In what was almost a carbon copy of the first match of the Twenty20 International series, India beat Australia by 27 runs at Melbourne on Friday after posting a 180-plus total batting first. India's win in the second T20I handed them the three-match series – only the third time they have been able to do so in Australia in the last 26 attempts.
India's score of 184-3 was built on two half-centuries from Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli, along with a breezy 42 from Shikhar Dhawan. In the chase, a new-look Australian team got off to another good start via a 94-run opening stand between captain Aaron Finch and Shaun Marsh. But it all went haywire after Marsh was caught by Hardik Pandya off the bowling of Ravichandran Ashwin for a run-a-ball 23. Finch played a lone fighting knock, but was run out for 74 off 48 balls. The hosts ultimately managed to score only 157-8.
The spinners impressed again for India. Ravindra Jadeja picked up two wickets, while Ashwin was economical with figures of 1-27. Medium-pacer Jasprit Bumrah chipped in with two wickets as well, while Yuvraj Singh also had great match, giving away only seven runs in his two overs.
Correction: An earlier version of this story stated that India won the match by 28 runs.
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