India’s top order fired on all cylinders to fashion a 44-run win over Australia to put the home side 2-0 ahead in the five-match T20 series in Thiruvananthapuram on Sunday.
Put in to bat, India’s top three batters smashed rapid fifties to power the hosts to a commanding 4-235 at the Greenfield International Stadium.
India’s Rinku Singh hammered 31 of nine balls at the death.Credit: Getty Images
In reply, Australia failed to fully recover from a top-order collapse and managed only 9-191.
Australia beat India in the final of the 50-overs World Cup earlier this month and both teams have fielded second-string squads for the T20 series.
Ruturaj Gaikwad (58), Yashasvi Jaiswal (53), Ishan Khan (52) and Rinku Singh (31no off nine balls) capitalised on the tourists’ waywardness with the ball.
India’s total was their highest in T20s against Australia – surpassing their previous best of 8-209 set three days ago at Visakhapatnam – and easily the best score at Greenfield International Stadium.
Australia’s Marcus Stoinis fell for 45 of 25 balls.Credit: AP
Australia bowled poorly in the powerplay before regularly losing control as the dew set in early, dishing up 12 wides and a no-ball via a chest-high full-toss from Glenn Maxwell.
Nathan Ellis (3-45) picked up three of the four wickets but was expensive in doing so, Sean Abbott’s three overs were dispatched for 56 and Australia’s three spinners were ineffective.
Jaiswal was the early aggressor, dominating India’s 1-77 powerplay, which was their best in T20s against Australia.
The 21-year-old opener welcomed Abbott to the bowling crease by going 4-4-4-6-6 to bring up his half-century inside the fourth over.
After Jaiswal miscued Ellis to Adam Zampa, Ishan Kishan took over and targeted Australia’s spinners.
He raised his 50 by walloping Tanveer Sangha for back-to-back sixes before slicing a wide, off-balance, one-handed shot to Ellis in the deep.
Gaikwad was the anchor of the innings, becoming the third Indian batter to move past 50.
Acting captain Suryakumar Yadav, game one hero Rinku and Tilak Varma all teed off at the death, Australia’s last two overs thumped for 45.
Australia faltered early in their chase and were reeling at 4-58 in the eighth over before Marcus Stoinis (45) and Tim David (37) arrested the slide.
Wade made 42 not out down the order, but Australia still finished well short of their target.
The teams now move to Guwahati for the third ODI on Tuesday.
