2nd T20I: Hardik Pandya’s whirlwind knock of 42 not out helped India beat Australia by 6 wickets.© Instagram
India beat Australia by six wickets to clinch the 3-match Twenty20 International (T20I) series with a game to spare at the Sydney Cricket Ground on Sunday. With 14 runs necessary off the final more than, Hardik Pandya completed the game with two sixes as India got more than the line with two balls to left. Chasing a massive total of 195, Shikhar Dhawan gave the guests the best platform with a brisk half-century. Dhawan got ample assistance from captain Virat Kohli (40) and KL Rahul (30). Shreyas Iyer, coming in to bat at quantity six, also contributed with a fast cameo.
Mitchell Swepson was the choose of the bowlers for Australia. The leg-spinner picked up a wicket and gave away just 25 runs.
Earlier, India won the toss and invited Australia to bat. Matthew Wade, stand-in skipper for the hosts, smashed a brisk half-century.
Wade smashed 10 boundaries and a six through his 32-ball knock.
Steve Smith carried on the momentum in the middle overs and scored 46 runs off 38 deliveries.
Late flourish from Marcus Stoinis and Moises Henriques propelled Australia to an imposing total of 194 for 5 from their 20 overs.
For India, T Natarajan was the choose of the bowlers. He returned with figures of two for 20 from his 4-more than spell.
Yuzvendra Chahal, player of the match from the preceding game, was taken to the cleaners by the Australian batsmen.
The leg-spinner gave away 51 runs from his 4 overs and picked up just 1 wicket.
Both teams will return to the identical venue for the final T20I on Tuesday.