The second T20I between India and Australia at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) featured fireworks from Australia. They defeated India by 4 wickets (with 40 balls left), and it became a special moment for Australian pacer Josh Hazlewood. He delivered an outstanding spell, which surprised the opposition as well. After the match, Indian batter Abhishek Sharma praised his precise execution in the post-match press conference. In the match, Josh Hazlewood won the Man of the Match award for his exceptional spell.
Josh Hazlewood’s Match-Winning Spell Stuns India
The 34-year-old Australian pace bowler once again proved his ability against the No. 1 team, India. Batting first, India failed to resist the Australian bowlers. Josh Hazlewood started the innings by putting pressure on the Indian batsmen. His stunning spell gave a breakthrough in the power play for the Aussies. He took the wickets of three Indian batters – Shubman Gill, Suryakumar Yadav, and Tilak Varma. His early breakthroughs prevented India from building a partnership. Hazlewood finished with brilliant figures of 3 wickets for 13 runs in his four overs. Apart from him, Xavier Bartlett, Nathan Ellis, and Marcus Stoinis also claimed wickets for Australia. The Australian bowling attack dismissed key Indian batters, and India were bowled out for 125 runs in 18.4 overs.
Abhishek Praises Hazlewood’s Precision and Skill
The young Indian batsman Abhishek Sharma showcased an effective batting performance against Australia in the second T20I. He was the only one who executed well for the team. His fearless batting and confidence led him to score 68 runs off 37 balls. After the match, Sharma spoke about his batting performance and the challenge of holding the innings together. Speaking at the post-match press conference, Abhishek said,
“First of all, obviously, I play according to the team plan. Our team plan is to dominate the top order. But today, I think it was a little unexpected for us. They caught the spot as bowlers, their line and lengths were perfect. And when cricketers are falling in front of you, no matter who you are, you have to play a little for the team."
He also openly praised Hazlewood’s excellent performance, “I was watching him (Hazlewood) in the ODIs as well. So, somehow we knew that he was going to give us this much difficulty and challenges. So, obviously, the way he bowled today, even I was surprised. I haven’t seen something like this in T20S,” He said
He added that facing world-class bowlers like Hazlewood is a valuable learning experience for any batter. “I didn’t know this, but obviously, I mean, he is good enough to play all the formats. But still, I was enjoying this challenge because somehow, as a batter, you have to face the world-class bowlers,” He continued.
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Australia Showcase Control and Discipline to Seal the Win
Australia continues their dominance against India. The clash between India and Australia concluded with Australia winning the match by 4 wickets. India struggled and posted a total of 125 runs in 18.4 overs. In reply, Australia chased down the target of 126 for 6 in 13.2 overs. For India, Abhishek Sharma and Harshit Rana contributed with the bat. The Australian bowlers, from the start, put pressure on the Indian top order. Josh Hazlewood's fiery spell became a discussion in the cricket world.
Australian bowlers like Xavier Bartlett, Nathan Ellis, and Marcus Stoinis also contributed by taking crucial wickets. Indian bowlers Varun Chakaravarthy, Jasprit Bumrah, and Kuldeep Yadav claimed two wickets each. The match result once again showed the power of the Australian team. Their consistency and strategy led them to victory. India should consider building strong partnerships, organizing bowling strategies and field placements, and adapting to game conditions.