Melbourne, Nov 23: Virat Kohli's hopes of levelling the series were dashed as the second Twenty20 international between India and Australia was abandoned due to rain here on Friday (November 23).
Skies opened up in the 19th over of Australia's innings when the hosts had posted 132/7 as Indian bowlers put up a disciplined show at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) which was flooded with Indian supporters.
India captain Virat Kohli's decision to bowl first paid off immediately when pacer Bhuvneshwar Kumar got the wicket of Aussie skipper Aaron Finch for a duck on just the second delivery of the match. Finch went for a drive against the ball moving away from him and knicked it to be caught behind by Rishabh Pant.
Indian pacers pushed the hosts on the backfoot almost immediately as they bowled miserly and never allowed the Aussie batters to settle down. Khaleel Ahmed (2/39) bowled the second over for India and the youngster tasted a success pretty early in the innings as well. Khaleel got the wicket of dangerous looking Chris Lynn (27) in his second over and castled the stumps of D'Arcy Short (14) in the third as Aussies were three down in the powerplay itself.
The hosts pinned their hopes with their heroes of the previous game i.e. Glenn Maxwell and Marcus Stoinis - who steadied Australia's ship in Brisbane. But the Indians didn't repeat their mistakes from the previous match.
Jasprit Bumrah (1/20) sent Stoinis packing for 4 while Krunal Pandya (1/26) exacted revenge with Maxwell - who hammered a hat-trick of sixes two nights back - by breaching through his defence with a beauty. Maxwell had scored 22 before getting clean bowled.
Chinaman Kuldeep Yadav, who was once again at his economical best, got the wicket of Alex Carey (4) and finished with 1/23. Later, Ben McDermott (32* off 30) and a cameo from Nathan Coulter-Nile (18 off 9) helped the hosts reach 132/7 in 19 overs before the skies opened up.
As it kept raining, Indians never got an opportunity to chase down the total even as the target kept reducing. India's target was first revised to 137 from 19 and later it was changed to 90 off 11 overs. But the umpires and match officials had to finally abandon the game as not a single ball was bowled in the second innings.
The two teams will now meet each other in Sydney on Sunday (August 25). While Men In Blue would be hoping to clinch a win to level the series, Finch and his boys would be eyeing a better performance to win the game and also the series on Sunday.
Here's how Australia's 1st innings transpired:
Heart-break for Indian fans gathered in big numbers at the MCG. For the Indian team, its an opportunity lost for them as they had a chance of winning this match here and taking it for the decider in Sydney. They could only level the series on 25th now.
Sadly, the play has been called off at the MCG. Australia take a 1-0 series lead with one more game to go.#AUSvIND pic.twitter.com/C3b9iKxNM2
— BCCI (@BCCI) November 23, 2018
Bad News!! The match has been called off as the rain isn't stopping. Australia must be feeling lucky with the match being abandoned as India were poised to win this one and square the series. The third T20I will be held at Sydney where India would be aiming to square it.
If this game starts in next 10 minutes, this match might well be reduced to a 5 overs affair. India's target in such a scenario would be 46 runs. 54 in 6 overs.
India's target via DLS!
India's target at MCG
— Mohandas Menon (@mohanstatsman) November 23, 2018
in 19 ov - 137
in 18 ov - 132
in 17 ov - 126
in 16 ov - 121
in 15 ov - 115
in 14 ov - 109
in 13 ov - 103
in 12 ov - 97
in 11 ov - 90
in 10 ov - 83
in 9 ov - 76
in 8 ov - 69
in 7 ov - 61
in 6 ov - 54
in 5 ov - 46#IndvAus#AusvInd
India have been set a target of 90 runs from 11 overs and the rain is back.
#TeamIndia need 90 runs in 11 overs (DLS) to win the 2nd T20I.#AUSvIND pic.twitter.com/KFtgGtULjf
— BCCI (@BCCI) November 23, 2018
It has started raining again in Melbourne and it is heavier this time. Covers have been drawn at the MCG and the players are back into the dug out.
Update! Australia's innings has been ended and India have been given a target of 137 to win from 19 overs.
Match was supposed to resume at 3:15 PM (IST) and Australia were to bat the final over but it has started raining again and covers are back again.
Rain has stopped the play as just 6 balls were left in the Australian innings. This could also be the end of the innings for Australia. India would come in to bat once the rain stops. The revised DLS target for India could be tricky if the overs are reduced today as well.
Four! Set McDermott gets a boundary on the final delivery of the penultimate over bowled by Bumrah and Australia reach 132/7 in 19 overs.
