Australia dismantled an abysmal India to win by nine wickets with more than five overs to spare
Afternoon all. India have won the toss and decided to have a bat in the second of the day's games. The big news is the absence of Virender Sehwag from the India XI in favour of an extra spinner.
Australia: DA Warner, SR Watson, MEK Hussey, CL White, GJ Bailey*, GJ Maxwell, MS Wade†, DT Christian, GB Hogg, PJ Cummins, MA Starc
India: G Gambhir, V Kohli, SK Raina, Yuvraj Singh, RG Sharma, MS Dhoni*†, IK Pathan, R Ashwin, Harbhajan Singh, PP Chawla, Z Khan
Well if today's previous game is anything to go by in Colombo, then we're in for another belter.
MS Dhoni ahead of this game:
"I think it's important to get off to a good start with the new ball because you can put pressure on the opposition bowler. Then more often than not what happens is they look to save themselves if you have a good start and you have the upper hand. It is also important in the subcontinent, because initially the ball comes on to the bat nicely, but between the eighth and 12th over, the game changes. We have seen wickets slow down and stroke play becomes a bit tough. It is important that the top four or five batsmen take advantage of the ball coming on to the bat."
The teams are out on the field as we await the two anthems...
Pathan and Gambhir will open the batting for India, while Australia's spinner Glenn Maxwell has the ball in hand.
1st over: India 8-0 (Ghambir 7, Pathan 0) Ghambir drives Maxwell through the covers but the balls stops a few yards short of the boundary. Pathan had stopped running, assuming it was going for four, only for the batsmen to scamper home for a couple. Ghambir makes better contact to Maxwell's fourth delivery, though, and that does run through the off side for four.
2nd over: India 15-0 (Ghambir 12, Pathan 1) Mitchell Starc is brought into Australia's attack for the second over, injecting a bit of pace after the off-spin of Maxwell. He's wanging them down at about 85mph but Ghambir cuts him past backward point for a majestic four. He attempts the same shot on the final ball of the over, this time it finds the fielder though.
2.5 overs: India 21-0 (Ghambir 17, Pathan 2) Australia continue with pace by introducing Pat Cummins into the attack. The second ball of the over is too full and straight, however, Ghambir clipping it beautifully past fine leg for four. That's the problem with pace in T20 cricket, anything off target usually races away to the boundary. The Indians attempt a quick single off the last ball, and Cummins kicks the ball into the stumps, with Ghambir struggling... this is going upstairs!
WICKET! India 21-1 (Ghambir run out Cummins 17)
Ghambir is just short of his ground, excellent improvisation from Cummins, although sloppy running from India. Virat Kohli in next.
4th over: India 29-1 (Pathan 4, Kohli 6) Kohli gets off the mark with a delightful cover drive off Starc. What a way to get your first runs on the board. Great stop from Brad Hogg at wide mid-on, with Kohli swiping on the back foot. Again Kohli finds Hogg in the field and the batsmen dash across for one.
5th over: India 42-1 (Pathan 15, Kohli 8) The flowing locks of Shane Watson come steaming in but Pathan treats him with absolute contempt, smashing the white orb back over his head for a big six. Oh dear Shane. Pathan and Kohli proceed to knock a few singles around before Irfan charges down and lifts one over the off-side fielders in the circle for four. Great shot.
6th over: India 50-1 (Pathan 17, Kohli 14) Daniel Christian, another medium-pacer, is the next threat facing these Indian batsman. It's pretty tame stuff from Christian, as Kohli toes one in the air but through the covers and for four. That brings the 50 up for India and they will be fairly content with this start.
7th over: India 56-1 (Pathan 22, Kohli 15) The wrist spin of Brad Hogg is brought in, but his first ball is swept by Pathan down to fine leg for four. Excellent shot that, but Hogg is a good wicket-taker and India will need to be on their toes now. He drops a short one in and Kohli pulls him through mid-wicket, but with the fielding restrictions lifted, it's only a single. Appeals for lbw against Pathan and while that may have hit, it definitely pitched outside leg stump. Almost a carbon copy with the penultimate delivery, but the same decision. A dot ball to finish.
