AI Simulation, AUS vs IND | Top order’s brilliance helps India beat Australia by five wickets in second T20I

Pitch and Weather

The surface at the Melbourne Cricket Ground in Melbourne is going to be a bit firm and dry, expected to play true with good carry for the seamers under the lights. The large outfield might challenge boundary hitters, but the surface might promise a fine balance between bat and ball.

It will be a mild Melbourne evening on Friday, with the temperature hovering around 18 degrees Celsius, and a gentle breeze across the MCG.

Toss

Australia won the toss and decided to bat first.

Lineups

Australia XI: Mitchell Marsh (C), Travis Head, Josh Inglis (WK), Tim David, Mitchell Owen, Marcus Stoinis, Josh Phillippe, Xavier Bartlett, Nathan Ellis, Matthew Kuhnemann, Josh Hazlewood.

India XI: Abhishek Sharma, Shubman Gill, Suryakumar Yadav (C), Tilak Varma, Sanju Samson (WK), Shivam Dube, Axar Patel, Harshit Rana, Kuldeep Yadav, Varun Chakravarthy, Jasprit Bumrah.

Match Report

After opting to bat first, Australia had a quick opening start of 57 runs in just 6.2 overs, by the opening pair of Travis Head and skipper Mitchell Marsh. Jasprit Bumrah broke this partnership, dismissing Marsh on the second ball of the seventh over; he was caught behind the wickets by Sanju Samson. Marsh scored 36 runs off 23 balls, with three fours and two sixes. Following his departure, Head and Josh Inglis added an important partnership of 35 runs for the second before the former fell prey to Axar Patel, at the individual score of 47 (28), when the team’s score was 92. Inglis (15) fell early, and his dismissal gave the Aussies a quick blow within just 17 runs. Then came a much-needed partnership of 53 runs for the fourth wicket between Tim David and Marcus Stoinis (22). David smashed 38 runs off just 21 balls, with one four and four sixes. Later in the innings, Mitch Owen’s 11 (9) helped the hosts post 186/7 on the board in the allotted 20 overs. Star pace spearhead Jasprit Bumrah shone with the ball for India, picking three wickets for 28 runs in his four overs. Besides him, Axar Patel and Kuldeep Yadav also bagged a wicket each. Harshit Rana also registered his name in the scorecard, with a wicket of Mitch Owen to his name.

While chasing the target, India had an outstanding and fiery start of 89 runs, by the young opening pair of Abhishek Sharma and Shubman Gill. The duo made this partnership in just 9.2 overs, before Gill was caught by Marsh off Nathan Ellis on the third ball of the 14th over. He scored 41 runs off 30 balls, with four fours and a six. Furthermore, Abhishek stood there in the middle and added another crucial partnership of 35 runs for the second wicket. Abhishek’s brilliant knock came to an end when he was caught by Josh Inglis off Josh Hazlewood. The young Southpaw scored 58 runs off just 35 balls, with six fours and three sixes. His dismissal was followed by a 27-run stand between Suryakumar Yadav and Tilak Varma (11). SKY went on to play a brilliant and quick knock of 32 runs off just 19 balls, with three fours and two sixes. Later around the end of the innings, Sanju Samson’s unbeaten 25* (18) and Shivam Dube’s unbeaten 13* (9) helped the Men in Blue chase down the target comfortably in 19.4 overs. Josh Hazlewood, Nathan Ellis, and Xavier Bartlett picked a wicket each for Aussies, but their efforts couldn’t be enough to restrict India before the target. With this win, the tourists have also secured a lead of 1-0 in the five-match T20I series.

Player of the Match

Young India opener Abhishek Sharma won the ‘Player of the Match’ award for his sensational and match-winning knock of 58 runs off just 35 balls, with six fours and three sixes. Besides that, his opening partnership with Shubman Gill also laid a strong foundation of India’s successful run chase.

Scorecard