Hardik Pandya smashed two huge sixes in the final over to give India a dramatic six-wicket Twenty20 victory over Australia on Sunday, sewing up the three-match series for the tourists with a game to spare, reports Reuters.
Chasing 195 for victory, India needed 14 runs from the last over and Pandya delivered with two runs off the first ball and sixes off the second and fourth deliveries, the latter flying deep into the stands at the Sydney Cricket Ground.
Australia’s bowling attack, making do without Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood and Pat Cummins, had kept the contest tight. But debutant Daniel Sams was unable to contain Pandya, who finished with 42 runs off 22 balls and was named Man of the Match.
“It’s fantastic,” said Pandya. “I just wanted to finish it early, I don’t like it when it goes down to the wire.”
The victory brought delight to a crowd mostly supporting the tourists and, after Friday’s 11-run victory in Canberra, secured the series ahead of Tuesday’s third and final match in Sydney. Openers Shikhar Dhawan (52) and KL Rahul (30) had given the tourists a strong start, and when skipper Virat Kohli took up the mantle, it looked like India might reach their target with some ease.
Kohli looked in great shape as he stroked the ball around the ground, but his innings ended on 40 after he chased a high, wide delivery and was caught behind to give Sams a notable first international wicket.
Earlier, with Aaron Finch ruled out by a hip injury, Matthew Wade was named Australia’s 11th Twenty20 captain, and he led from the front with a typically aggressive 32-ball 58.
