Opener Yashasvi Jaiswal and Ishan Kishan led India’s batting charge to set up a convincing 44-run win over Australia in the second Twenty20 international yesterday.
Jaiswal smashed a 25-ball 53 and fellow left-hander Kishan hit 52 off 32 deliveries to help India to 235-4 after being invited to bat first in Thiruvananthapuram.
Spinner Ravi Bishnoi and fast bowler Prasidh Krishna took three wickets each as the hosts kept Australia down to 191-9 and extend their lead to 2-0 in the five-match series.
Batsmen ruled as Jaiswal lay the foundations for India’s mammoth total with key contributions from fellow opener Ruturaj Gaikwad, who made 58, and Rinku Singh’s unbeaten nine-ball 31.
“The boys are not putting too much pressure on me. They are taking onus,” India skipper Suryakumar Yadav, who won his second successive match as national captain, said. “I told them (players) before, be prepared to bat first. There was a lot of dew. We talked to defend it later.”
Jaiswal was named man of the match and said: “It was really special for me. I was trying to play all my shots. Was trying to be fearless. I was sure of my decisions.”
He added: “I have been told by Surya and VVS bhai to express myself. I always think of how I can improve myself around experienced players and nothing else. Still learning.”
When asked about his his encounter with Ruturaj Gaekwad after the run out last game, Jaiswal said: “It was my mistake. I went to him and said sorry. Stoinis was between me, I was sure but then not sure. I made the wrong call. I accepted that it was a mistake and it happens. Rutu bhai was humble and said in the gym that the next time we are running, we will take secure singles. I really worked on my fitness and play shots. I feel the mental stuff is more important in this level. Try to get better each and every day”
Jaiswal, who smashed nine fours and two sixes, raced to his fifty in 24 balls but soon fell to fast bowler Nathan Ellis, who got three wickets. Kishan, a wicketkeeper-batsman, raised his fifty with a six off leg-spinner Tanveer Sangha before he got out to Marcus Stoinis.
But the left-handed Rinku finished off the innings with a flurry of boundaries and sixes.
In reply, Australia fell to 58-4 including Steve Smith (19), previous-match centurion Josh Inglis (two) and Glenn Maxwell (12) back in the dug-out. Tim David, who smashed 37, and Stoinis, who hit 45 off 25 balls, attempted to hit back in their partnership of 81 as the two hit six fours and six sixes between them. Bishnoi broke the stand with his leg-spin to dismiss David who mistimed a hit to long-on.
Stoinis was the next to go as the wheels came off the chase and Krishna got two more to nearly end the batting team’s hopes.
Skipper Matthew Wade struck an unbeaten 42 off 23 balls to reduce the margin of loss for Australia, who last week lost the opener four days after being crowned champions of the ODI World Cup.
“We’re making the right decisions but aren’t executing in the right moments,” Australia coach Andre Borovec said. The third T20 is tomorrow in Guwahati.
BRIEF SCORESIndia 235-4 in 20 overs (R. Gaikwad 58, Y. Jaiswal 53, I. Kishan 52; N. Ellis 3-45) v Australia 191-9 in 20 overs (M. Stoinis 45, M. Wade 42 not out, T. David 37; P. Krishna 3-41, R. Bishnoi 3-32)
Result: India won by 44 runs
Series: India lead series 2-0