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India vs Australia Live Commentary, 2nd T20, Australia in India, 3 T20 International Series, 2017, October 10, 2017

IND 118/10 (20)
Australia beat India by 8 wickets
AUS 122/2 (15.3)
Match over
0.0 : New venue, T20I, two top teams - the set up can't get any better for you to sit back, relax and catch a game of cricket. We welcome you to our coverage of the match even as the Barsapara Cricket Stadium, Guwahati will play host to the second game of the series. Australia have been haunted by spin even in the shortest form of the game and they will have another shot at not repeating the performances that has so unlikely been them. David Warner would like to put his experience of leading Hyderabad
India have, meanwhile, looked fiery in the series and they are playing as if they have not a worry in the world. Although their batsmen didn't get a proper outing in the last game, the bowlers showed how potent and able they are. So will Australia notch up their first win in T20Is against India after 2012? Or will the hosts continue spinning their way to success? There was a bit of rain earlier, but thankfully it has cleared off and we should have an on-time start. Stay with us as we get you the
TOSS - Australia win the toss and opt to bowl.
David Warner, the Australian skipper, says that they are gonna have a bowl. Feels that it is a good surface, might be a bit soft underneath. Adds that they need to play to their strengths. Informs that there is only one change - Marcus Stoinis comes in for Dan Christian.
Virat Kohli, the Indian skipper, says the pitch looks good to bat on and dew could be a factor later. Adds they would have liked to chase but is happy to set a target for the opposition. States that they have to keep the winning momentum as it is easy to lose it but difficult to maintain and get it back. Reckons that complacency has no place in the side and they would look to be fierce competitors. Opines that the stadium is beautiful and it was jam-packed outside. Feels that the crowd is as exc
The national anthems are done and dusted. We are all set to get underway. The stylish Rohit Sharma and southpaw Shikhar Dhawan walk out with the bat in a bid to provide the home side with a flying start. Jason Behrendorff would steam in with the new white rounded object in hand. One slip in place for him. Let's roll!
0.1 : J Behrendorff to R Sharma, FOUR! Off the mark with a boundary! You have to listen to the noise to know the result! Behrendorff begins with a low full toss outside off, Sharma just plays it past backward point. The ball races away to the third man fence, even as Coulter-Nile rushed to his right.
There is a bit of an issue with the sightscreen. It has been sorted now.
0.2 : J Behrendorff to R Sharma, This ball is pushed to mid off off the front foot.
0.3 : J Behrendorff to R Sharma, FOUR! Rohit is up and running immediately! It was pitched up around off and middle, Sharma drives it straight down the ground past mid off for another boundary. The bat face turned in his hand as he played that.
0.4 : J Behrendorff to R Sharma, OUT! First international wicket for Behrendorff! Peach of a delivery to get that. On a fuller length around middle and off, Sharma looks to push at it from the crease. Misses and wears it on the pads. The Australians appeal and the umpire raises his dreaded finger. Rohit thinks about taking the review but decides against it. Early setback for the hosts here!
Virat Kohli walks out to the center in the first over itself. Gets a rousing welcome.
0.5 : J Behrendorff to V Kohli, Length delivery in line of the stumps, pushed back towards the bowler.
0.6 : J Behrendorff to V Kohli, OUT! Big, big wicket for Australia this! Kohli is the man walking back! Behrendorff lands it on a length again, Kohli stays in the crease and looks to flick. The ball hits his pads and lobs up in the air. The bowler runs there, catches it and appeals. The umpire gives the marching orders to the skipper. Virat looks stunned, consults his partner for a review but decides against it. Well, Snicko shows a spike as the ball passes the bat. So it is indeed a caught and b
Nathan Coulter-Nile to share the new ball from the other end. Meanwhile, Manish Pandey comes out to bat. India in a spot of bother.
1.1 : N Coulter-Nile to S Dhawan, Coulter-Nile begins with a length ball outside off, Dhawan flays at it and gets a run towards third man as the ball goes there off the outer half of his bat. He gets going now.
1.2 : N Coulter-Nile to M Pandey, Landed well outside off, Pandey doesn't bother playing at that.
1.3 : N Coulter-Nile to M Pandey, The batsman defends it from within the crease.
1.4 : N Coulter-Nile to M Pandey, Served outside off, Pandey stays in the crease and plays it through point. Gets a brace for that to get off the mark.
1.5 : N Coulter-Nile to M Pandey, Bowled outside off, pushed towards covers.
1.6 : N Coulter-Nile to M Pandey, On a length around middle and leg, Pandey looks to nudge it away but gets it away off his thigh pads. A leg bye taken.
2.1 : J Behrendorff to M Pandey, FOUR! Cleverly played! Just a hint of width there for Pandey, he guides it past the first slip fielder to collect a boundary. He used the pace well there.
2.2 : J Behrendorff to M Pandey, OUT! Jason Behrendorff is on fire in Guwahati! Yes, the Indians are in trouble here, something that has been quite rare in the series so far! The bowler lands it around off, it seams away just a touch. Pandey pays the price for being tentative as he pushes at it away from the body. Ends up nicking it to the keeper Paine who is more than happy with the offering. Manish walks back now as India lose their third.
Kedar Jadhav walks in to bat at no. 5! India need a vital contribution from him today.
2.3 : J Behrendorff to K Jadhav, Jason steams in and spears it outside off, Jadhav lets that go.
2.4 : J Behrendorff to K Jadhav, Another delivery outside off, Jadhav doesn't bother to put bat to that.