WICKET! India 56-2 (Kohli c Christian b Cummins 15)
Cummins is brought back into the attack with immediate results! Kohli skies one up in the air and Dan Christian running back at mid-on takes an excellent catch.
8th over: India 58-2 (Pathan 25, Singh 1) Cummins has produced an excellent over there. He's running in with real venom and banging some fine short ones down. Pathan tries to pull him through mid-wicket but that's in the air...just short of the diving Starc! Yuvraj on strike now and he's treated to more short stuff, knocking a single down on the leg side.
9th over: India 66-2 (Pathan 26, Singh 6) Poor cricket from Australia. Brad Hogg dishes out a filthy full toss that Yuvraj clips down to wide long-on. Christian scampers across to prevent the boundary but he makes a complete hash of that, the ball running lose and over the line. I don't think he needed to dive. Hogg keeps it tight for the rest of the over.
10th over: India 70-2 (Pathan 28, Singh 8) Glenn Maxwell with some part-time spin and that's a mightily impressive effort from him. Just four runs off it and a half-hearted lbw appeal to finish.
WICKET! India 70-3 (Singh c Maxwell b Watson 8)
Yuvraj doesn't time that right at all. Good tactics from Australia, persisting with the short stuff and Watson's delivery is sent sky-high and into the grateful hands of Christian at deep mid-wicket.
WICKET! India 74-4 (Pathan c White b Watson 31)
Great way to end a great over from Shane Watson, Pathan trying to clip him off his legs, only to find Cameron White at mid-wicket with a superb diving catch.
WICKET! India 74-5 (Sharma b Starc 1)
Excellent stuff this from Australia and Mitchell Starc opens the 12th over by uprooting Sharma's off peg, the ball ricocheting into the stumps off his pads.
12th over: India 78-5 (Raina 1, Dhoni 3) So two new men at the crease now but let's see what Mr Dhoni can muster. Starc steaming in and that's fantastic fielding from Shane Watson at third man, sprinting across and diving at full length to prevent a boundary for Dhoni. Just four runs from that over.
13th over: India 85-5 (Raina 2, Dhoni 8) Dhoni takes off his helmet to face Hogg, who let's one slip down the leg side. Streaky boundary for India next up, though, Dhoni not picking the wrong-un but edging it to third man for four anyhow. You get the feeling these two batsmen will keep things ticking along for about five overs before a late onslaught. Runs not coming easily at the moment.
14th over: India 91-5 (Raina 3, Dhoni 13) Shane Watson drops one too short and Dhoni dispatches him to the rope at square leg with an impressive pull. Well played sir, well played. Watson screams in anguish but at least keeps it tight for the remainder of the over. Just six from it in the end and that's not too bad for the Aussies after that early four.
15th over: India 101-5 (Raina 8, Dhoni 13) David Warner winds himself in the outfield after missing a dive at long-off, Raina directing the ball down to the boundary off Hogg. Four wides off the next ball, a woeful effort down the leg side that beats Wade behind the stumps. The run-rate is 6.73 and India are going to have to up that pretty soon. Good over for the men in blue though.
15.5 overs: India 104-5 (Raina 9, Dhoni 15) Cummins comes again, Dhoni moving his feet well and hooking a slower ball to deep square leg for a couple. They need some boundaries, but credit to Cummins who is enjoying an excellent spell.
WICKET! India 104-6 (Dhoni c Bailey b Cummins 15)
Dhoni goes with the last ball of the over! That's a key wicket for Australia, Dhoni tamely hitting a wide half-volley to cover.
