That’s it from us in our coverage of India’s second warmup game of the tournament. Rohit Sharma returned in the Indian jersey and was in roaring form right away, while Suryakumar Yadav’s clean hitting and Ravichandran Ashwin’s powerplay bowling would be the other positives. That they leaked runs aplenty today to the likes of Steve Smith and Marcus Stoinis would be one area of concern before their tournament opener against arch-rivals Pakistan on Sunday.
For now, it’s a goodbye from us. Hope to see you all join us in our coverage of what should be another blockbuster of a match between the two subcontinental neighbours.
Plenty of positives for the Men in Blue
Most questions were answered during these two practise exams! #sky #bhuvi #hardik— Irfan Pathan (@IrfanPathan) October 20, 2021
After 17.5 overs,India 153/2 ( Suryakumar Yadav 38 , Hardik Pandya 14)
Surykumar works a slower ball from Kane Richardson towards fine leg for a boundary with some deft wrist work, getting India closer to the target, before Hardik Pandya finishes off in style with a maximum straight down the ground three balls later!
India hammer Australia by eight wickets with 13 balls to spare to make it two wins from as many practice games before their tournament opener against Pakistan this Sunday!
After 17 overs,India 139/2 ( Suryakumar Yadav 33 , Hardik Pandya 5)
Hardik grabs a brace off the first delivery after working the ball towards the deep midwicket region, with Starc saving a couple of runs in the deep with a fine save, followed by a single two balls later. Single off each of the last two balls. Five from the over. India need 14 off 18.
After 16 overs,India 134/2 ( Suryakumar Yadav 32 , Hardik Pandya 1)
Rohit retires hurt on 60 before the start of this over, bringing Hardik Pandya to the crease alongside Surya, who’s very much set on 27 at the moment. Starc, who’s bowled just one over so far, returns, and bowls a full toss down leg in the second leg that is promptly dispatched towards the long leg fence by SKY for a boundary. Wide off the next delivery, with a single off each of the last two as Hardik opens his account and retains the strike. India need 19 off 24.
After 15 overs,India 127/1 ( Rohit Sharma (C) 60 , Suryakumar Yadav 27)
Rohit welcomes Cummins back into the attack with a well-timed pull over the fine leg fence for a maximum, and collects a single off a slower ball next up to move to 60. Another effortless maximum later in this over, this time to Surya who goes for a the short-arm pull off a back-of-length ball to comfortably clear the square leg fence. 14 from the over. India need just 26 off 30 now.
SIX! Rohit brings up the fifty stand with SKY in style, dispatching a short ball down leg with his favourite shot — the pull. IND 119/1
After 14 overs,India 113/1 ( Rohit Sharma (C) 53 , Suryakumar Yadav 20)
Stoinis returns. Rohit plays a late cut behind square in the second delivery to bring up his half-century in 46 balls. Suryakumar then plays an a late lap shot off a short ball in the last delivery, guiding the ball over the keeper’s head and all the way to the fine leg fence for a boundary. 12 from the over. India need 40 off 36.
After 13 overs,India 101/1 ( Rohit Sharma (C) 47 , Suryakumar Yadav 14)
Glenn Maxwell brought into the attack now. Rohit moves into the 40s with a effortless slog over wide long on to collect his second six in as many overs. Four singles collected in the next five balls as the 100 comes up for the Indians, who need 52 more to win from seven overs.
After 12 overs,India 91/1 ( Rohit Sharma (C) 39 , Suryakumar Yadav 12)
Rohit picks a slower one from Marsh in the third delivery of the birthday boy’s second over, clearing the long on fence in the process for his first maximum. Suryakumar cuts behind square in the last ball, placing it wide of the short fine fielder for a boundary. 12 from this over. India need 62 off 48.