Hardik Pandya played a blinder (42 off 22) to guide India to a thrilling 6 wickets win over Australia in 2nd T20I at SCG on Sunday. Image Courtesy: BCCI

Xtra Time Web Desk: An absolutely stunning  knock from Hardik Pandya (42 off 22) helped India to a memorable 6 wickets win over Australia at the Sydney Cricket Ground on Sunday. The win also helped India seal the T20I series in Australia, the second time they have achieved Down Under.

The Men in Blue chased down a challenging target of 195 with two balls to spare to take an unassailable 2-0 lead in the T20I series against Australia.

There were useful contributions with the bat from Shikhar Dhawan (52 off 36) while captain Virat Kohli made 40 from 24 balls. On the bowling front T Natarajan was once again the pick of the Indian bowlers giving away just 20 runs from his 4 overs and picking two wickets.

In the penultimate over bowled by Andrew Tye, Pandya connected back-to-back boundaries, leaving India to get only 14 runs. In the final over bowled by Daniel Sams, Pandya smacked two sixes in three balls to trigger celebrations in the Indian dressing room.

Virat Kohli won the toss and invited Australia to bat. In the absence of Aaron Finch, Matthew Wade set the tone of the innings with a quickfire 58 off 32 balls. Steve Smith also chipped in with an important 46 off 38 balls. India’s bowlers were expensive but the one who stood out was T Natarajan, finishing with 2/20 with the wickets of D Arcy Short and Moises Henriques.

 India had won the first T20I by 11 runs in Canberra on Friday. The inconsequential third T20I will be played here on Tuesday.