2.5 : J Behrendorff to K Jadhav, This ball is played from within the crease.
2.6 : J Behrendorff to K Jadhav, Landed around middle and off, pushed to the off side off the back foot.
3.1 : N Coulter-Nile to S Dhawan, Served on a length outside off, Dhawan stands tall and plays it to third man for one run.
3.2 : N Coulter-Nile to K Jadhav, Jussst saved! It is on a length outside off, Jadhav looks to cut that but doesn't look in control as the ball rises a touch more. Flies just over Maxwell at backward point for a run. Kedar is up and running now.
3.3 : N Coulter-Nile to S Dhawan, This seems like a pitch where the Indians of old perennially struggled with the seam and bounce. Short ball in line of the stumps, Dhawan looks to pull but takes his eyes off the ball. The ball strikes the helmet and flies over the slip region and rolls towards third man. Finch runs there from first slip, slides and saves a run for his side. Replays confirm the same. Leg byes signaled.
3.4 : N Coulter-Nile to K Jadhav, Bowled in line of the stumps, this is flicked to mid-wicket.
3.5 : N Coulter-Nile to K Jadhav, SIX! The first biggie of the game! Looked imperious! Back of a length ball in line of the stumps, Jadhav stands tall and pulls it over deep mid-wicket for half a dozen. That just cleared the ropes though.
3.6 : N Coulter-Nile to K Jadhav, Bowled outside off, Jadhav looks to cut but gets a bottom edge towards the keeper.
4.1 : J Behrendorff to S Dhawan, Driven through mid-on by the batsman.
4.2 : J Behrendorff to S Dhawan, Landed outside off, this is pushed to point.
4.3 : J Behrendorff to S Dhawan, OUT! Behrendorff gets his fourth, the first time by an Aussie pace bowler in a T20I against India. Pitched on a length around off, Dhawan looks to go downtown. Seems like it would be a maximum, but there was height more than distance on that. Warner backtracked from mid off and took a stunning tumbling catch to send back his Hyderabad teammate. What a spell of seam bowling this is turning out to be!
The cheers get louder as the crowd favourite MS Dhoni strides out to the middle. Amidst the flurry of wickets, his calmness is what India would need.
4.4 : J Behrendorff to K Jadhav, Kadhav looks to pull it but doesn't time it well.
4.5 : J Behrendorff to K Jadhav, FOUR! Jadhav bashes that powerfully! Back of a length ball having some width, Kedar just slashes it over cover-point for a boundary.
4.6 : J Behrendorff to K Jadhav, Landed on a length outside off, Jadhav looks to push at it but gets beaten.
Andrew Tye is brought in to bowl.
5.1 : A Tye to MS Dhoni, Starts off with a length delivery around off, Dhoni shuffles a tad and looks to flick it away to the leg side, but gets an inside edge onto his pads for a run.
5.2 : A Tye to K Jadhav, That ball has taken the inside edge onto the pads.
5.3 : A Tye to K Jadhav, FOUR! Width on offer, cashed! Tye hurls it outside off, Jadhav slashes it over backward point for a boundary. Wasn't far from the leaping fielder there.
5.4 : A Tye to K Jadhav, Jadhav collects a run after flicking it towards mid-wicket.
5.5 : A Tye to MS Dhoni, Served in line of the stumps, Dhoni flicks it away but finds the short fine leg fielder there.
5.6 : A Tye to MS Dhoni, Now Dhoni works this away through square leg for one run.
Warner is bowling Behrendorff out. The youngster has been sensational in his spell. Can he get a five-wicket haul?
6.1 : J Behrendorff to MS Dhoni, Hurls it on a length around middle and leg, Dhoni moves a tad to the off side and nudges it through backward square leg. Till the ball is fielded and returned, a brace taken.
6.2 : J Behrendorff to MS Dhoni, Landed in line of the stumps, MS stays in the crease and keeps it out to the off side.
6.3 : J Behrendorff to MS Dhoni, His running wouldn't show his age! MS Dhoni! Flicks it through square leg and hares back for the second even as the fielder hurls in the throw at the keeper's end.
6.4 : J Behrendorff to MS Dhoni, A low full toss outside off, Dhoni jams his bat at it. The ball goes off the edge on the bump to the keeper who fails to stop it cleanly. A run taken.
6.5 : J Behrendorff to K Jadhav, Pushed across the batsman, Kedar helps it to the fielder at backward point.
6.6 : J Behrendorff to K Jadhav, A very tough chance, technically a drop! Full ball around off and middle, Jadhav looks to drive. But the ball stops a bit and he ends up spooning a return catch. Behrendorff gets low to his right but fails to latch on! What a spell it has been from Jason.
Time for spin. Zampa comes for a bowl.
7.1 : A Zampa to MS Dhoni, Flatter delivery around middle and off, bunted off the front foot back towards the bowler.
7.2 : A Zampa to MS Dhoni, This time Dhoni gets to the pitch of the ball and pushes it to long on for a run.
7.3 : A Zampa to K Jadhav, Quicker on the pads, Jadhav flicks it away fine on the leg side for a couple.
7.4 : A Zampa to K Jadhav, Floated around middle and off, Jadhav stays in the crease and dead-bats it.
Stat Alert - Behrendorff finishes with figures of 4-0-21-4. This is the fifth best bowling figure for an Australian bowler in T20Is.
7.5 : A Zampa to K Jadhav, Loopy ball around middle and leg, turned through mid-wicket for one run.
7.6 : A Zampa to MS Dhoni, Tossed up around off, Dhoni finds the cover fielder with the drive.
