2nd T20I: Dhawan, Pandya shine as India beat Australia by 6 wickets to clinch series

Image Credits: Twitter/@BCCI

Opening batsman Shikhar Dhawan hammered a crucial half-century, while all-rounder Hardik Pandya smashed a quick-fire unbeaten knock of 42 runs as India swept aside Australia by six wickets in the second T20I of the three-match series at the Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG) on Sunday.

Asked to bat first, stand-in skipper Matthew Wade notched up a crucial half-century of 58 runs off just 32 deliveries besides sharing a 47-run stand for the third wicket with Steve Smith (38-ball 46).

Subsequently, Glenn Maxwell and Moisis Henriques contributed 22 and 26 runs, respectively, while Marcus Stoinis and Daniel Sams remained unbeaten at the crease at their respective scores of 16 and eight as Australia posted a good total of 194/5 in their stipulated 20 overs.

In reply, Shikhar Dhawan not only notched up a half-century of 52 runs off 36 deliveries but also shared a 56-run stand with KL Rahul (30) for the opening wicket.

Skipper Virat Kohli then notched up a quick-fire 24 ball 40 runs before Hardik Pandya hammered the Australian bowlers all over the park to score an unbeaten 22-ball 42 as India cross the mark in 19.4 overs.

Here are the highlights:

06 December 2020

17:23 IST

India beat Australia by 6 wickets to take an unassailable 2-0 lead in the series. India 195/4 (19.4 overs)

17:11 IST

16:52 IST

WICKET!! Indian skipper Virat Kohli departed for 24-ball 40 after being caught behind the stumps by Matthew Wade on the first ball of the 17th over by Daniel Sams. India now needs 37 runs off 18 balls. India 158/4 (17 overs)

16:50 IST

WICKET!! Sanju Samson slapped the fourth delivery of the 14th over by Mitchell Swepson straight to long-off, only to see Steve Smith grab a catch. The Indian batsman departs cheaply for 15 runs. The Men in Blue now need 72 runs off 36 balls.India 123/3 (14 overs)

16:35 IST

WICKET!! Soon after bringing up his half-century off 34 deliveries, Shikhar Dhawan (52) was caught by Mitchell Swepson at deep square on the second delivery of the 12th over by Adam Zampa. India 105/2 (11.6 overs)

16:32 IST

Indian opening batsman Shikhar Dhawan (45) is approaching a half-century, while Virat Kohli is currently batting at eight as India now need 109 runs off 60 balls against Australia. India 86/1 (10 overs)

16:22 IST

13 runs off the last two overs.Virat Kohli (5) got off the mark by driving the first ball of the seventh over by Mitchell Swepson to deep-cover point for one run, before Shikhar Dhawan (36)  slapped the third ball of the eighth over by Moisis Henriques late behind point for a boundary. India 73/1 (8 overs)

16:21 IST

Virat Kohli come to bat in for India!

16:11 IST

WICKET!! KL Rahul hammered the second ball of the sixth over by Andrew Tye to deep point, only for Mitchell Swepson to take a good catch. The Men in Blue, however, have crossed the 50-run mark. India 60/1 (6 overs)

15:55 IST

KL Rahul (24) launched the fourth delivery of the third over by Andrew Tye for a six before he swept the first ball of the next over by Glenn Maxwell over short fine leg. Shikhar Dhawan (17) flicked the last delivery from Tye fine of short third man for four runs before he hammered Maxwell for back-to-back for a sixes.India 43/0 (4 overs)

15:49 IST

KL Rahul (7) and Shikhar Dhawan (2) have made a slow start to their innings, adding just nine runs in the first two overs. Rahul got off the mark by cutting the third delivery of the first over by Daniel Sams through backward point for two runs, while Dhawan opened his innings by driving a Sean Abbott delivery in the next over to third man for a single. India 9/0 (2 overs)

15:38 IST

Shikhar Dhawan and KL Rahul have walked down the crease to begin India's chase. Daniel Sams to open the proceedings for Australia. 

15:21 IST

Australia set 195-run target for India! Australia 194/5 (20 overs)

15:12 IST

WICKET!! Moisis Henriques departed cheaply for 18-ball 26 after being caught behind by wiclketkeeper-batsman KL Rahul behind the stumps on the third ball of the penultimate over by T Natarajan. Australia 177/5 (19 overs)

15:07 IST

WICKET!! Steve Smith (40), who was looking good at the crease, fell short of a half-century after being caught by Hardik Pandya at long-off on the fifth delivery of the 18th over by Yuzvendra Chahal. Australia 169/4 (18 overs)

15:00 IST

Steve Smith (38) dragged the second ball of the 16th over from Yuzvendra Chahal over long-on for a maximum before Moisis Henriques smashed the fifth delivery of the same over deep backward square for six more runs.Australia have now crossed the 150-run mark against India. Australia 158/3 (17 overs)

14:44 IST

Nine runs off the last two overs. Steve Smith and Moisis Henriques are currently batting at the crease at their respective scores of 30 and eight. Australia have now crossed the 130-run mark against the Men in Blue with five overs to spare. Australia 132/3 (15 overs)

14:44 IST

Moisis Henriques comes to bat in for Australia!

