Australia vs India, 2nd T20I at Melbourne, , Feb 03 2012 - Match Result

RESULT
2nd T20I (N), Melbourne, February 03, 2012, India tour of Australia
(19.4/20 ov, T:132) 135/2

India won by 8 wickets (with 2 balls remaining)

Player Of The Match
1/16
ravindra-jadeja
Match centre 
Scores: Sanjay Murari | Comms: George Binoy
Scorecard summary
Australia 131/10(19.4 overs)
36 (23)
2/21 (3)
32 (29)
2/29 (3.4)
India 135/2(19.4 overs)
1/19 (3)
31 (24)

10.50 pm No major celebrations from Gambhir and Dhoni, a shake of the hands and smiles as they walk off the MCG. India won this game pretty comfortably, and the victory was built by a superb fielding effort that began with Gambhir taking a good catch to dismiss Warner. Gambhir then held the chase together with a measured half-century. He'd be a favourite for Man of the Match but I'd give it to Ravindra Jadeja, for his excellent run-outs from point and an economical spell 3-0-16-1.

George Bailey: "It wasn't as close as it looked. Well short with the bat tonight. Four run-outs is the big difference. We were clearly out-fielded."

MS Dhoni gets a huge cheer as he walks up for the presentation. "The fielding was exceptional. Best fielding side, I've seen. It will be hard to beat this effort. We are a side that relies a lot on a good start, not about the runs, a good, calm start is what we look for. Overall it was a good effort by the bowlers and equally by the top three batsmen."

The Man of the Match is Ravindra Jadeja, for his fielding and spell of 3-0-16-1. He says he was trying to play his natural game, that's all. And a fine game it was.

Thank you for all your emails today. That's all I've got for you today. See you for the triangular series, which begins on Sunday. Cheers.

19.4
4
McKay to Gambhir, FOUR runs

this time he finds the gap, with a drive from the crease between midwicket and mid-on, India have won their first game on this tour of Australia. This tour, although terrible, will not be described as 'winless' as India's tour of England is.

India being made to wait here ...

19.3
McKay to Gambhir, no run

that's too full outside off to try and cut and Gambhir gets beaten on the back foot, three to go ... Dhoni goes up to have a chat

A wicket might spice things up a bit ...

19.2
McKay to Gambhir, no run

good length once again, Gambhir pulls but can't beat midwicket ...

19.1
McKay to Gambhir, no run

length ball outside off stump, cut off the back foot to point. Five balls to go ...

Gambhir's got his helmet back to face McKay, as Dhoni looks on helmetless. All the fielders are in the circle.

end of over 192 runs
IND: 131/2CRR: 6.89 RRR: 1.00
MS Dhoni21 (18b 2x4)
Gautam Gambhir52 (56b 3x4)
David Hussey 2-0-8-0
Mitchell Marsh 4-0-30-1
18.6
Hussey to Dhoni, no run

pushed off the front foot to cover

18.5
Hussey to Dhoni, no run

nudged off the pads to square leg

Dhoni's asked for Gambhir's helmet for some reason. Odd. Dhoni wasn't wearing a helmet before.

18.4
1
Hussey to Gambhir, 1 run

Gambhir gets an outside edge as he dabs towards third man to bring the scores level

18.3
1
Hussey to Dhoni, 1 run

worked off the pads behind square

18.2
Hussey to Dhoni, no run

driven hard but to the fielder at cover

18.1
Hussey to Dhoni, no run

Dhoni stays in his crease and plays to midwicket

end of over 189 runs
IND: 129/2CRR: 7.16 RRR: 1.50
MS Dhoni20 (13b 2x4)
Gautam Gambhir51 (55b 3x4)
Mitchell Marsh 4-0-30-1
Brett Lee 4-0-24-0
17.6
1
Marsh to Dhoni, 1 run

length ball outside off, Dhoni steers it through point and retains strike with three to get

17.5
1
Marsh to Gambhir, 1 run

worked off the pads through square leg

17.4
3
Marsh to Dhoni, 3 runs

Dhoni's played a tennis shot of sorts, clubbing the ball with the bottom of the bat towards deep midwicket, not very aesthetic

17.3
3
Marsh to Gambhir, 3 runs

Gambhir gets to his fifty by dabbing a full toss off his pads behind square, and then running for the overthrow. He's steered this chase rather well

17.2
Marsh to Gambhir, no run

short of a length outside off, with only 11 to get off 17 balls, Gambhir can afford the luxury of letting it go

17.1
1
Marsh to Dhoni, 1 run

short ball and Dhoni pulls it hard towards the fielder on the midwicket boundary

end of over 178 runs
IND: 120/2CRR: 7.05 RRR: 4.00
Gautam Gambhir47 (52b 3x4)
MS Dhoni15 (10b 2x4)
Brett Lee 4-0-24-0
Mitchell Marsh 3-0-21-1
16.6
Lee to Gambhir, no run

short of a length and straight, Gambhir stays in his crease and defends towards point

16.5
1
Lee to Dhoni, 1 run

Dhoni swivels and pulls once again to McKay on the fine leg boundary

16.4
4
Lee to Dhoni, FOUR runs

Dhoni moves towards the off and pulls a short of a length delivery towards long leg, McKay runs to his right on the boundary and slides, he gets a hand on the ball but it trickles past him to the boundary

16.3
1
Lee to Gambhir, 1 run

short of a length at the body, Gambhir drops the ball close on the leg side and runs, Lee ambles across to pick it up

Best performances - batters
Spike Graph
Wagon Zone
G Gambhir
56 runs (60)
4 fours0 six
Productive shot
leg glance
25 runs
2 fours0 six
Control
73%
AJ Finch
36 runs (23)
6 fours0 six
Productive shot
cut shot on back foot
15 runs
3 fours0 six
Control
67%
Best performances - bowlers
P Kumar
O
3
M
0
R
21
W
2
ECO
7
R Sharma
O
3.4
M
0
R
29
W
2
ECO
7.9
Match details
Melbourne Cricket Ground
TossAustralia, elected to bat first
Series
Season2011/12
Player Of The Match
Series result2-match series drawn 1-1
Match numberT20I no. 218
Hours of play (local time)19.35 start, First Session 19.35-20.55, Interval 20.55-21.15, Second Session 21.15-22.35
Match days3 February 2012 - night (20-over match)
Umpires
TV Umpire
Reserve Umpire
Match Referee