Marcus Stoinis to have a bowl now. He looked good in the ODI series, would he be able to make an impact here?
8.1 : M Stoinis to K Jadhav, FOUR! Not the most promising way to start for Stoinis! He strays onto Jadhav's pads, who just gets bat on that and collects a boundary through the fine leg region.
8.2 : M Stoinis to K Jadhav, Short ball around off, pulled in front of square on the leg side for a single.
8.3 : M Stoinis to MS Dhoni, Beaten! Dhoni stays put and tries to cut the length ball from the crease. The ball just whizzes past the edge of his bat.
8.4 : M Stoinis to MS Dhoni, Fuller and more on the pads, clipped towards deep mid-wicket for a run.
8.5 : M Stoinis to K Jadhav, Hurled in line of the stumps, pushed towards mid on defensively.
8.6 : M Stoinis to K Jadhav, On a length in line of the stumps, Jadhav wrists it away to deep mid-wicket and collects a run.
Change of bat for MS Dhoni. The helmet also goes off! Change in approach, maybe?
9.1 : A Zampa to K Jadhav, Zampa lands it flatter around middle, Kedar flicks it away to square leg for a run.
9.2 : A Zampa to MS Dhoni, Loopy ball around off, Dhoni dances down and pushes it towards covers.
9.3 : A Zampa to MS Dhoni, FOUR! A full toss to anybody is a crime, leave alone Dhoni! MS charges down and heaves it aerially towards deep mid-wicket for a boundary. There was a fielder there but it was just away from him.
9.4 : A Zampa to MS Dhoni, Dhoni charges down and ends up making it a very full ball. Ends up jamming it out towards covers.
9.5 : A Zampa to MS Dhoni, WIDE! Stretching exercise for Dhoni! Zampa loops it way outside off, the batsman charges down but is unable to reach it. Ends up going back to the crease.
A Zampa to MS Dhoni, OUT! Dhoni has been handed a dose of his own medicine - stumped out! Zampa tosses it outside off and lures the Indian keeper out. Dhoni obliges, walks down and ends up missing the ball completely as it spun square after pitching. Paine, behind the wickets, collects to whip off the bails. Adam Zampa is ecstatic as he knows the value of the wicket. MS is disappointed with his dismissal as it was an uncharacteristic one. The crowd goes silent!
Big hitting all-rounder Hardik Pandya walks in confidently. Remember, Pandya and Zampa have an interesting duel on right from the ODI series!
9.6 : A Zampa to H Pandya, Tossed fuller in line of the stumps, pushed towards covers for a run.
10.1 : M Stoinis to H Pandya, On a length around off, Pandya looks to work it away on the leg side but the ball hits the high part of his willow and dies down on the pitch.
10.2 : M Stoinis to H Pandya, Straying on the pads, clipped around the corner for a run.
10.3 : M Stoinis to K Jadhav, Good length delivery on middle and leg, a bit of extra bounce there. Jadhav swipes it to Zampa at deep backward square leg to rotate strike.
10.4 : M Stoinis to H Pandya, Back of a length outside off, Pandya tries to drop and run by playing it towards backward point but Maxwell is quick to attack the ball. Denies the single.
10.5 : M Stoinis to H Pandya, Low full toss on the pads, Pandya flicks it nonchalantly through mid-wicket. Stoinis hares across from square leg, puts in a slide early and manages to save a run for his side. Looked funny but it was effective.
10.6 : M Stoinis to K Jadhav, Leg bye! On leg stump, Jadhav looks to clip it but the ball brushes his pads and rolls towards short fine leg. A leg bye taken.
11.1 : A Zampa to K Jadhav, OUT! Zampa is on a roll in Guwahati! He gets another one to his kitty! Tosses in a wrong 'un around off, Jadhav fails to pick that one. He looks to go for a big shot down the ground and only makes contact with thin air. Ends up losing his middle stick. Very poor shot with the circumstance that India are in. They slide further now.
0.0 : Bhuvneshwar Kumar is the next man in. He has the ability to bat but it looks a tall task that he has got now.
11.2 : A Zampa to B Kumar, Another googly around off and middle, Kumar strides forward and blocks.
11.3 : A Zampa to B Kumar, This ball is cut towards point.
11.4 : A Zampa to B Kumar, Flatter and quicker outside off, Bhuvneshwar cuts it to the fielder at backward point.
11.5 : A Zampa to B Kumar, Kumar gets going after tapping it in front of point.
An extra man at the leg side boundary in place.
11.6 : A Zampa to H Pandya, Pandya guides it to third man for a single.
Nathan Coulter-Nile back on!
12.1 : N Coulter-Nile to H Pandya, Hurls a back of a length delivery around off, Hardik taps it off the back foot towards backward point.
12.2 : N Coulter-Nile to H Pandya, Similar delivery, Pandya opens the face of the bat and runs it down to third man for a run.
12.3 : N Coulter-Nile to B Kumar, Fuller around off, pushed towards mid off.
12.4 : N Coulter-Nile to B Kumar, OUT! Catching practise for Henriques at third man! Oh Kumar, what have you done here! It was banged in short around off, Kumar sways back and helps the ball straight to the fielder in the deep. Moises gets there and pouches it crouching low forward. The hosts continue their procession to the dressing room at regular intervals.
Kuldeep Yadav walks in to bat next. Through the series, we have seen him weave magic with the ball, can he do something significant with the bat today?
12.5 : N Coulter-Nile to K Yadav, Very full ball around off, Yadav shows the full face of the bat in defending it off the front foot.
