Rain denies India in second T20
The second T20 International between India and Australia was called off due to intermittent rain on Friday, undoing the visitors’ good work with the ball and denying them an opportunity to level the three-match series.
India were disappointed at not getting a go at the target which was revised thrice due to rain. Australia had scored 132 for seven in 19 overs when the first spell of rain arrived at the Melbourne Cricket Ground.
India’s target was initially revised to 137 runs in 19 overs before more rain made it 90 runs from 11 overs and then 46 from five overs. Nearly 90 minutes were lost due to the weather before the game was eventually called off at 10.02 pm local time.
Rain playing hide and seek was not just frustrating for the players but also for the 60,000 plus crowd at the iconic venue.
With the match not producing a result, India now can only level the series in the final game in Sydney on Sunday. Virat Kohli and his team had come into the T20 series after winning six bilateral contests in a row.
India are scheduled to play a four-Test series after the T20s and then a three-match ODI rubber.
India put up a much improved show with the ball on Friday, following the disappointment of the series opener at the Gabba on Wednesday.
Bhuvneshwar Kumar (2/20) and Khaleel Ahmed (2/39) shared four wickets to rock the Australian top-order,reducing them to 41-4.
This was after India won the toss and opted to bowl. The visitors went in with an unchanged side while Australia made one change, bringing in pacer Nathan Coulter-Nile for Billy Stanlake, who picked up an ankle niggle during warm-up.