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On the back of stellar batting performance from Indian batters and stifling bowling effort from the bowlers, the Men in Blue defeated Australia by 44 runs in the second T20I at the Greenfield International Stadium in Thiruvananthapuram on November 26. As a result, the hosts took a 2-0 lead in the five-match T20I series.
Australia faced a daunting challenge in their pursuit of 236 runs, ultimately managing to score only 191/9 within the allotted 20 overs. The Indian bowling attack, led by Ravi Bishnoi, played a crucial role in restricting the Australian batting lineup. Bishnoi, with impressive figures of 3/32, delivered a significant setback to Australia during the powerplay, leading to the loss of their top four batsmen for just 58 runs. Among the early dismissals was Glenn Maxwell, who could only contribute 12 runs.
The chase witnessed a spirited effort from Marcus Stoinis, who attempted to steer the innings with a rapid knock. However, his endeavor was curtailed by Mukesh Kumar, who claimed his wicket for 45, thereby providing a critical breakthrough for India. Prasidh Krishna also made a substantial contribution to the bowling front, claiming three wickets and finishing with figures of 3/41.
Despite Stoinis's efforts, the Indian bowlers maintained control, ensuring Australia remained well short of the target. The disciplined and effective bowling performance by the Indian team was instrumental in securing their victory and maintaining a dominant position in the match.
India put up a commanding total of 235 for four against Australia in the second T20I, thanks to stellar performances by Yashasvi Jaiswal, Ruturaj Gaikwad, and Ishan Kishan. Despite the pitch playing a bit slow, the Australian bowlers struggled with their line and length, which the Indian batsmen capitalized on.
Jaiswal, particularly impressive, scored a rapid 53 off just 25 balls. He dominated bowler Sean Abbot, scoring 24 runs in a single over with a series of cuts and pulls. Gaikwad and Kishan also shone brightly, scoring 58 off 43 balls and 52 off 32 balls, respectively. The duo put together an 87-run partnership for the second wicket, maintaining a brisk pace throughout their innings.
In the powerplay itself, India amassed 71 runs, with Jaiswal and Gaikwad taking 15 runs off Glenn Maxwell in one over. Jaiswal reached his fifty in 24 balls but was soon dismissed by Nathan Ellis. This, however, didn't slow down India's momentum as Kishan continued the onslaught, achieving his half-century in just 29 balls with a powerful six.
Gaikwad's innings were marked by elegance, particularly a lofted shot over bowler Zampa, and he reached his fifty off 39 balls. His solid presence allowed other players to attack the Australian bowling lineup aggressively.
The innings saw a strong finish, with Rinku Singh contributing a quickfire cameo of 31 runs off 9 balls. Singh's explosive batting took 25 runs off Abbot's 19th over, which summed up the difficult day for the Australian bowlers. India's robust batting performance set a challenging target for Australia, showcasing their depth and aggression in batting.
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