12.6 : N Coulter-Nile to K Yadav, Bowled on the pads, flicked through square leg for one run.
13.1 : A Zampa to K Yadav, Googly on the pads, clipped away towards fine leg for a run.
13.2 : A Zampa to H Pandya, Zampa darts it full in line of the stumps, Pandya belts it down to long on for a run.
13.3 : A Zampa to K Yadav, Another googly around middle, this one spins away. Kuldeep looks to sweep but gets a top edge through backward square leg for a run.
13.4 : A Zampa to H Pandya, Pandya drives it past mid off for another single.
Paine whips off the bails at the striker's end and appeals for a run out against Yadav. It is referred upstairs by the umpire. Looks safe!
13.5 : A Zampa to K Yadav, Not Out! Flatter on the pads, Yadav helps it away towards fine leg. The fielder there runs to his left, fields and hurls a throw to the keeper who takes the bails off and appeals. The umpire goes upstairs. Replays confirm that Kuldeep is well in. A couple of runs taken.
13.6 : A Zampa to K Yadav, This ball is cut to the fielder at point. 4-0-19-2 read Zampa's completed bowling figures! Excellent!
Andrew Tye to bowl another spell here. He's their death overs specialist.
14.1 : A Tye to H Pandya, Hurled in line of the stumps, a run taken after playing to long on.
14.2 : A Tye to K Yadav, Landed around off, Kuldeep pushes it defensively to covers.
14.3 : A Tye to K Yadav, Very full delivery outside off, Yadav looks to dig it out but misses.
14.4 : A Tye to K Yadav, On a length on the pads, nudged away to fine leg for one run.
14.5 : A Tye to H Pandya, Tye tries to bowl the knuckle ball and ends up giving a full toss. Pandya hits it straight to long off for one run.
14.6 : A Tye to K Yadav, Another knuckle ball gone wrong! Horribly wrong! Ends up bowling an over-the-waist full toss which Yadav ducks under. No ball signaled! Free Hit coming up!
The ball slipped out of Tye's hand and Warner is not happy with it. He is having a discussion with the umpire who is in no mood to change the ball.
A Tye to K Yadav, FOUR! Freebies! Another full toss, almost waist high outside off. Yadav looks to go over the leg side. Ends up getting a thick edge past the keeper for a boundary. This wasn't too far from being called another no ball for being over waist high. Not called though.
Marcus Stoinis is brought back to bowl.
15.1 : M Stoinis to H Pandya, Length ball around off, Pandya withdrawingly taps it in front of point for a run.
15.2 : M Stoinis to K Yadav, Hurls it outside off, Kuldeep guides it to third man for one run.
15.3 : M Stoinis to H Pandya, This is landed in line of the stumps, Pandya tries guiding it to third man. Doesn't succeed.
15.4 : M Stoinis to H Pandya, Back of a length delivery in line of the stumps, strangely Pandya is happy tapping it to the leg side for a run. Looks strange because he is the more able batsman among the two out there and yet he's happy to hand over the strike to Kuldeep.
15.5 : M Stoinis to K Yadav, This is bowled on the pads, nudged down to fine leg for a run.
15.6 : M Stoinis to H Pandya, Short ball around off, pulled aerially to the man at deep square leg. The ball goes on the bounce to the fielder there. One run the result.
Last four overs to go! It's high time for Pandya to change gears. Will we see that?
16.1 : A Tye to H Pandya, SIX! Pandya powers it! Tye bangs it short in line of the stumps, Hardik stays put and pulls it over mid-wicket for half a dozen. India would love more of these, the crowd certainly will!
16.2 : A Tye to H Pandya, This one is played towards backward point. Pandya wanted a run but is rightly sent back.
16.3 : A Tye to H Pandya, Excellent running! It is a knuckle ball on the pads, Pandya pulls it through square leg and hares back for the second.
16.4 : A Tye to H Pandya, This ball is played towards short third man for a run.
16.5 : A Tye to K Yadav, 100 up for India! Tye hurls it on the pads, Kuldeep works it fine for a single.
16.6 : A Tye to H Pandya, A full toss around leg, Pandya fails to make maximum use of it. Nudges it through square leg for a run.
17.1 : M Stoinis to H Pandya, Slower short ball outside off, Panyda stays deep in the crease and pulls it to the fielder at deep mid-wicket. It was an off-cutter!
0.0 : Dew is starting to set in on the ground. Could be tricky for India with the ball.
17.2 : M Stoinis to K Yadav, Length delivery outside off, glided to third man for a single.
17.3 : M Stoinis to H Pandya, OUT! The Pandya show doesn't come to Guwahati! The slower ball works for Stoinis and Australia! Stoinis bowls a slower off cutter outside off, Hardik looks to belt it over long off. Ends up offering the simplest of catches to Christian, the sub fielder, who makes no mistake. This was the joint-highest stand of this innings, 33 to be exact!
Jasprit Bumrah walks in to bat next.
17.4 : M Stoinis to J Bumrah, WIDE! Stoinis bangs it short, Bumrah hangs his bat there but misses. Then a comedy of error follows! The square leg umpire stretches his arms to signal a wide but the main umpire refuses to signal the same for some reason. After a while he looks at his partner and stretches his arms to signal the same. The Aussies aren't amused and have a chat with the umpire.
M Stoinis to J Bumrah, The batsman has played that off the front foot and into the ground.
17.5 : M Stoinis to J Bumrah, No words to describe the tailender's shot! Length ball just outside off, Bumrah backs away and then tries to poke his bat at that, misses!
