Maxwell blasts 113 to steer Australia to first T20 series win in India
Glenn Maxwell scored 113 not out off just 55 balls as Australia beat India by seven wickets in the second Twenty20 yesterday, clinching a 2-0 series win.
Maxwell hit seven fours and nine sixes as Australia finished with 194/3 in reply to India’s 190/4, wrapping up their first T20 series victory on Indian soil after taking the first match by three wickets on Monday.
“We haven’t had a lot of success here of late. To come over here and perform like this, we have started off well on this tour,” Maxwell said.
“It helped that we played a big bulk of T20 cricket back at home (in the Big Bash League). Having confidence in my game also has helped a lot, and it feels great to contribute to two special wins.”
Virat Kohli (72 not out) and MS Dhoni (40) had put on 100 runs for the fourth wicket to rescue the hosts from 74/3 at one stage.
Put into bat, India made a quick start thanks to KL Rahul, who hit three fours and four sixes in his 47 off 26 balls, helping his side cross 50 in the sixth over.
But Australia applied the brakes after the powerplay ended. Rahul first holed out to third man off Nathan Coulter-Nile, and Shikhar Dhawan (14) was caught by a diving Marcus Stoinis off Jason Behrendorff. Rishabh Pant then managed just one run before he was caught at long on off D’Arcy Short attempting a big hit.
At that stage, Kohli and Dhoni came together, and they hit nine sixes in total to take India to a challenging total. Their 50-partnership came off 29 balls, while Kohli also reached his half-century off 29 balls. The duo continued attacking Australia’s bowlers and brought up their 100-run stand off only 49 balls.
Dhoni fell in the final over as Pat Cummins was carted around, but Kohli finished the innings with a six.
In reply, Australia was reduced to 22/2 in the fourth over. Siddarth Kaul bowled Marcus Stoinis (7) and then Aaron Finch (8) fell cheaply, caught off Vijay Shankar.
D’Arcy Short (40) and Maxwell came together then, and their 73-run partnership changed the game in Australia’s favour. While Short was caught off Shankar in the 12th over, Maxwell reached his half-century off 28 balls. The boundaries didn’t stop coming for him, as he put on 99 runs with Peter Handscomb (20 not out) for the fourth wicket.
Maxwell reached his third T20 hundred off 50 balls as Australia closed in on the finish line.
Even Jasprit Bumrah (0-30) failed to produce his usual good spells, and struggled with the wet ball, as Maxwell took Australia home with two balls to spare.
“Australia outplayed us in all departments and deserved to win the series,” India captain Virat Kohli said.
“(Scoring) 190 is a good total on most grounds but if there is so much dew as there was tonight, and when you have an innings like what Glenn Maxwell played, nothing much you can do.”