Hazlewood proves to be India’s nemesis

Josh Hazlewood clinically decimated a strong Indian top-order with a lethal spell to kill the contest as Australia cruised to a four-wicket victory in the second T20 International here on Friday.

India suffered one of its most embarrassing defeats with nine batsmen failing to reach double digits in a total of 125 in 18.4 overs. Only Abhishek Sharma, in the form of his life, stood tall amid ruins with a combative 37-ball-68. With Harshit Rana (35 off 33 balls), he added 56 to take the total past 100-run mark after pacer Hazlewood (3/13) left India reeling at 49 for 5. Hazlewood bowled an incredible 15 dot balls in his four-over spell to break the spine of Indian batting.

In reply, skipper Mitchell Marsh blasted his way to 46 off 26 balls with hosts completing the chase in only 13.2 overs, losing six wickets. Most batsmen fell primarily due to audacious shots.

The only silver lining, apart from Abhishek's innings, was Varun Chakravarthy's spell (2/23 in 4 overs) and Jasprit Bumrah's 2/26 in 4 overs, which included his pinpoint yorker to dismiss Matthew Short.

Most of the Indian batsmen found it tough to hit through the line due to extra bounce and the lengths that Australian pacers, especially Hazlewood, hit during his spell which he finished in one go.

With three matches left in the series, Indian batsmen could take a leaf out of Abhishek's book. Abhishek played some outrageous shots on the off-side: slashes, check drives and lofted strokes, to race to a 23-ball half-century in his maiden appearance at the iconic venue, while others headed back to the pavilion. His knock included eight fours and two sixes. What worked for Abhishek was his ability to use the crease and ride the bounce at the same time.

At 110 for 8, Abhishek took it upon himself as he hooked Xavier Bartlett for a six and, prior to that a boundary, as the total reached 125. Hazlewood bowled the Test match length consistently in the 6-8m region, getting just the right amount of movement that had the top order in a tangle.

He softened Shubman Gill (5) with a well-directed bouncer that needed a mandatory concussion test after the batsman survived a leg-before appeal to a fuller incoming delivery first up. When Hazlewood bowled a fullish length outside off-stump, the Indian vice-captain's chip shot to clear the mid-off fielder didn't yield result as Marsh grabbed an easy catch. Before Gill would have cooled his heels, Nathan Ellis' nip-backer found Sanju Samson (2) plumb in-front and he wasted a DRS review, aware that he won't survive.

Hazlewood then bowled what would easily be the ball of the game. He first bowled a short ball that skipper Surya had gloved trying to pull, but Josh Inglis grassed it on second attempt. The next delivery was a pitched up that saw the Indian skipper develop cold feet. There was no feet movement and the outward movement kissed the outside edge of his bat before falling into the keeper's gloves.

Scoreboard:

India: Shubman Gill c Marsh b Hazlewood 5 Abhishek Sharma lbw b Ellis 68 Sanju Samson lbw b Ellis 2 Suryakumar Yadav c Inglis b Hazlewood 1 Tilak Varmac Inglis b Hazlewood 0 Axar Patel run out (David/Inglis) 7 Harshit Ranac David b Bartlett 35 Shivam Dubec Inglis b Bartlett 4 Kuldeep Yadavc sub (SA Abbott) b Stoinis 0 Varun Chakravarthy not out 0 Jasprit Bumrah run out (Ellis) 0 Extras: (b-1, w-2) 3 Total: (all out, 18.4 overs) 125 Fall of Wickets: 1-20, 2-23, 3-32, 4-32, 5-49, 6-105, 7-109, 8-110, 9-125.

Bowling: Hazlewood 4-0-13-3, Bartlett 4-0-39-2, Ellis 3.4-0-21-2, Stoinis 4-0-24-1, Owen 1-0-13-0, Kuhnemann 2-0-14-0.

Australia: Mitchell Marsh c Abhishek Sharma b Kuldeep Yadav 46 Travis Head c Tilak Varma b Varun 28 Josh Inglis lbw b Kuldeep Yadav 20 Tim David c & b Varun 1 Mitchell Owen c Samson b Bumrah 14 Marcus Stoinis not out 6 Matthew Short b Bumrah 0 Xavier Bartlett not out 0 Extras: (b-4, lb-1, nb-1, w-5) 11 Total: (6 wickets, 13.2 overs) 126 Fall of wickets: 1-51, 2-87, 3-90, 4-112, 5-124, 6-124 Bowling: Bumrah 4-0-26-2, Harshit Rana 2-0-27-0, Varun Chakravarthy 4-0-23-2, Kuldeep Yadav 3.2-0-45-2.