17.6 : M Stoinis to J Bumrah, This ball is played to the fielder at short third man.
Nathan Coulter-Nile is back for his final over.
18.1 : N Coulter-Nile to K Yadav, WIDE! Coulter-Nile hurls this down the leg side. Yadav looks to flick but misses.
N Coulter-Nile to K Yadav, WIDE! Another one! This one is over the head of the batsman even as Kuldeep ducks under it.
N Coulter-Nile to K Yadav, Length delivery on the pads, Yadav taps it besides the wicket and crosses over for a quick single.
18.2 : N Coulter-Nile to J Bumrah, Hurled outside off, Bumrah slashes at it but misses!
18.3 : N Coulter-Nile to J Bumrah, FOUR! First runs for Bumrah in T20 internationals! Boundary gets him off in T20Is! Coulter-Nile lands it outside off, Bumrah goes for the wild drive, ends up getting a thick outside edge. The ball flies past the leaping keeper and races away to the fence.
18.4 : N Coulter-Nile to J Bumrah, This ball is played towards mid on for one run.
18.5 : N Coulter-Nile to K Yadav, Bowled outside off, guided to third man for a run.
18.6 : N Coulter-Nile to J Bumrah, Collision between the batsman and the bowler! Fuller delivery outside off, Bumrah plays it uppishly to mid off. Wants a run but as Coulter-Nile gets to his position to back up, he ends up coming in Jasprit's way and they collide. Eventually the batsman completes the run but he isn't happy with the bowler there. Makes his displeasure clear as the bowler apologizes immediately. All's well that ends well though!
Andrew Tye to bowl the last over.
19.1 : A Tye to J Bumrah, Speared outside off, Bumrah looks to play that but misses.
19.2 : A Tye to J Bumrah, Fuller around off, Bumrah gets an inside edge onto his pads and the ball lands in front of the stumps. A quick run taken even as Tye looked to kick the ball to the stumps but missed.
19.3 : A Tye to K Yadav, OUT! Run out! Landed outside leg, Yadav makes room and looks to guide it away to third man. They look to sneak in a run. The keeper gets to the ball and hits the stumps down at the striker's end to catch Bumrah short of the crease. End of the tailender's stay!
Yuzvendra Chahal is the last man in for India.
19.4 : A Tye to Y Chahal, Length ball outside off, Chahal looks to hit it away but misses.
19.5 : A Tye to Y Chahal, A terrible mix-up, but all safe! Bowled outside off, Chahal manages to get it just over the leaping backward point fielder. As the ball rolls to the deep, the batsmen look to take three. The throw comes to the keeper, who hurls it back at the bowler. Misses the stumps. Had he hit, it would have been curtains!
19.6 : A Tye to K Yadav, OUT! INDIA FOLD UP FOR 118! Tye lands it in line of the stumps, Yadav looks to smash it across the line. Ends up getting a top edge that goes high up in the air. The keeper settles under it to pouch it safely. That's it for Kuldeep tonight with the bat!
A terrific bowling performance from Australia has restricted India to a paltry total. They were on the money right from the beginning. Jason Behrendorff, the youngster, was in his elements. He ran through the top order single-handedly, taking all the four wickets in the Powerplay. India lost both Sharma and Kohli in the first over which is a rarity and that really jolted them.
The innings never took off for the hosts as they kept on losing wickets at consistent intervals. Some wickets were lost to poor shots while some to genuinely shrewd bowling. The 33-run stand between Pandya and Kuldeep for the eighth wicket helped the home side crawl past the 100-run mark. All the Australian bowlers were disciplined on a track that has something on it for both pacers and spinners. The dew has also set in and it won't be easy for India to defend. Australia will back themselves to
0.0 : So! We are back for the run chase! The top T20 run-getter in this year, Aaron Finch and the ever-explosive David Warner stride out to open the innings with the bat. Bhuvneshwar Kumar to run in with the brand new white ball. Two slips in place. Here we go...
0.1 : B Kumar to A Finch, Wide! Starts off with a fullish delivery on middle and leg, it swings down prodigiously. Finch goes for a flick but misses. Regulation take for Dhoni to his left.
B Kumar to A Finch, Similar delivery, shaping down. Finch tries to help it away but is hit on the pads this time. A casual appeal for an LBW is turned down. That was always going down leg.
0.2 : B Kumar to A Finch, Fullish delivery outside off, swinging away. Finch drives it through cover-point. Pandey hares after it and throws it back to Kohli. The throw is at the keeper's end as the batsmen attempt the third. Dhoni flicks it back to the stumps but Warner is in. Unconventional work from Dhoni, that is what makes him such a brilliant keeper.
0.3 : B Kumar to D Warner, Terrific work from Pandey! Such a fielding effort can lift the morale of the entire side. Back of a length outside off, Warner punches it towards point where Pandey dives to his left to save a certain boundary.
Saw dust is being sprinkled in the bowlers' landing area. Could be the effect of the dew that has set in.
0.4 : B Kumar to D Warner, Similar length delivery outside off, punched hard to Kohli at covers. He mimes a throw at the bowler's end. He is pumped up!
0.5 : B Kumar to D Warner, Fuller in length this time, swings in. Warner eases it to mid on.
0.6 : B Kumar to D Warner, In the air... but safe! Length delivery on middle and leg, skids through the surface. Warner is hurried a touch. He ends up getting a top edge over mid-wicket. Chahal sprints after it but the ball lands safely. Two runs taken.