17th over: India 115-6 (Raina 15, Ashwin 5) Dan Christian does well to keep the new man Ashwin on strike for a few deliveries. However, he then times one to absolute perfection outside off stump, flying to the backward point boundary. 11 from the over, with a single to finish, and with 18 balls remaining, this could be a thrilling denouement to the innings.
18th over: India 124-6 (Raina 16, Ashwin 13) Mitchell Starc steaming in once again. But he lets his concentration slip, sending a poor long-hop down which Ashwin thwacks over mid-wicket for six! He then clips a fuller delivery off his legs down to fine leg, but it doesn't come off the middle of the bat and Brad Hogg prevents the boundary. Nine from the over.
A bit of drizzle falling at the moment, let's hope it drifts away.
19th over: India 129-6 (Raina 18, Ashwin 14) Full toss from Cummins but India can't score and the run-rate is still below 7.0. Terrible fielding from the Aussies, what looked like a dot ball turning into two runs, following an overthrow. Only five runs from that over, though, and India are missing out on the boundaries.
19.3 overs: India 137-6 (Raina 26, Ashwin 14) Watson with the last over of the innings. Raina pulls him through mid-wicket for four from the first ball, the despairing David Warner just missing out on the boundary. Raina then guides one down to the third man rope for another four. Great stuff.
WICKET! India 137-7 (Raina c Maxwell b Watson 26)
After those two fours Raina goes big again to a full delivery but Maxwell takes a dolly at long-on. Harbhajan Singh comes out at the death.
20th over: India 140-7 (Ashwin 16, H Singh 1) 11 off the last over for India as Ashwin takes a couple and Singh adds one to the final score.
Australia need 141 runs to win
David Warner and Shane Watson to open the batting for Australia.
0.3 overs: Australia 5-0 (Watson 1, Warner 4) Ashwin trots up with the opening over and is immediately crashed through the covers for four runs. Lovely shot from Warner.
The covers are on and rain has stopped play in Colombo
Depending on how long this rain lasts, Duckworth-Lewis may come into play, and that would benefit Australia.
The covers are off again! A short little burst!
1st over: Australia 9-0 (Watson 1, Warner 8) David Warner throws caution to the wind, smacking Ashwin down the ground for four. That was one of the shortest rain breaks I've ever seen, hats off to the men with the covers. India will hope that's the last of the inclement weather.
2nd over: Australia 13-0 (Watson 4, Warner 8) Woeful fielding from Sharma, usually so reliable, to let Watson's drive slip through his legs. That's a needless two runs conceded, and Zaheer Khan's next delivery is wide down the leg side. Khan composes himself and comes charging in again, with a better ball on line and length, Watson knocking it onto the off side and the Aussies run a quick single. Just four from the over and that's a good recovery from Khan.
3rd over: Australia 17-0 (Watson 5, Warner 11) Ashwin bumbles up again and Warner is struggling to score. You feel he might go for the heave-ho soon. Instead, he directs one expertly between the fielders in the covers to take Australia's current run-rate to 5.67. Much more composed then merely hitting out.
4th over: Australia 22-0 (Watson 5, Warner 16) Another lovely shot from Warner, cutting Khan wide of backward point and that races down to the boundary for four, despite Harbhajan Singh sprinting across in vein. Khan then hits the seam and gets a bit of extra bounce, catching Warner off guard and the ball hits the top edge...luckily evading the fielders on the off side. Excellent delivery to finish for Khan, who gets one to swing back into Shane Watson. India appeal for lbw...but there was a bit of bat in there I think.
5th over: Australia 39-0 (Watson 19, Warner 17) Ashwin again with his third over and after a solid start Watson plants his foot and whips his body across to pull over square leg for six. Watson then charges down the ground but can't'beat mid-wicket. The penultimate delivery is guided down to third man for a couple before Watson smacks another six on the leg side! Excellent shot and he's taking the attack to India now! Ashwin took a battering there.
