Nishad Vellur/Zeenews.com
Melbourne: India tasted their first victory in the series against Australia as they beat the hosts in the second and final T20 by 8 wickets.
Here is how the match panned out:
Indian innings
Over 19.4: Gambhir finally drives McKay between midwicket and mid-on after playing three dots in a row to lead India to their first victory on the Australian tour.
Over 18: India is just 3 runs away from the first win of the series. Scoreboard read 129/2 at the end of the over.
Over 17.3: Gautam Gambhir cruised along to complete his 50 off 54 balls and often treated the 62,275-strong MCG crowds with some fine shots to push towards the victory mark.
Over 17: India inched closer to the victory mark, needing just 12 runs to win from 18 balls at the end of the over.
Over 15: India crossed the 100-run mark after 15 overs. The scoreboard read 102 for 2.
Over 13.4: Virat Kohli was caught behind the stumps by Wade. Extra bounce did the trick for Mitchell Marsh to send Kohli for 31 runs off 24 balls. India were 97/2.
Over 12: Indian batsmen Kohli and Gambhir punished Australian bowlers all across the ground, probably making up for the losses in the series so far. After 12 overs, India were 85 for 1 and 47 runs away from a hard-fought victory.
Over 7.4: India reached the 50-run mark, with a confident Virat Kohli and Gambhir on the crease. Scoreboard read 54/1 at the end of the over.
Over 6.3: A full toss from veteran Hogg claimed Sehwag`s wicket. He drove it to extra cover only to find Shaun Marsh, who carried it safely to remove the dangerman. Sehwag left the field without causing much harm to the opponents as he scored 23 runs off 16 balls. India were 43 for 1.
Over 5-6: It looked like India have sorted out the issue of throwing away the wickets early. The patience showed by the openers, Sehwag in particular, said it all. It was partly due to the moderate target. India reached 42 for no loss after six overs.
Over 0- 4: Carrying on the momentum from the first innings, India started their chase in a superior fashion. Both Indian openers, Gambhir and Sehwag, were selective while chosing their shots to leave the scoreboard ticking steadily. After four overs, India were 26 for no loss.
Australian innings
Over 19.4: Another run out to complete the tenth wicket. Xavier Doherty departed for just 1 leaving Brett Lee unbeaten on the other side. Australia finished the innings for 131 all out with two balls to spare.
Over 19.3: Rahul Sharma picked the ninth wicket of Brad Hogg. Australia were 130 for 9.
Over 18.3: Clint McKay departed for duck. The body language says it all. India dominated the first half if the tie with some brilliant fielding to restrict Australia to 125 for 8 after 19 overs.
Over 18.2: Rohit Sharma joined the pack on field. Ran out Matthew Wade for 32 runs.
Over 17.3: Dhoni was quick to collect the ball close to the stumps off Rahul Sharma`s bowling and whipped the bails off in ligthning speed to send Mitchell Marsh packing. Australia reached 121 for 6 after 18 overs.
Over 17:Dhoni used his spinners to effectively put a break on the Australian scoring, taking wickets at regular intervals on a pitch that had nothing for the spinners as per the earlier predictions. Australia reached 114 for 5 with three overs to go in their innings.
Over 15: Australia reached the 100-run mark after 15 overs.
Over 13.3: Jadeja striked again. Caught and bowled David Hussey, who departed with a score of 24 off 29 balls. Australia were 95 for 5 after 13 overs.
Over 8.3: Another spectacular effort by Jadeja on the field. George Bailey, who ran out of the crease when Hussey cut towards the point, couldn`t escape from Jadeja. The Australian captain made just three runs off 4 balls. Scoreboard read 59/4 after the end of 9th over.
Over 7: A brilliant fielding by Ravindra Jadeja helped remove an in-form Finch while trying to steal a single. Scoreboard read 49/3 after 7 overs. Finch scored 36 off 23 balls.
Over 2.5: Shaun Marsh gone for a duck again. Second wicket of the over giving away just two runs. After a little juggling by Sehwag, who was at slip, the ball landed safely into the hands of Dhoni. The scoreboard read 20/2.
Over 2.2: `Serial Switcher` also a big hitter David Warner gifted his wicket to Praveen Kumar trying for a big one. He was caught by Gautham Gambhir at short fine leg for 8 runs.
Over 0-2: Praveen Kumar opened the bowling for India on a pitch which offered some swing early on. Steady start for the Australians with Warner opened for Australia partnering Aaron Finch .
First Published: Friday, February 03, 2012, 18:13