The sledge hammer is used to level the landing area. Kumar, apparently, had some issues there. Meanwhile, Jasprit Bumrah to share the new ball from the other end.
1.1 : J Bumrah to A Finch, FOUR! Shot! Short delivery on middle and leg, Finch swivels across and pulls it with aplomb through backward square leg to find the fence.
1.2 : J Bumrah to A Finch, Angling in substantially on a full length, Finch helps it off the inner half to short fine leg for a run.
1.3 : J Bumrah to D Warner, OUT! That's a poor shot from the Australian skipper and he pays the price for it. His poor run in T20Is continues. Back of a length delivery on off, skids through the surface. Warner is hurried on but he still goes through with his pull. Ends up getting a top edge towards Kohli at covers. He settles under it and pouches it safely. He pumps his fists in the air, shows how much this wicket means to him and his side.
Moises Henriques comes out to bat.
1.4 : J Bumrah to M Henriques, Back of a length on off, tucked to mid-wicket.
1.5 : J Bumrah to M Henriques, Outside off, dabbed to short third man for a brisk run and Henriques is away.
1.6 : J Bumrah to A Finch, Full length ball on off, driven crisply to mid on.
2.1 : B Kumar to M Henriques, Back of a length outside off, Henriques hops and defends it down the track. He took his bottom hand off while playing it.
2.2 : B Kumar to M Henriques, The Indian fielding continues to be good. Half-volley outside off, Moises creams it towards Jadhav at wide mid off. He dives to his left to make a brilliant stop. The crowd is up on its feet. A run taken.
2.3 : B Kumar to A Finch, Shortish delivery, defended solidly off the back foot.
Finch backed away while Kumar delivered that ball. The bowler's towel fell off in his delivery stride. Dead ball signaled!
2.4 : B Kumar to A Finch, Length delivery around off, Aaron hits it hard to Jadhav at mid off.
2.5 : B Kumar to A Finch, OUT! Finch throws his wicket away too! Australia on the back foot. Back of a length outside off, holding its line. Finch punches it off his back foot straight towards Kohli at covers without bothering to keep it down. The Indian skipper accepts it gleefully. The crowd is right behind their players, shouting at the top of their voices. This is just the start India needed.
Travis Head comes out to bat. He does have the experience of having played in the Indian T20 league. Can he make use of his familiarity with the format as well as the conditions here?
2.6 : B Kumar to T Head, Back of a length on the hips, Head hops and tucks it through backward square leg for a run. A wicket and two runs from the over.
3.1 : J Bumrah to T Head, Stays back to the length delivery and taps it back to the bowler.
3.2 : J Bumrah to T Head, FOUR! Beautiful! There is not a better sight in cricket than the straight drive. Fuller in length on off, Head leans into it and creams it down the ground for a majestic boundary.
3.3 : J Bumrah to T Head, On the pads, turned through square leg for a couple.
3.4 : J Bumrah to T Head, Fullish delivery, eased to mid on.
3.5 : J Bumrah to T Head, Beaten! Good length delivery outside off, zips through the surface. Head goes for a booming drive but misses it completely.
3.6 : J Bumrah to T Head, FOUR! Easy pickings! On a length on leg stump, Head works it through backward square leg to pick up a boundary.
4.1 : B Kumar to M Henriques, On a length outside off, Moises hangs back and blocks it stoutly.
4.2 : B Kumar to M Henriques, Back of a length around off, punched sweetly to mid off.
4.3 : B Kumar to M Henriques, Fuller in length, swinging in. Henriques pushes at it but gets an inside edge onto his pads.
4.4 : B Kumar to M Henriques, An appeal for a caught behind denied! Length delivery outside off, Moises pushes at it with minimal foot movement but gets foxed. Dhoni takes it nicely. There is a shout but the umpire stays put. Kohli is interested and walks up to the keeper but they do not opt to go for the review.
4.5 : B Kumar to M Henriques, A lot is happening at the moment! Similar length outside off, stays a touch low. Henriques looks to keep it out but misses.
4.6 : B Kumar to M Henriques, Angling into Moises, he turns it through mid-wicket for a single. Another good over from Kumar.
5.1 : J Bumrah to M Henriques, Fuller in length on middle, clipped to mid-wicket.
5.2 : J Bumrah to M Henriques, Short of a length outside off, Henriques pushes it off the back foot to mid off.
5.3 : J Bumrah to M Henriques, SIX! Boom! That came right off the screws! Short delivery on off, sits up nicely for Henriques. He stands tall and pulls it with authority over deep backward square leg for half a dozen. That will give Moises a lot of confidence. The crowd that was shouting a lot goes quiet.
5.4 : J Bumrah to M Henriques, On a length outside off, Moises pushes hard it but gets it off the outer half to third man. A run taken.
5.5 : J Bumrah to T Head, Fullish ball on middle, tapped to mid on for a brisk run.
5.6 : J Bumrah to M Henriques, Angling into Henriques. He drives it to mid on for a run and will retain the strike.
Hardik Pandya to have a bowl now. He has a habit of providing breakthroughs. Can he deliver for India?
6.1 : H Pandya to M Henriques, That's a great way to start your spell! Pandya hurls this one in the channel around off, a bit of nibble in the air. Henriques feels for it and is beaten all ends up. That was not far from the off stump.
6.2 : H Pandya to M Henriques, Shortish delivery outside off, Moises goes for a punch through covers but ends up chopping it down the track. The wicket is two-paced which means that playing fluent strokes is not that easy.
