Australia Dominate India to Take 1-0 Lead in T20 Series
Australia pulled off a commanding four-wicket victory over India in the second T20 international at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, taking a 1-0 lead in the five-match series. The hosts made light work of India’s modest total of 125, chasing it down in just 13.2 overs.
It was a tough night for India right from the start. After being sent in to bat, the Indian top order crumbled under relentless pressure from Australia’s pace attack. Josh Hazlewood, who later turned out to be the star of the show, ripped through the Indian lineup with a brilliant spell of 3 for 13. Within the powerplay, India were left struggling at 32 for 4 — their key batters Shubman Gill, captain Suryakumar Yadav, and Tilak Varma all back in the pavilion.
Also Read:- Bureau of Meteorology Backtracks After Backlash Over New Website
- Rangers Stun Oilers in Thrilling Overtime Comeback
The only real resistance came from young Abhishek Sharma, who played a fearless knock of 68 runs from just 37 balls. His counterattack gave the visitors a brief glimmer of hope. Partnering with Harshit Rana, who contributed 35, Abhishek helped India rebuild with a 56-run stand for the sixth wicket. But once that partnership was broken — courtesy of Xavier Bartlett — the innings quickly fell apart. Abhishek was eventually trapped leg before by Nathan Ellis, and the tail folded soon after, leaving India all out for 125 in the 19th over.
Australia’s chase, in contrast, looked effortless. Skipper Mitchell Marsh led from the front with a blazing 46 off 26 balls, smashing four sixes along the way. He and Travis Head added 51 for the opening stand, setting the tone early. Even though Australia lost a few wickets in the middle overs, the result was never in doubt. They crossed the finish line with 40 balls to spare, sealing a comfortable win and momentum in the series.
After the match, Hazlewood announced that he would be skipping the rest of the T20 series to focus on domestic cricket and prepare for the upcoming Ashes in Perth later this month. “It’s important to get that red ball rhythm in before the Test season,” he said. His absence may come as a relief for India’s batters, who had found him nearly unplayable in Melbourne’s evening conditions.
When informed about Hazlewood’s departure, Abhishek Sharma’s spontaneous reaction — “Oh, is he? I didn’t know that!” — brought some levity to the post-match press conference. He went on to praise the bowler’s precision, admitting that facing such high-quality pace was a valuable experience.
With the series now 1-0 in Australia’s favor after the first match in Canberra was washed out, India will look to bounce back quickly. The third T20 is set to take place in Hobart on Sunday, where the visitors will aim to level the series and regain their confidence.
Read More:
0 Comments