Team India finally on top down under

A victory would have seldom tasted sweeter. A sense of relief in skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni and opener Gautam Gambhir — the two men in the middle — and the rest of the team in the dugout was palpable.

When Gambhir whipped paceman Clint McKay through widish mid-on in the final over, India had won its first game overseas in 16 matches (including all formats) after suffering defeats in 13 of them. The Indians, lifting their game and successfully chasing 132, had finally broken a spell of setbacks.

Vibrant fielding

Vibrant fielding — the mercurial Ravindra Jadeja was adjudged Man-of-the- Match — and steady bowling set up India's convincing eight-wicket win in the second KFC Twenty20 international at the MCG here on Friday before a mammoth crowd. The two-match series ended in a 1-1 draw.

The left-handed Gambhir made the right moves with his unbeaten 60-ball 56. He worked the ball around, found the gaps, and displayed the footwork and finesse of an accomplished stroke-maker.

He was also involved in partnerships.

The opening pair of Gambhir and Sehwag put on 43 in 6.3 overs before the latter was picked up at cover off a full toss from left-arm wrist spinner Brad Hogg.

Then, Gambhir and the positive Virat Kohli added 54 when Kohli edged a Mitchell Marsh delivery that seamed away. 'Keeper Matthew Wade dived to his right to take the catch.

Crucially, India continued to have a left-right combination in the middle with Gambhir rotating the strike effectively and the threat from Lee and Hogg was negated effectively.

Then, Gambhir and Dhoni closed out the match with an unbeaten 38-run association.

The Indians had buzzed on the field earlier.

There was plenty of energy on view as the men in blue chased hard, dived to stop powerful drives crossing them, cut down the angles smartly and threw with speed and accuracy.

Jadeja's efforts

Symbolic of India's elevated levels of fielding was Jadeja at backward point. He was electric as he swooped and released the sphere in a flash.

Indeed, Jadeja's precise throws led to the run-outs of Aaron Finch (36 of 26 balls) and Australia skipper George Bailey during a critical phase.

India's fielding made a difference and the mercurial Jadeja was at the heart of it all.

And a direct hit from cover by Rohit Sharma sent back the dangerous Wade (32 off 29 balls).

The Indian fielding complemented the bowling as the visitor created the pressure after the host had elected to bat.

On a surface offering the pacemen a fair measure of carry, India's three-spinner ploy represented a risk but the team-management stuck to its game-plan.

R. Ashwin did not operate with the new ball this time around but the pace pair of Praveen Kumar and Vinay Kumar performed a fair job for India early on.

Although the two strayed down the leg-side on a couple of occasions, they hit the right areas more often than not and managed to move the ball. Praveen, in particular, achieved telling deviation.

The Australians decided to give Finch an opportunity at the top of the order which meant it was he and not first game hero Matthew Wade who walked out with David Warner.

The impressive Finch whipped Vinay over mid-wicket and square-cut Praveen for boundaries but the explosive Warner fell early; the southpaw was held well by Gambhir running back at deep-square-leg off Praveen.

Then, the hopelessly out-of-form Shaun Marsh dabbled at a Praveen delivery darting across him.

Sehwag struggled to hold the edge from the southpaw but managed to keep the ball in the air long enough for 'keeper Dhoni to pouch the catch.

The Indians had done a reasonable job in restricting the Aussies to 42 for two in the first six power-play overs.

Then, the spin trio held centrestage. Ashwin — bowling wicket-to-wicket and varying his speed — did not provide the batsmen either room or width. Rahul Sharma, releasing the ball from a lovely high-arm action, varied his trajectory intelligently.

And Jadeja revealed the tightness of an orhodox left-arm spinner in control.

The Aussies failed to build sizable partnerships. David Hussey (24) threatened briefly before he succumbed to Jadeja's change of pace.

The in-form Wade surfaced at No. 6 and struck a six with brute power off Rahul over squarish mid-wicket but Rohit's sizzling throw took him out.

There was also a gripping piece of action when Rahul had Mitchell Marsh stretching out and Dhoni pulled off a lightning-quick stumping.

The Indian bowling and fielding created the opportunity. For once, the batsmen did not miss out.

Scoreboard

Australia: D. Warner c Gambhir b Praveen 8 (8b, 1x4), A. Finch (run out) 36 (23b, 6x4), S. Marsh c Dhoni b Praveen 0 (2b), D. Hussey c & b Jadeja 24 (29b, 1x4, 1x6), G. Bailey (run out) 3 (4b), M. Wade (run out) 32 (29b, 1x4, 1x6), M. Marsh st Dhoni b Rahul 13 (13b, 2x4), B. Lee (not out) 6 (4b, 1x4), C. McKay c Dhoni b Vinay 0 (1b), B. Hogg lbw b Rahul 4 (4b, 1x4), X. Doherty (run out) 1 (1b); Extras (w-4): 4; Total (in 19.4 overs): 131.

Fall of wickets: 1-19 (Warner), 2-20 (S. Marsh), 3-49 (Finch), 4-54 (Bailey), 5-93 (Hussey), 6-119 (M. Marsh), 7-121 (Wade), 8-121 (McKay), 9-130 (Hogg).

India bowling: Praveen 3-0-21-2, Vinay 4-0-25-1, Kohli 1-0-7-0, Jadeja 3-0-16-1, Rahul 3.4-0-29-2, Raina 1-0-10-0, Ashwin 4-0-23-0.

India: G. Gambhir (not out) 56 (60b, 4x4), V. Sehwag c S. Marsh b Hogg 23 (16b, 2x4, 1x6), V. Kohli c Wade b M. Marsh 31 (24b, 3x4), M.S. Dhoni (not out) 21 (18b, 2x4); Extras (w-4): 4; Total (for two wkts. in 19.4 overs): 135.

Fall of wickets: 1-43 (Sehwag), 2-97 (Kohli).

Australia bowling: Lee 4-0-24-0, McKay 3.4-0-25-0, Doherty 3-0-29-0, Hogg 3-0-19-1, M. Marsh 4-0-30-1, Hussey 2-0-8-0.