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A match-winning half century from Gautam Gambhir coupled with an outstanding effort in the field from the Indians helped the visitors register their first win of the Australian summer in the 2nd T20 at Melbourne. Australia tweaked their line-up for this game, and the change in personnel coupled with some brilliance from the Indian fielders saw the hosts bowled out for a well below par score of 131. India affected 4 run outs, including two from Ravindra Jadeja, who also bowled 3 rather economical overs to pick up 1-16. A rare good start from the Indian top order saw them ease to an 8 wicket win, though the fact that they got there with 2 balls to spare did no justice to the ease with which they controlled the run chase.

It was another opportunity for Australia to make first use of a fresh pitch, as the hosts won the toss at the 2nd T20 International in Melbourne and opted to bat. There were changes galore in the Australian line-up with Aaron Finch, Shaun Marsh and Clint McKay coming into the side, with Travis Birt, Dan Christian and James Faulkner the benched trio. India meanwhile were understandably unchanged, opting not to axe any non-performers after just a solitary game. For India though that meant they continued to go into this game with a 2 seamer - 3 spinner combination.

Despite his man of the match winning innings of 72 in the first T20, Matthew Wade was dumped down the order with Aaron Finch asked to open the batting with David Warner. Finch got off to a fortunate start with an outside edge off Praveen Kumar making its way to the boundary. David Warner did not enjoy his opening partner's fortune falling for 8 to a short delivery from Praveen, which he tried to smash over square-leg, but failed to clear Gautam Gambhir at the boundary. Praveen soon made it two for the over, dismissing the woefully out of form Shaun Marsh for yet another duck, caught by an alert Dhoni after Sehwag juggled a routine chance at first slip.

Despite the early breakthroughs, India didn't bowl particularly well, especially to Aaron Finch, who got plenty of short wide stuff to smash away to the point boundary. Vinay Kumar, after going for 11 runs in his opening over, did end the powerplay well, conceding just 3 from his third over. Australia were scampering along to 42/2 at the end of 6 overs.

India picked up a bonus wicket against the run of play with Aaron Finch run out for 36 by miles thanks to some sharp work in the field by Ravindra Jadeja. For the second time in the day, one wicket immediately brought another with Australia failing to learn from their mistake of taking on Jadeja, with the left-hander running out skipper George Bailey for 3. India lost a bit of the momentum though in the following over as the decision to introduce Suresh Raina backfired with Hussey spanking the part-timer into the stands to end the 10th over at 69/4.

Australia hit a brief purple patch with runs continuing to flow freely as David Hussey and Matthew Wade added 39 runs for the 5th wicket. Jadeja continued to be go to man for India though and the left-arm spinner responded to his skipper's call by removing Hussey for 24, caught and bowled.

Australia brought up their 100 on the final ball of the 15th over, and really needed to get a move on in order to post a competitive score. Mitchell Marsh chipped in with a run a ball 13 before falling prey to Rahul Sharma. The Sharmas were doing it together, with Rohit getting into the act in the next over, running out Matthew Wade for 32.

Wickets continued to tumble in the late overs with Vinay Kumar getting Clint McKay caught behind for a golden duck and Rahul Sharma trapping Brad Hogg leg before for 4. India wrapped up the Australian innings in ideal fashion, securing their fourth run out, with Xavier Dohery (1) failing to beat a bullet throw from Suresh Raina in the deep.

In response to chasing a very gettable 132 on what was indeed a very good pitch, India made a rather sedate start, scoring 29 runs in the first 5 overs. Perhaps crucially though, it was a rare occasion this Australian summer that Sehwag and Gambhir saw off the new ball. The introduction of spin was welcomed by the dancing feet of Sehwag, who immediately dispatched Xavier Doherty into the stands. At the end of the powerplay, India had posted a very welcome 42/0.

However, India's start soon went sour with Brad Hogg picking up the vital wicket of Sehwag for 23, caught at short cover off a full toss. The introduction of Virat Kohli to the Indian chase saw considerably greater urgency between the running between the wickets, and India made their way to 66/1 from 9 overs, leaving themselves to get exactly that same number of runs from hereon from an even number of balls.

India continued to make steady progress as Gambhir and Kohli shared a 54 run stand for the second wicket before the latter fell for 31, edging a routine delivery from Mitchell Marsh to the keeper. Skipper MS Dhoni, on the back of a handy 48 in the last game, bumped himself up the order in an attempt to see his side home in the chase. At the end of Marsh's successful over, India were 99/2 from 14 overs, needing another 33 runs from 36 balls to seal their first win of the summer.

With the Aussies getting a bit ragged in the field, India got to 131 with 8 balls to spare. Scoring that final run needed for the win proved to be a touch nerve-wracking with 5 balls going through without getting the winning run. Gambhir finally though managed to pierce the infield to wrap up the game, ending up with a solid 56 with Dhoni posting a confident 21 at the other end.

This first win for India sets up the side well heading into the Commonwealth Bank one day series, which gets underway this Sunday right here in Melbourne.

Teams:

Australia: DA Warner, AJ Finch, SE Marsh, MS Wade (wk), DJ Hussey, GJ Bailey (c), MR Marsh, CJ McKay, GB Hogg, B Lee, XJ Doherty

India: G Gambhir, V Sehwag, V Kohli, RG Sharma, SK Raina, MS Dhoni(c & wk), RA Jadeja, R Sharma, R Ashwin, R Vinay Kumar, P Kumar

Mini Scorecard:

Australia 131 all out (19.4 overs, 6.7rpo)
A Finch 36 (23) P Kumar 2-21
M Wade 32 (28) R Sharma 2-29

India 135/2 (19.4 overs, 6.86rpo)
G Gambhir 56* (60) B Hogg 1-19
V Kohli 31 (24) M Marsh 1-30

India win by 8 wickets with 2 balls to spare

File Photograph Copyright: ICC World T20