finisher of India – the way he has been batting in this series – has taken the tag – The box office & MVP.
90(76)
28(31)
92*(76)
16(15)
42*(22) pic.twitter.com/A2tDXRg3q2— Johns. (@CricCrazyJohns) December 6, 2020
Hardik Pandya you did not just do that? 😱😍😍😍 #AUSvIND
— Alexandra Hartley (@AlexHartley93) December 6, 2020
Hardik Pandya is really priming himself into a top notch finisher. That is some serious power and poise.
— Ian bishop (@irbishi) December 6, 2020
Just a casual @imVkohli scoop for 6🤗 #INDvsAUS
— Riyan Parag (@ParagRiyan) December 6, 2020
Ha! Kohli down on one knee scooping to long leg! When was the last time you saw that!!
— Harsha Bhogle (@bhogleharsha) December 6, 2020
What was that Shot 😳
Damn, #KingKohli 💙
🇮🇳 134/3 after 14.4 overs
#AUSvIND— Delhi Capitals (@DelhiCapitals) December 6, 2020
India without Sir Jadeja is Sri Lanka without Sangakkara+Muralitharan.
— Silly Point (@FarziCricketer) December 6, 2020
Yuzvendra Chahal has equalled Jasprit Bumrah's record of most wickets for India in men's T20Is 👏
They have 59 scalps each! pic.twitter.com/xTh5a0kGvA
— ICC (@ICC) December 6, 2020
Selectors #typo
— Irfan Pathan (@IrfanPathan) December 6, 2020
When the opposition gets almost 200 & a bowler who has bowled in the first 6 overs & bowled the 19th too, goes at an eco rate of 5. It’s just a phenomenal performance!
Plus a wicket off a bouncer…adding more strings to his bow…Well done Natarajan! 🙏🙏🙏.👏👏👏#INDvAUS— Sanjay Manjrekar (@sanjaymanjrekar) December 6, 2020
What is with Virat Kohli’s catching off late?! Too many misses. #AusvInd
— Chetan Narula (@chetannarula) December 6, 2020
