Melbourne magic for India’s women and men
Unbeaten Kohli with 90 in the fitst T20 and 59 in the second
By Kersi Meher-Homji
Another night, another magic moment for India’s Women’s and Men’s cricket teams! Both had beaten their Australian counterparts in their first T20 internationals in Adelaide on Tuesday the 26th.
Last night [the 29th] they repeated their success in front of more than 58,000 spectators in Melbourne to not only win their matches but the series 2-0 as well.
Rain interrupted the Women’s match. India’s captain Mithali Raj won the toss and sent Australian Southern Stars in to bat. Australia started well and was 3 for 103 but with Jhulan Goswami and Rajeshwari Gayakwad taking two wickets each, they lost five wickets for 10 runs in 16 balls and made 8 for 125 in 18 overs.
Then it bucketed rain and India needed only 69 runs to win in 10 overs by the Duckworth ”“Lewis method and reached the target in 9.1 overs.
Openers Mithali Raj (37) and the tall stylish Smriti Manthana (22) remained unbeaten and India won by 10 wickets to wrap up the series. This was a victory to cherish as Australian women are top-ranked in T20 internationals.
Jhulan Goswami was made Player of the Match.
Rain clouds cleared and India’s men’s team triumphed by 27 runs to win the series as well.
Sent in to bat India’s dashing openers Rohit Sharma (60) and Shikhar (Dham dhamadham dham) Dhawan (42) added 97 spectacular runs smashing eight fours and four sixes between them.
Then entered Virat Kohli in the middle. He kept up the tempo belting 59 unbeaten runs enriched with seven fours and a six off 33 balls. India totalled 3 for 184 at a run-rate of 9.20.
Australia, weakened by the absence of in-form Steven Smith and David Warner, started gloriously as openers Aaron Finch (74 run out with eight fours and two sixes) and Shaun Marsh (23) put on 94 runs for the first wicket.
“Game on!” exclaimed the commentators.
But then wickets started tumbling and Australia could make 8 for 157 and lost convincingly to lose both the match and the series. Kohli was the Man of the Match as he followed his unbeaten 90 in the Adelaide T20 with an unbeaten 59 in this match.
Jasprit Bumrah (2 for 37) and Ravi Jadeja (2 for 37) were the bowling heroes. Jadeja took an amazing return catch to dismiss Shane Watson.
Jasprit Bumrah
Now to Sydney for the third and final T20 international. Australia is weakened by the loss of Finch who pulled a hamstring.
The Aussie selectors have finally woken up from their deep slumber and have included the in-form Usman Khawaja for the Sydney double-header tomorrow.
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