Australia Defeats India in Second T20I, Ending Nine-Match Winning Streak

Australia's Josh Hazlewood, center, appeals unsuccessfully for the wicket of India's Shubman Gill. (AP Photo)India’s ultra-aggressive batting approach came unstuck in the swinging, seaming and bouncier conditions of the Melbourne Cricket Ground on Friday as they slumped to a four-wicket defeat against Australia in the second T20I of the five-match series.Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel.SUBSCRIBE NOW!The lone exception to this abysmal batting display was opener Abhishek Sharma, who along with Harshit Rana (35) were the only ones to cross double digits on the night. Abhishek enhanced his reputation as one of the most destructive batters around by unleashing some breathtaking shots on a challenging surface, scoring a splendid 68 off 32 balls (8x4, 2x6).Abhishek Sharma press conference: On tough Australian conditions, Harshit Rana's fightDespite his highly entertaining knock, the Indians were bundled out for 125 in the 19th over as the imperious Josh Hazlewood set the match up for the Australians with a sensational opening burst.He bowled unchanged and finished with figures of 3/13 from four overs, which also included 15 dot balls.Once the Australian opening pair of Travis Head (28 off 15) and Mitchell Marsh (46 off 26) raced to a 50-run partnership for the opening wicket in under five overs, the result was never in doubt. The introduction of the spin twins Varun Chakravarthy (2/23) and Kuldeep Yadav (2/45) did pose some questions to the Aussie batters, but the target of 126 was just too small to pose a challenge.Jasprit Bumrah’s wickets (2/26) off successive balls only managed to delay the inevitable as the hosts crossed the line in 13.2 overs, losing six wickets. The defeat ended India’s nine-match winning streak in the format.India came up with some strange tactics after they were put in to bat. Instead of Abhishek, it was Shubman Gill who opted to take first strike against Hazlewood. The Indian vice-captain was lucky to survive the first ball of the match as he was rapped on the pads by a sharp incoming delivery from Hazlewood.It was given out leg-before by the umpire but the decision was overturned after a successful review.Though Sharma launched himself into Xavier Bartlett with a six and a four in the second over, which produced 17 runs, Hazlewood pegged India back by dismissing Gill (5) in the next over. Sanju Samson was promoted to No. 3 but lasted only four balls as he was trapped in front by a nip-backer from Nathan Ellis for two.Suryakumar Yadav was dropped by wicketkeeper Josh Inglis off a short ball from Hazlewood in the second ball of the fifth over. However, his luck ran out in the next delivery as he was dismissed caught behind to a ball that seamed away after pitching. A ball later, Hazlewood removed Tilak Varma for a duck and India were reduced to 32 for four.The Indian top-order was guilty of batting from deep within the crease and the Aussie pacers exploited their leaden-footed technique. They only had to look at the other end to see how Abhishek was batting.Catch Lovlina Borgohain's inspiring story on Game On, Episode 5. Watch Here