14:42 IST

WICKET!!! Glenn Maxwell, who was looking good at the crease, departed for 13-ball 22 after being caught by Washington Sundar at backward point on the fourth delivery of the 13th over by Shardul Thakur. Australia 123/3 (12.6 overs)

14:27 IST

16 runs off the last two overs. Glenn Maxwell (12) lofted the second delivery of the 10th over by Yuzvendra Chahal over long-off for a maximum.Australia are now approachig the 100-run mark. Australia reach 91/2 after 10 overs. 

14:23 IST

WICKET!! Indian skipper Virat Kohli dropped Matthew Wade on the last delivery of the eighth over by Washington Sundar, but he soon made amendment by throwing the delivery to wicketkeeper-batsman KL Rahul who rattled the stumps.Australia 75/2 (8 overs)

14:17 IST

FIFTY!! Matthew Wade (53) has brought up a quick-fire half-century off just 25 balls. He reached the mark by hammering the second delivery of the seventh over by Deepak Chahar through cover-point for four runs. Australia 68/1 (7 overs)

14:16 IST

Steve Smith is the new batsman in for Australia

14:04 IST

WICKET!!  D'Arcy Short, who made a slow start to his innings, departed cheaplty for nine runs after being caught by Shreyas Iyer at deep square forward on the third delivery of the fifth over by T Natarajan.Australia 47/1 (4.6 overs)

14:00 IST

Expensive last two overs for India as they conceded 25 runs in it. Matthew Wade (34) smashed the first ball of the third over by Shardul Thakur behind square to collect four runs before he hammered Washington Sundar for back-to-back boundaries in the next over. D'Arcy Short (9), meanwhile, cracked the last ball of the fourth over through cover point for four runs. Australia 46/0 (4 overs)

13:56 IST

Shardul Thakur came into the attack!

13:50 IST

Matthew Wade and D'Arcy Short are off to a decent start as they added 23 runs in the first two overs. Wade got off the mark by pulling the second delivery of the first over by Deepak Chahar wide of mid on for four runs before he smashed two more back-to-back boundaries, while Short flicked the first ball of the second over by Washinton Sundar to deep square leg to open his account with a single. Australia 23/0 (2 overs)

13:42 IST

Stand-in skipper Matthew Wade and D'Arcy Short have walked down the crease to begin Australia's innings.Deepak Chahar to open the attack for India. 

13:27 IST

The second T20I between India vs Australia match will begin shortly. 

13:20 IST

As far as Playing XIs are concerned, Manish Pandey has an elbow niggle so he will miss the second T20I against the Aussies, while Mohammed Shami has been rested. Australia, on the other hand, have rested Josh Hazlewood as his back is sore.

13:18 IST

Matthew Wade will lead Australia in the absence of regular skipper Aaron Finch, who has a small tear in his glute.

13:16 IST

LINEUPS:

Australia Playing XI: D'Arcy Short, Matthew Wade (capt. and wk), Steven Smith, Glenn Maxwell, Moises Henriques, Marcus Stoinis, Sean Abbott, Daniel Sams, Mitchell Swepson, 10 Adam Zampa, Andrew Tye

India Playing XI: Shikhar Dhawan, KL Rahul, Virat Kohli, Sanju Samson, Shreyas Iyer, Hardik Pandy, Washington Sundar, Deepak Chahar, T Natarajan, Shardul Thakur, Yuzvendra Chahal

 team news 

IN: Shardul Thakur, Yuzvendra Chahal, Shreyas Iyer

OUT: Ravindra Jadeja, Mohammad Shami, Manish Pandey#AUSvIND pic.twitter.com/xewOgQRUJk

— ICC (@ICC) December 6, 2020

13:11 IST

India win the toss, opt to bowl against Australia !

Captain @imVkohli has won the toss in the 2nd T20I and #TeamIndia are bowling first. pic.twitter.com/ajsRMPl5eb

— BCCI (@BCCI) December 6, 2020

13:06 IST

Daniel Sams has received his maiden Australia T20I cap from George Bailey.

13:05 IST

The toss for second T20I between India and Australia will take place shortly.