India Vs Australia: Handscomb lauds 'freak' Maxwell after blistering century to down India

Bengaluru, Feb 27: Glenn Maxwell was described as "a freak" by Peter Handscomb after his stunning unbeaten century guided Australia home against India on Wednesday's second Twenty20.

Chasing 191 for victory in Bengaluru, Australia were toiling at 22-2 when Maxwell walked in, and what followed was one of the finest T20 knocks ever seen.

2nd T20I: As it happened

Maxwell hammered 113 off only 55 balls, including seven fours and nine sixes, to secure victory by seven wickets in the final over and hand the tourists a 2-0 series success, backing up the 56 he made in Sunday's last-ball thriller.

Handscomb contributed 20 not out off 18 deliveries in a match-winning stand of 99 and afterwards paid tribute to his team-mate's sensational innings.

"I just tried to get Maxy on strike, that was the plan, and it was great to be there until the end," he said. "We wanted to make sure there's an in batter at the end, and it was the batters' job to complete the job.

"He is a freak, he can play shots other people can't, and he's really matured now. It was just a pleasure being at the other end."

Maxwell added: "It was a pretty good wicket, so we were able to wait for anything slightly off line or length. We just needed to get it to about 11 or 12 an over for the last four overs and back ourselves from there. After D'Arcy [Short]'s dismissal, it was up to me to sit around and drive the innings forward.

"Pete Handscomb did a great job of getting off strike and being busy. We were able to keep consistently having good overs and keep the [required] run rate in check.

"We were just talking about how we haven't had a lot of success here. To come and perform as well as we have in these two T20s, it's a great start to this tour."

Losing captain Virat Kohli, meanwhile, conceded there was little his side could have done to stymie Maxwell in that sort of form.

"Australia outplayed us in both games, they were more clinical with bat, ball and in the field," said Kohli, who struck six sixes in his thrilling 38-ball 72.

"We put up a decent total, 190 is a good score on any ground, but there was too much dew around, and when Maxy plays an innings like that, you can't do too much."