6.3 : H Pandya to M Henriques, On a length on middle and leg, Moises looks to keep it out but gets it off the inner half to fine leg. A run taken.
6.4 : H Pandya to T Head, Punched off the back foot by the batsman.
6.5 : H Pandya to T Head, Works this one to mid on to rotate strike.
6.6 : H Pandya to M Henriques, Fuller in length, Henriques comes forward confidently and defends it.
Kuldeep Yadav to roll his arm over now. He has been on the money in this series. Can he weave his magic once again?
7.1 : K Yadav to T Head, Intent from Travis! Tossed up outside off, Head skips down the track and hammers it uppishly to long off. A run taken.
7.2 : K Yadav to M Henriques, SIX! Poor delivery and duly punished! Half-tracker on off, Henriques hangs back and pulls it over deep square leg for a maximum. A real help-me delivery from Kuldeep and he pays the price for it.
7.3 : K Yadav to M Henriques, Worked to wide mid on for a single.
7.4 : K Yadav to T Head, Shorter in length outside off, extra bounce and spin. Head lets it go.
7.5 : K Yadav to T Head, Brilliant effort in the deep! Head uses his feet and drills it down the ground. Pandya at long on rushes to his right and slides full length to keep the ball in play. Saves a couple for his side.
7.6 : K Yadav to T Head, FOUR! Freebie! Another half-tracker on middle, Head hammers it through mid-wicket for a rocketing boundary. 14 from this one, this is the kind of over Australia needed.
8.1 : H Pandya to M Henriques, Henriques walks across his stumps and Pandya smartly bowls a short delivery outside off. Henriques rides the bounce well and plays a controlled pull to deep square leg for a run.
8.2 : H Pandya to M Henriques, FOUR! Easy pickings! Bouncer down the leg side, Henriques helps it to fine leg for a boundary. Pandya can't afford to bowl these deliveries with such a paltry total to defend.
8.3 : H Pandya to M Henriques, Tucks this one to the leg side for a single.
8.4 : H Pandya to T Head, FOUR! Well played! Good length delivery outside off, Head walks down the track and heaves it over mid-wicket. He has hit that quite well and the ball races to the fence. Australia are in the zone now.
8.5 : H Pandya to T Head, On a length, Head makes good use of the depth of the crease to block it.
8.6 : H Pandya to T Head, Rush of blood from Travis! Fuller in length well outside off, Head throws the kitchen sink at it but misses. 11 from the over, 25 from the last two.
Yuzvendra Chahal to have a bowl now.
9.1 : Y Chahal to M Henriques, That almost sneaked through! Googly on middle, spinning in. Henriques hangs back and manages to keep it out.
9.2 : Y Chahal to M Henriques, Flatter again but the shorter length allows Moises to defend it.
9.3 : Y Chahal to M Henriques, Fraction short around off, Moises punches it uppishly towards Kohli who gets a hand to it to take the pace off. A run taken.
9.4 : Y Chahal to T Head, Chahal is bowling too short at the moment. Head pulls it to deep mid-wicket to rotate strike. The 50-run stand is up with that. A really important partnership. They need to carry on.
9.5 : Y Chahal to M Henriques, Hangs back and blocks this one watchfully.
9.6 : Y Chahal to M Henriques, FOUR! Deft! Quick delivery outside off, Henriques waits for it and dabs it past first slip for a boundary. Intelligent cricket from the all-rounder.
10.1 : K Yadav to T Head, Fullish delivery, pushed back to the bowler.
10.2 : K Yadav to T Head, FOUR! If you keep bowling too short, you will be taken to the cleaners. Head hangs back to this delivery and pulls it over mid-wicket. The ball holds up a bit due to the dew but rolls away to the fence.
10.3 : K Yadav to T Head, Outside off, lifted over mid on for a run.
10.4 : K Yadav to M Henriques, FOUR! This is too easy for the visitors at the moment! Half-volley outside off, Henriques drives it elegantly through extra cover to find the fence.
10.5 : K Yadav to M Henriques, Around the pads, tucked around the corner for a run.
10.6 : K Yadav to M Henriques, Spinning into Henriques. He smothers the turn.
11.1 : Y Chahal to T Head, Quick and flat outside off, Head goes for a cut but mistimes it to extra cover.
11.2 : Y Chahal to T Head, Head missed out on that occasion! Tossed up wide outside off, Head has plenty of options on the off side but he aims to drive it past the bowler. Ends up dragging it towards Chahal who parries it to mid off. A run taken.
11.3 : Y Chahal to M Henriques, Fullish delivery, pushed to mid on.
11.4 : Y Chahal to M Henriques, Similar delivery, knocked through mid on for a run.
11.5 : Y Chahal to T Head, SIX! High and handsome! Floated around off, Head kneels and slog sweeps it over long on for a maximum. The Australian faces Chahal a lot in the nets as they both play for Bangalore in the Indian T20 league. That shot was executed to perfection.
11.6 : Y Chahal to T Head, Slow through the air, heaved away to deep mid-wicket for a brace.
A bit of breather for the Australian batsmen. They are having a drink.
12.1 : K Yadav to M Henriques, Floated outside off, driven really well but finds the man at extra cover.
12.2 : K Yadav to M Henriques, Stays back to this one and smothers the sharp away turn nicely.
12.3 : K Yadav to M Henriques, Tossed up outside off, Moises milks it down to long off for a run.
12.4 : K Yadav to T Head, Very full delivery on middle, Head backs away and jams it past the short extra cover fielder to rotate strike.
