In the second T20I match of the five-match bilateral series, India defeated Australia by 44 runs at the Greenfield International Stadium in Thiruvananthapuram.
The visitors won the toss and opted to field first. The Indian batters had a strong start to their innings as both openers, Yashasvi Jaiswal (53) and Ruturaj Gaikwad (58) scored magnificent half-centuries. While Jaiswal was quick in his inning, striking at 212, Gaikwad played at just a strike rate of 134, hitting three fours and two sixes. Furthermore, the innings was then progressed by Ishan Kishan (52), who also scored a fifty, which included three fours and four sixes. Skipper Suryakumar Yadav (19) also contributed a few runs, but it was Rinku Singh (31*), whose hard-hitting strikes led India to a gigantic score of 235/4.
In the chase, the Aussie openers, Steven Smith (19) and Matthew Short (19), got a decent start to their innings but couldn’t capitalise on it. Likewise, even Glenn Maxwell (12) looked solid but got out cheaply. It was Marcus Stoinis (45) and Tim David (37), who brought back the hopes of Aussie fans, as both batters added 81 runs for the fifth wicket partnership. Nonetheless, both got out in consecutive overs to once again put Australia in deep trouble. Matthew Wade (42*), towards the end, tried his best, but it was too late as they could only get 191 runs in 20 overs.
While defending, Prasidh Krishna and Ravi Bishnoi scalped three wickets each. With them, Arshdeep Singh, Axar Patel, and Mukesh Kumar got one wicket each as well.
For Australia with the ball, Nathan Ellis scalped three wickets, while one wicket was also picked by Marcus Stoinis.
With this win, India have taken a 2-0 lead in this five-match T20I series.
Scorecard:
India: 235/4, Overs 20, Ruturaj Gaikwad 58, Nathan Ellis 3/45
Australia: 191/9, Overs 20, Marcus Stoinis 45, Ravi Bishnoi 3/32