Published: Feb 27, 2019, 08:47 PM (IST)
Edited: Feb 27, 2019, 08:47 PM (IST)
Virat Kohli’s belligerent 72* off just 38 deliveries, well supported by Mahendra Singh Dhoni’s 40 off 23 powered India to 190/4 in the second and final Twenty20 International against Australia at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru on Wednesday.
Put into bat, openers KL Rahul and Shikhar Dhawan took their time to settle down before Rahul continued his fine form at his home ground and unleashed a flurry of strokes.
After a watchful start in the first couple of overs, Rahul smashed one between point and cover off Jason Behrendorff. In the next over, he helped it over short fine leg. The highlight of his fiery knock was in the fifth over in which he bludgeoned consecutives sixes off Jhye Richardson. Rahul tragetted the deep fine-leg for his first maximum and then with a punch drive, smashed one over all the way over cover.
The Karnataka batsman raced to 47 off 26, an innings that was decorated with four towering sixes and three boundaries, but he threw his wicket away in the eighth over as India were just stepping into the next gear.
Rahul, who looked cramped up for room after Nathan Coulter-Nile banged in a slower one, tried to go for the upper cut, but found Richardson at third man to end what was a promising start.
Dhawan, who was rested for the series opener in Vizag, failed to get going and departed for 14 off 24 which included just the solitary boundary. The southpaw tried to heave the ball away, but did not time it well and it went aerial only for Marcus Stoinis, who came charging to deep cover pick up what was quite a debatable catch. Replays proved the catch was not too convincing, but the third umpire went with the soft signal.
Rishabh Pant’s horrible form in Twenty20 Internationals continued. The young wicketkeeper-batsman had to make the long walk after Richardson picked up a stunner at long-off in what could be one of the best catches on the tour. Tossed up by D’Arcy Short, Pant wanted to tonk it over long-on, but he mistimed it horribly, the bat turned in his hand and Richardson went airborne when he took the catch at long-off.
How's that for a stretch from @msdhoni 😮😮
📹📹https://t.co/9hYmrJBmii #INDvAUS pic.twitter.com/MXvXIvov0G
— BCCI (@BCCI) February 27, 2019
Kohli and Dhoni then took control as the duo stitched 100 runs for the fourth wicket. The Indian captain, who scored his 20th Twenty20 Interational half-century, led from the front as he tonked six hits over the fence and two boundaries. Three of those sixes came in successive in the 16th over off Nathan Coulter-Nile.
Innings Break!
Kohli finishes it off in style. #TeamIndia post a formidable total of 190/4 (Virat 72*, Rahul 47) for Australia to chase.
Will #TeamIndia defend the total or will the Aussies chase it down? #INDvAUS pic.twitter.com/UanzfBKE0m
— BCCI (@BCCI) February 27, 2019
Dhoni meanwhile, kept up the run-rate as he scored three boundaries and as many sixes in his 23-ball stay the crease which was brought to an end by Pat Cummins in the last over.
Australia, who won the opening match by three wickets at Vizag on Sunday, fielded an unchanged side in their bid to sweep the series. India, meanwhile, made three changes to their starting lineup with Rohit Sharma, Mayank Markande and Umesh Yadav making way for Dhawan, Vijay Shankar and Siddarth Kaul.
Brief scores: India 190/4 (Virat Kohli 72*, KL Rahul 47, MS Dhoni 40) versus Australia
