Finally, a win for India on foreign soil

India win the second T20 against Australia in Melbourne, ending a streak of 16 games abroad without a win.

India’s winless streak on foreign soil began in June in the Caribbean, stretched through the whole England tour and continued in Australia. That’s a total of 16 international games — 10 Tests, four ODIs, and two T20s — out of which India lost 13. But the streak came to an end today in Melbourne, where a rare Australian collapse in the second T20 allowed India the win they had been waiting for.

Gautam Gambhir’s unbeaten fifty and a rare good start of 43 runs with Virender Sehwag set up India’s chase for 132. Virat Kohli controlled the middle overs with Gambhir with a 54-run stand, before MS Dhoni took the chase home. It was the first time on the tour that India had outplayed their opponents in all three departments. 

India reached the last over from Brett Lee needing a single to win. Gambhir played three dots making the game a little bit interesting. He then ploughed the fourth ball through wide mid-on for four to complete a much-awaited win for the touring party. 

Australia elected to bat and their innings was marred by four run-outs. India were sharp in the field and accurate with the ball. R Vinay Kumar and Praveen Kumar gave India a tidy start, taking the wickets of David Warner and Shaun Marsh before the spate of run-outs derailed the Australian innings. 

India didn’t miss a trick on the field today. Gambhir began the proceedings with a beautifully-judged catch back-pedalling at long leg to dismiss Warner. The luck continued to go India’s way with Marsh’s summer of horror continuing. Praveen Kumar had him caught behind for a duck, Marsh’s fourth against India since the start of the Tests. It was again smart catching from Dhoni who calmly collected the double rebound from Sehwag at slip. 

However, the stand-out fielding pieces from India today were the run-outs of Aaron Finch and Matthew Wade. Ravindra Jadeja fielding a point swooped in on a dab from David Hussey. As he lay on the floor, Jadeja had the presence of mind to hurl the ball in to the wicketkeeper’s end, running out Finch. It was the first of Jadeja’s two run-outs of the day. He would later run George Bailey out fielding at the same position. 

Later, Rohit Sharma displayed similar alertness while running out Wade, who was sent back by Brett Lee. Rohit made a clean pick-up, waited a moment to choose an end, and lined up the direct hit towards the wicketkeeper’s end to run Wade out.