Match Center

Right then! The 2nd T20I is done and dusted. India chased a target of 195 with 2 balls to spare and that also means that they have sealed the series with a lead of 2-0 with a game to spare. It was a humdinger of a chase as we were kept glued to the seat as the pendulum shifted from one side to the other and finally it swung in favour of India. The 3rd and final T20I of the series would be played on 8th December 2020 at Sydney. That game begins at 1910 Local (0810 GMT). Till then stay safe, cheers and take care!

Virat Kohli, the Indian skipper, tells that they have done well in T20Is. Says that with two of their main players, Rohit and Bumrah, not playing and still winning two games is pleasing. Praises Natarajan and Shardul for their performance. Mentions Hardik's performance and talks highly of Dhawan for the opening stand. Terms it a complete performance overall. Commenting on Pandya, Kohli says that Pandya is hungry and he will keep getting better. Tells that he plays hear with a lot of passion. On the fans, Kohli says the crowd's noise push the team through. Tells by saying that they have won the series but they will look to win the last game too. On the scoop over fine leg, Kohli smiles and tells that he is learning it from de Villiers. Says that he told Pandya that Tye wasn't expecting him to do that. Adds that Pandya joked that he and the entire team didn't expect. Ends by saying that he will send a text to de Villiers and ask him if he liked that shot.

Matthew Wade, the Aussie skipper, says that leading the team was really exciting. Tells that he is really happy with his start but feels that he should've batted a bit longer. Feels that they couldn't win crucial moments in the game. Praises the spinners for bowling really well. Ends by saying they couldn't execute their plans well in the end.

Hardik Pandya is named Player of the Match! He says that he likes to see the scoreboard and plan accordingly. Adds that he has been in situations like these and with his mistakes in the past, he knows that he has more time in hand than there actually is. Says that his game depends on confidence. Tells that he remembers the past games where the team has scored over 90 and 100 so he backs himself and the team. Praises the openers for the kind of start they gave. Tells that he felt that Natarajan deserved the Player of the Match and credits him a lot for his performance.

Hardik Pandya is caught for a quick chat. Tells that he knew that a couple of good hits and they will go over the line. Adds that he wanted to finish the game more than doing it with a six. Tells that he just wanted to whack it over the fence. On him using multiple bats in this game, Hardik says that he is trying to figure out which bat he should use. Stay tuned as the post-match presentations comes shortly.

Earlier in the game, Kohli won the toss and asked the Aussies to set a total. Both the teams made several changes to their XI. Australia were off to a flying start as the stand-in Aussie skipper went after the bowlers from the word go. He got out but not before getting to a fine half-ton. Smith and Maxwell too played their part and towards the end, Stoinis and Sams smashed a few runs and took the Aussies close to 200. The Indian bowlers were pummeled all over the park. Their last game's hero Chahal was taken apart while Chahar and Shardul too were tonked in their spell. The only positive for the Indians was their yorker specialist Natarajan who was once again superb in his 4-over spell where he picked up 2 wickets, giving away just 20. Eventually, his spell and performance meant that a total India stopped Aussies was scaled by the batters.

Where did Australia go wrong in the bowling? Probably that gamble of giving Glenn Maxwell an over in the Powerplay backfired. He has been doing it consistently but today was not his day as he conceded 19 runs off his only over which cost Australia the game. Their two spinners, Mitchell Swepson and Adam Zampa bowled brilliantly especially Swepson who in his 4 overs conceded 25 runs. Daniel Sams began superbly with the ball on debut but lost the plot in the final stages as Andrew Tye was not up to the mark as he was hammered all around the park. Henriques just got one over as Sean Abbott could bowl just a couple of overs too. The fielding was good but that one over from Maxwell robbed them the game here. Stay tuned as Hardik Pandya is down for a chat. Let's hear what he has to share.

Chasing a mammoth total of 195 India needed a strong start from their openers which they got only after they began on a cautious note. Once Rahul smacked Tye for a six on the free hit the Indian openers went bonkers as they smashed 19 off Maxwell's one over. The duo added 56 in no time for the first wicket and just when both of them were settling in Rahul threw it away. Then came Kohli and the run flow took a different dimension. He along with Dhawan picked an odd boundary and rotated the strike. Dhawan though departed after his fifty But Kohli continued to muster the runs. He though departed at a crucial juncture but Hardik Pandya and Shreyas Iyer in the middle ensured that they cross the fence in the end.

TAKE A BOW PANDYA! The Indian dressing room which was on the edge of their seats just erupts and they are all smiles now. Pandya nails the final ball and India take the series. So it is even stevens now Australia took the ODIs and India take the T20I series with a game to go.

SIX! BOOM! What a way to win the game! What a strike from Hardik Pandya! What a player! A length ball, right in the slot, Pandya powers it over wide long on for a huge six. India win by 6 wickets and take an unassailable lead in this 3-game series.

Nicely bowled! Hardik makes room and Sams follows him and bowls it short. Pandya looks to upper cut but makes no connection.

SIX! In the slot and Pandya clubs it over long on. Sams runs in and bowls it full and around off and middle, Pandya clobbers it over long on for a biggie. 6 off 4 now. India are just a hit away.

Two now! Length ball on middle, Pandya mistimes his pull through square leg. They run a brace. 12 off 5 now.

Risky single! Very risky single. Direct hit and Pandya would've been going home. Length and outside off, Pandya cuts but finds point. He goes for the single. The fielder has a shy at the non-strieker's end but misses. 14 needed in final 6 balls.

FOUR! Consecutive boundaries! Hardik nails the drive this time. Not good bowling from Tye. Full and wide outside off, Pandya slams it over extra cover for a boundary. 15 needed in 7 balls.

EDGY FOUR! Low full toss outside off, Pandya looks to hammer it over covers but gets a fat outside edge that flies over short third man for a boundary.

Play and a miss again! Hardik is struggling to connect here. Full and wide outside off, he once again goes for the massive slog but once again fails to connect. Pressure on Hardik here.

Swing and a miss! Length ball outside off, Pandya swings hard but makes no connection.