12.5 : K Yadav to M Henriques, Slow through the air, Henriques waits for it and places it against the spin around the corner for a run.
12.6 : K Yadav to T Head, Nervy moment! Floated on off, Head kneels and goes for the slog sweep but gets a top edge. Kohli backtracks from first slip but the ball falls down safely. A run taken.
The umpires are finally changing the ball. Virat Kohli is not amused as he wanted to get it replaced earlier in the previous over.
13.1 : Y Chahal to T Head, Flighted delivery well outside off, Head aims to lift it hard over covers but mistimes it to the same region. Two runs taken.
13.2 : Y Chahal to T Head, Fuller one outside off, Head swings his bat at it but the ball goes under his bat. That is the reason it is not signaled a wide.
13.3 : Y Chahal to T Head, Slow through the air, tapped to mid off to rotate strike.
13.4 : Y Chahal to M Henriques, Juicy full toss on leg stump, Henriques makes room and drags his shot to mid-wicket. He could have done better with that.
13.5 : Y Chahal to M Henriques, On middle and leg, this time Moises manages to tuck it past the left side of the same fielder for a run.
13.6 : Y Chahal to T Head, Fraction short outside off, punched to sweeper cover for a run.
14.1 : K Yadav to T Head, Close shave! Tossed up around off, Head uses his feet but is not quite to the pitch of it. Looks to drive it but gets it off the outer half to short third man. A run taken. This is Head's highest T20I score.
14.2 : K Yadav to M Henriques, SIX! Just over the man at long off! Tossed up around off, Henriques clears his front leg and smokes it towards long off. Rohit is interested but can only see it sailing over his head.
14.3 : K Yadav to M Henriques, SIX! That brings up Henrique's 2nd T20I fifty! Australia are racing towards a victory! Short delivery on off, Henriques pulls it over deep mid-wicket for half a dozen. This has been a really good knock from the all-rounder. Well-paced!
14.4 : K Yadav to M Henriques, Moises swings his bat and heaves it to long off for a run.
14.5 : K Yadav to T Head, Head kneels and slog sweeps it to long on for a run.
14.6 : K Yadav to M Henriques, Goes for the slog sweep again, this time gets it towards deep square leg for a brace. Only five more needed for a win.
15.1 : Y Chahal to T Head, Wide! Well outside off, Head is not bothered to play at it.
Y Chahal to T Head, Around leg stump, Head goes for the big sweep with the spin but ends up top edging it towards fine leg. A run taken.
15.2 : Y Chahal to M Henriques, Slow through the air outside off, Henriques goes for the glory drive but gets it off the outer half through point. A couple taken. Scores are level now.
15.3 : Y Chahal to M Henriques, FOUR! This is the apt manner to finish it off! Tossed up delivery in line of the stumps, Henriques drills it past Chahal and once that happens, it's destined to reach the fence. Thumping victory for the away side. The joy on the face of Moises is evident! AUSTRALIA WIN BY 8 WICKETS WITH 27 BALLS TO SPARE, LEVEL THE SERIES 1-1!
Australia change the script finally! It was the pair that had a good 'head' on its shoulders, that saw the Aussies home! That ends India's 7-game unbeaten streak against these opponents in this format of the game. The picture wasn't rosy when the visitors began their chase. They lost Warner and Finch early to shots that they could have done without. Yet another batting collapse was on the way it seemed.
Henriques and Head had different ideas though. They first took their time to have a good feel of the conditions and once they felt they were in, the shots started coming off for them. The fact that they had a pretty paltry score to chase helped the duo set in. What helped them is Chahal and Yadav having an off day with the ball, courtesy a wet outfield on account of the dew.
India would be ruing their lost chances with the bat though. Their batsman failed to fire collectively. While all talks roamed about the tourists' batting collapses, it was the hosts' batting that slid today. Behrendorff was the wrecker-in-chief and the home side couldn't come back from the early jolt that the left-arm pacer handed them. A good all-round effort has seen the visitors level the series. Stay with us to listen to what the captains have to say.
Virat Kohli, the Indian captain, feels that it wasn't a performance that they wished for. Says that they weren't good enough with the bat as the wicket was a bit sticky and also dew played a part when they were fielding. He wasn't satisfied with the runs that they had to play with. States that their effort is to win games, but when down, they need to give 120% in the field as he opines that attitude is very important. Credits Behrendorff for bowling in good areas. Opines that he bowled tight lin
David Warner, the Australian captain, says that it feels great to win. Credits his bowlers, especially Behrendorff for taking four wickets. Adds that he extracts good bounce from the surface and is an exciting prospect. Mentions that he has used Henriques at No. 3 in the Indian T20 League and his experience came to the fore tonight. Feels that it was an English type of wicket at the start. Appreciates his batsmen for tackling the Indian bowlers well. Ends by saying that he expects a lot of suppo
Jason Behrendorff, the Man of the Match, is elated as it is rare that he comes in front of the cameras! Feels that even though he didn't bowl much in the last game, the experience helped. Says he's working hard to play for Australia and he is happy to put in the efforts. He is happy to pick up a few wickets against India. Ends saying he can't wait to get on the field in the next game in Hyderabad.
That brings us to the close of a one-sided affair. Australia, for a change, came out with flying colours. This is a morale-boosting win for them which will definitely uplift their spirits. On the other hand, India were outplayed in all the departments tonight. They will aim to learn from their mistakes and get back in their elements. Expect them to come back hard in the decider! Join us for the final T20I in Hyderabad on 13th October at 1900 local (1330 GMT). Till then, goodbye and cheers!