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The second T20I between Australia and India at the iconic Melbourne Cricket Ground turned into a showcase of top-quality fast bowling, as Nathan Ellis and Josh Hazlewood tore through India’s batting lineup. After Australia opted to bowl first under the lights, their pacers made the most of the conditions, striking early and often to put India on the back foot.
Nathan Ellis removes Sanju Samson with a beauty
Among the early wickets, Ellis’ magical delivery to dismiss Sanju Samson stood out as a moment of pure bowling brilliance. On the third ball of the fourth over, Ellis sent down a sharp nip-backer that completely deceived Samson. The Indian batter, who was deep in his crease, tried to play across the line to a full delivery but missed it completely.
The ball struck him flush on the back leg, right in front of middle stump. The umpire raised his finger without hesitation, and the ball-tracker confirmed that the delivery would have gone on to crash into the leg stump. It was a near-perfect setup — full, quick, and seaming just enough to beat the inside edge. Ellis roared in delight as the Melbourne crowd erupted, celebrating a textbook fast bowler’s dismissal.
Here’s the video:
Nathan Ellis got off to a rapid start, dismissing Sanju Samson for just two.
— cricket.com.au (@cricketcomau)
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Josh Hazlewood runs riot as India falter with the bat
India’s innings never really got going after the early blow. Wickets kept tumbling at regular intervals, with Australia’s disciplined bowling attack giving them no room to breathe. Hazlewood, operating with his trademark accuracy and seam movement, turned out to be the chief destroyer.
Hazlewood finished with exceptional figures of 3 for 13 in his four overs, dismantling India’s top and middle order with relentless precision. His spell included vital wickets that left India struggling to build any sort of momentum. Every time a partnership seemed to be forming, Hazlewood or Ellis struck to restore Australia’s control.
Among the Indian batters, Abhishek Sharma was the lone warrior who showed resistance. The young left-hander displayed fine composure under pressure, scoring a fluent half-century even as wickets fell regularly from the other end. His innings provided some entertainment for the Indian supporters but wasn’t enough to lift the team to a competitive total.
Also READ: AUS vs IND: Here’s why Australian and Indian players are wearing black armbands in the 2nd T20I
