“It’s good if youngsters, if they get a chance, they grab it with both hands”.
Advertisement
All-rounder Glenn Maxwell is expected to return to the Australian side after sitting out the first game with a hamstring niggle. Suresh Raina was back into the T20 team after he was left out of the ODI squad.
Another player, who will be in focus is Yuvraj Singh, who didn’t get to bat in the first ODI. BBL stars Cameron Boyce and Travis Head marked their debut for the home side. Shane Watson (2-24) struck in the very next over as Rohit departed after an explosive start, caught at mid on.
While Megan Schutt and Jess Jonassen each claimed two wickets, India were steered to victory by Harmanpreet Kaur, who compiled a game-high 46 from 31 balls, and handy knocks from Veda Krishnamurthy (35) and Smriti Mandhana (29). The duo helped India post 188/3 in their 20 overs.
James Faulkner castled Raina but Kohli remained unbeaten after a chanceless 55-ball innings that included two sixes and nine boundaries. Suresh Raina struggled to get going but did not give his wicket away.
Despite losing the hard-hitting David Warner (17) to T20 debutant Jasprit Bumrah, Australia were in the hunt to chase down the target at 89 for one in the ninth over. Nehra bowled an impressive first over conceding just 5 runs. “If they’re just hitting the good ball, that’s not a problem”, Finch said at the pre-match press conference ahead of the T20 match on Tuesday.
Playing his first global match in almost five years, Australian paceman Shaun Tait began with a 150 kmh delivery but sent down six wides and bled 45 runs in his four overs without any success.
But, Dhoni bought Ashwin into the attack who got the rid off Finch for 44. Steve Smith, however, teed off early to keep Australia in command.
But Ravindra Jadeja (2-21) bowled beautifully in the centre overs, dismissing Smith within the ninth over, captured at mid on. Ashwin then bagged the prized scalp of Watson for 12.
Whereas, another debutant Hardik Pandya yet to show his potential. He smashed R Ashwin for 16 runs in the innings’ second over, but failed to capitalise on the same.
India former skipper Sunil Gavaskar said that the way Indian team played the last match with Australia as part of the three match T20 series, looks like the team is shaping up nicely and that they look like the favorites to win the upcoming World T20 tournament.
Captain MS Dhoni said Kohli’s secret was being able to calculate his risks.
Advertisement
“I could take this stadium with me wherever I bat”, Kohli said at Adelaide Oval after receiving his man-of-the-match award.
