Sydney: Hardik Pandya smashed an unbeaten 42 off 22 balls, with 3 fours and 2 sixes, to guide India to a series-clinching six-wicket victory in the second T20 International against Australia at the Sydney Cricket Ground on Sunday evening.
India had won the first T20 International by 11 runs at Canberra two days ago, thanks to a match-winning performance by leg-spinner Yuzvendra Chahal, who had come in for Ravindra Jadeja as a concussion substitute. The third and final match of the series, to played on Tuesday, is of academic interest.
India thus avenged the 1-2 loss in the ODI series.
Chasing a stiff 195-run target, India got off to a rollicking start through KL Rahul and Shikhar Dhawan, who put on 56 runs in 5.2 overs. Dhawan went on to score 52 off 36 balls before skipper Virat Kohli turned it on the in the crucial middle overs with a 24-ball 40.
After Kohli’s departure, Pandya took charge and toyed with the inexperienced Aussie attack.
Australia earlier reached 194 for 5, mainly due to stand-in skipper’s whirlwind half-century at the top of the order and Steve Smith’s 46.
Left-arm seamer T Natarajan was India’s standout bowler, nagging 2/20 in his 4 overs.
