(Cricket news) A disciplined bowling effort from the Aussies and a memorable cameo from Ellyse Perry, on her 300th international game, allowed Australia a six-wicket victory in the second T20I against India, helping them level the series 1 all.
India were restricted to a below par score of 130 after being put into bat against the Aussies in the 2nd T20I, thanks to Sutherland and Wareham who conceded just 35 runs in 8 overs between them and took 4 wickets.
India put up a rather disappointing batting performance at a good surface and with dew expected to come into play after they were bundled up for 130. They kept on losing wickets at regular intervals and ended up at a below par total.
India lost some quick wickets as they were reduced to 54/4. Harmanpreet Kaur’s poor run continued as she has managed to crossed 30 only once in her last 7 T20 innings and has not managed to cross double digits in this series.
India collected just 32 runs off the last four overs with Sutherland’s change of pace keeping the scoring down. She dismissed Amanjot Kaur in the 18th over and ended with figures of 2 for 18 from four overs. Wareham, who was also equally economical, conceded 17 from her quota.
Australia started quite rapidly in the chase. Dew helped the cause for the Aussies. Healy used the fielding to her advantage, lofting the ball over the fielders in the ring to find boundaries while Beth Mooney was not at her fluent best.
India tried Renuka Thakur, Titas Sadhu and Shreyanka Patil in the powerplay, but they couldn’t get a breakthrough. The introduction of Deepti Sharma finally helped India to get a breakthrough as she dismissed Healy for 26 and Mooney for 20 off 29 balls. Patil then dismissed Tahlia McGrath in the 14th over with Australia’s equation eventually coming down to 42 from 36.
India’s hopes were destroyed by Perry and Phoebe Litchfield, who shared an unbroken stand of 36 from just 20 balls. Both the batters struck at a strike rate of more than 150, with Perry remaining unbeaten on 34 off 21 deliveries and Litchfield remaining 18 not out. In her 300th international game, Perry finished the game in style, with a six over deep midwicket with an over to spare.
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