6th over: Australia 47-0 (Watson 19, Warner 26) Warner cuts Khan's first ball to the point boundary. That's four but he gets one to dart back into Warner's pads next up, appeals for lbw, not given, although HawkEye shows the ball would have indeed crashed into leg stump. Khan will be ruing his look as Warner toes one over the covers for four, bouncing once before crossing the line. Appeals again for lbw from Khan's last delivery. That was close too, but not out once more. Zaheer Khan looks exasperated, and rightly so!
7th over: Australia 53-0 (Watson 20, Warner 31) Harbhajan Singh is brought into India's attack and they need a breakthrough pretty sharpish. Watson and Warner are looking very settled now and that's a perfectly placed shot from Warner, pulled through mid-wicket for four more. Harbhajan didn't let much slip there but he concedes a steady six from the over.
8th over: Australia 67-0 (Watson 33, Warner 32) Awful, awful long-hop from Chawla and Watson says thanks very much, catapulting the ball over square leg for six. With 141 the target, Australia are coasting at the moment. Warner cuts to the point boundary to keep things ticking along. And with the final ball Watson swats Chawla over his head with consummate ease for another six! Oh dear, this is getting a bit easy.
9th over: Australia 81-0 (Watson 34, Warner 45) Harbhajan is smacked for successive sixes over mid-wicket by Warner! The first one barely made it over the rope but the second goes 91 metres! Staggering shot! A couple of singles follow so that's 14 from the over. The run-rate is just under one run a ball now. India are being taught a lesson here.
10th over: Australia 100-0 (Watson 53, Warner 45) India go back to medium pace so Pathan returns to the attack. It doesn't make any difference though, as Watson hits another huge six over the leg-side boundary. That went 95m! How can Pathan respond ... oh dear it's another short ball and we all know Watson likes those, it's duly dispatched for another six! Jesus wept he's smashing them all over the shop. Watson then tickles one down to the fine leg boundary, this time it's four runs. The 100 comes up in 10 overs for Australia. 19 from the over!
11th over: Australia 110-0 (Watson 63, Warner 45) Kohli looks for some joy now and he starts with some good line and length. Just as he was settling in to a decent rhythm, though, Watson hits him over his head for another six. A little dab to the on-side results in a couple off the final delivery. 31 runs to win the match now.
12th over: Australia 112-0 (Watson 64, Warner 46) Dhoni, standing up to Yuvraj, drops Warner who nicked one through to the keeper. Warner then misses the ball completely, before cutting one to the point boundary for a single. Watson on strike for the final delivery, what can he do?... Just a single down to long-on and two from the over.
13th over: Australia 120-0 (Watson 68, Warner 50) It's just a question of when the Aussies wrap this up, not if. Watson continues to get plenty of joy on the leg side, this time against Rohit Sharma. No big shots in that over, but another misfield, this time from Shawla, lets a Warner cut through his legs and Australia take three. Warner punches one down to long-off to bring up his 50.
13.2 overs: Australia 133-0 (Watson 72, Warner 51) Very ordinary bowling this from India. Yuvraj sends a filthy full toss down and Warner smashes it through mid-wicket for six. They are taking the mickey now Australia. Warner edges one to third man for another couple.
WICKET! Australia 133-1 (Watson c sub Tiawary b Singh 72)
So Watson departs, not making good contact on a drive and sending it straight to the substitute fielder. What an innings though. Man of the match performance.
14th over: Australia 138-1 (Warner 63, Maxwell 1) Three needed now and this is almost over. A shame Watson couldn't be out there to wrap it up, with Maxwell at the crease now.
Australia win by nine wickets! They've humiliated India!
Well, well, well. What an abject display from India, that has got to be one of the worst T20 defeats in their history, in fact, that has to be THE worst. Australia win with more than five overs to spare.
Glenn Maxwell hit the winning run with a dab through the off side that that slipped right through the man in the covers. Pretty symbolic of India's day.
Well, that's it from me today. Two decent games, the first going to the wire but the second an absolute whitewash. I'll catch you next time.