Gambhir guides India to emphatic eight-wicket win over Australia at MCG
By Ashish Shukla
Melbourne: Feb 3, 2012
India relied on the young brigade to finally break their prolonged winless streak by spanking Australia by eight wickets in the second Twenty20 Interntaional and level the series 1-1.
After restricting the fancied Australians to 131 in 19.4 overs, riding on some brilliant fielding and disciplined bowling, the Indians overhauled the target with two balls to spare to record their first overseas win in close to seven months.
Today’s win snapped India’s winless run which started in England last year where they lost the four-match Test series 0-4 and the subsequent five-match ODI series 0-3 before slumping to another 0-4 whitewash in the Test series against Australia.
Opener Gautam Gambhir (56 not out) led the Indian charge and with Virender Sehwag (23) provided the best start of the Australian tour, putting on 43 runs from 6.3 overs for the first wicket.
Sehwag was brilliantly caught at short cover by Shaun Marsh off left-arm chinaman bowler Brad Hogg but not before hitting a monstrous six off left-arm spinner Xavier Doherty which went many rows deep at the long on fence of the huge MCG stadium.
But Gambhir was determined to see India through and made a well-constructed 56 off 60 balls with four fours. India’s lone centurion in the Test series, Virat Kohli (31) gave him good company as India won without a hiccup by reaching 135 for two in 19.4 overs.
Gambhir and Kohli put on 54 runs off 43 balls for the second wicket to seal the good work done earlier by the bowlers and fielders, who executed four run-outs during the Australian innings.
Gambhir reached his half century in the 18th over off a misfield which allowed him three runs. He faced 54 balls and hit three fours to notch up his fifty.
Skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni (21 not out) strode in at number four and made sure India went past the finish line safely in front of 62,276-strong crowd at the MCG.
The only good thing Australia did today was to win the toss and elect to bat before the Indians began to work through their innings with Praveen Kumar striking two blows in his second over, the third of the innings.
All five frontline bowlers, Praveen Kumar (2 for 21), Vinay Kumar (2 for 25), Ravinder Jadeja (1 for 16), Rahul Sharma (2 for 29) and Ravichandran Ashwin (1 for 23) bowled well.
Matthew Wade, hero of the first Twenty20 game, came to bat at number six, made 32 before being the third batsman to be run out for 32.
Aaron Finch (36 off 23 balls), opening in place of Wade this time, made a strokeful knock before being run out at a critical time.
India bowled and fielded with enthusiasm and it all started after Praveen picked up two wickets in his second over.
It was then the swiftness of Jadeja in the field that accounted for two wickets in quick succession.
Right-hander David Hussey was in the centre of both the run-outs, one the folly of his own misjudgment.
Unable to get off the strike, Hussey cut leg-spinner Rahul to point and called his partner Finch for a run. The ball was still not past Jadeja and importantly was on the side of his throwing left-arm. Jadeja swooped on the ball and threw in accurately to keeper Dhoni who did the rest. (PTI)
Brief Scores: Australia 131 all-out in 19.4 overs (Aaron Finch 36, Matthew Wade 32; Praveen Kumar 2 for 21, Rahul Sharma 2 for 29) lost to India 135 for 2 in 19.4 overs (Gautam Gambhir 56*, Virat Kohli 31, MS Dhoni 21*; Brad Hogg 1 for 19) by 8 wickets.
Man of the Match: Ravindra Jadeja