Looks a good pitch. It took some time to get used to the bounce of the pitch. I have played here in the IPL and I knew the shots that work here. I used my experience. I always work on hitting on both sides of the ground and get into good positions. Fortunately the ball was in the areas where I could hit it for sixes. Glad they came off the middle of the bat.
...THE CHASE....
Australia will be disappointed with their bowling effort. They sent back both Rohit and Kohli quite early but could not build on it as they allowed Rahul and Yadav to put up a partnership. Once they got rid of both, it was Pandya who proved to be the thorn for them, and they were taken to the cleaners at the death overs. Nathan Ellis was the pick of their bowlers with his three wickets, and Josh Hazlewood picked up a couple as well. Cameron Green contributed with one but he, Cummins and Zampa proved to be very expensive.
India started off well with both Rohit Sharma and KL Rahul playing some lusty blows, but Rohit fell soon after that. Kohli followed him too, for a cheap score. Rahul and Suryakumar Yadav started to steady the ship, and they built a partnership of 68 runs. Rahul got his half-century and then got out, and Yadav couldn't stay in much longer as he fell short of his half-ton by four runs. Then came Hardik Pandya and he absolutely blew away the bowlers. He got to his half century in just 25 balls and helped India to go over the 200-run mark.
A brilliant finish from India as they scored 60 runs in the last four overs thanks to the clean hitting from Pandya. He finishes on 71 off just 30 balls. The Aussies will be slightly disappointed as they will feel they have given 10-15 runs extra, but with dew coming in, they will hope their batters can take advantage of it.
Cameron Green to Hardik Pandya, SIX! Hat-trick of sixes to end the innings. Superb stuff from the finisher, Pandya! Green serves a short ball, outside off. Pandya upper-cuts it, might have not come off the middle but enough to clear the point fence. 21 runs off the final over. India finish with 208 on the board.
Cameron Green to Hardik Pandya, SIX! THUMPED! 200 up for India! Wonderful shot! Fuller ball, outside off. Pandya just lofts it over long off for a biggie.
Cameron Green to Hardik Pandya, SIX! HARD AND FLAT! Short of a length and outside off. Pandya waits on the back foot and pulls it to deep mid-wicket for a biggie. This is why he denied the single.
Cameron Green to Hardik Pandya, A short ball, around off. Pandya steps across and looks to pull but gets a top edge. The ball flies in the night sky but in no man's land at mid on region. Two runs.
Cameron Green to Hardik Pandya, Pandya denies a run! Length ball, way outside off. Pandya knocks it to long off and keeps the strike. He now wants to change his bat.
Cameron Green to bowl the final over.
Cameron Green to Harshal Patel, Fuller ball on off. Patel works it down to long on for a single.
Nathan Ellis to Hardik Pandya, FOUR! FIFTY FOR PANDYA! Giving the perfect finish here! Length ball, outside off. Pandya cuts it hard through covers for a boundary. A fine innings from Pandya.
Nathan Ellis to Harshal Patel, A slower short ball, on off. Patel pulls it to deep mid-wicket for a single.
Nathan Ellis to Hardik Pandya, Length and on off, punched to covers for one.
Nathan Ellis to Harshal Patel, Absolutely brilliant effort from Maxwell. Acrobatic stuff from Maxi. This is full and on middle. Patel rockets it to long on. Glenn Maxwell there, runs to his left, times his jump well and flicks the ball inside to save four runs for his team. Patel didn't run thinking it would go all the way.
Harshal Patel comes out to the middle now.