It's drizzling at MCG but umpires have asked the players to continue. Virat Kohli didn't seem pleased with the umpire's decision for Indians would have to pay the price if the pitch dampens.
1, Wd, 4,4,2,1B,6! Expensive over from Khaleel as he leaked 19 runs from it. Was this the over the Aussies were looking for? The pacer ends his quota of 4 overs with 2/39. Australia - 122/7 after 18 overs.
Wicket! Nathan Coulter-Nile's cameo comes to an end as he's been dismissed by Bhuvneshwar Kumar for 18. The tail-ender was looking to hit second consecutive maximum off the pacer but failed to connect it well and Manish Pandey took a simple catch at deep point. Australia - 101/7 in 16 overs.
9 runs came from the final over bowled by Krunal Pandya. The spinner - who had a poor outing in the previous game - ends his quota of four overs with 1/26 today. All hopes on Coulter-Nile and Ben McDermott now. Australia - 92/6.
Carey has struggled against the spinners!
In his short T20I career so far, Carey averages 7.9 against spinners compared to 43.0 against pacers. Seven of his eight dismissals have been against the slower bowlers,#AUSvIND
— The Cricket Prof. (@CricProf) November 23, 2018
Wicket! It's raining wickets at MCG!! Kuldeep Yadav gets a wicket too as Alex Carey (4) tries to play a lofted shot against the chinaman and falters. Krunal Pandya took a simple catch. Australia - 74/6 in 13.1 overs
Bowled! Glenn Maxwell has been deceived by Krunal Pandya with a beauty and the batsman has been cleaned up for 19. Australia are 62/5 in 11 overs.
Kohli has been in attacking mode today!
Three wickets down after the powerplay and with Maxwell being the key batsman left, Kohli has today looked to attack him with Bumrah.
— The Cricket Prof. (@CricProf) November 23, 2018
Maxwell v Bumrah - Head to Head in T20s
Innings - 9
Dismissals- 6
Runs - 42
Strike Rate - 102.4
False Shot Percentage - 41.8%#AUSvIND
Watch the catch taken by Karthik!
Karthik in a beanie takes the grab!
— cricket.com.au (@cricketcomau) November 23, 2018
Watch live via Kayo: https://t.co/4RaLpNkrJn #AUSvIND pic.twitter.com/kVCCL5G9yH
Improved show from Khaleel so far.
Khaleel’s made amends for his profligate performance in the first match. India have Aus in a bind, must tighten the grip now to try and keep the target below 140
— Cricketwallah (@cricketwallah) November 23, 2018
Wicket! Marcus Stoinis too plays an irresponsible stroke and he's been caught by Dinesh Karthik at deep point. Stoinis departs for 4 and Jasprit Bumrah gets a wicket. Australia - 41/4 in 6.3 overs.
Wicket! Khaleel gets his second wicket of the match as he's been cleaned up for 14 by the left-arm pacer. The batsman failed to read the length of the ball and looked to pull him but got an inside edge as the ball castled into the stumps. Australia - 35/3 after 5.3 overs.
Four! D'Arcy Short ends a tight over, so far, from Bumrah with a boundary. The southpaw finds a gap in the point region and the ball raced towards the fence. Australia 34/2 after 5 overs.
Jasprit Bumrah has been introduced into the attack by skipper Virat Kohli.
Harsha Bhogle concerned about India's fielding.
With Raina not around, Manish Pandey not in the 11, Rahane not picked and Jadeja in and out, India's fielding isn't as sharp.
— Harsha Bhogle (@bhogleharsha) November 23, 2018
Wicket! Khaleel Ahmed comes back strongly after getting hit for a boundary and get the wicket of dangerous looking Chris Lynn. Lynn failed to connect the ball well and Krunal Pandya took a brilliant running catch towards covers. Lynn departs for 13. Australia - 27/2 after 4 overs.
Khaleel Ahmed is into the attack for his second over.
Bhuvneshwar Kumar had almost got the wickets of D'Arcy Short and Chris Lynn in his second over. First Rishabh Pant put one down behind the stumps and later Bumrah couldn't hold on to a catch near the ropes. Australia reach 19/1 after 3 overs.
Wicket! Aaron Finch has been dismissed for DUCK as he pays the price of going for the ball leaving him and Rishabh Pant takes a simple catch behind the stumps. Bhuvneshwar strikes in the first over. Australia - 1/1 in 0.2 overs.
Openers D'Arcy Short and Aaron Finch are into the middle for Australia and Bhuvneshwar Kumar starts with the new ball.