Internet Desk: Great comeback from the Indian bowlers restricted Australia to 160/6. Australia looked on course to post a huge total after the powerplay as both openers Aaron Finch and Usman Khawaja gave the team a rollicking start scoring 53 runs off the first four overs. Khawaja was more punishing of the two as he hit first six scoring runs off boundaries . Khawaja started his innings pulling Nehra of the first delivery for a boundary. Nehra did come back strongly with two great deliveries. Bumrah, who shared the new ball with Nehra went for 17 runs. Khawaja was in a destructive mood against the youngster as he whacked Bumrah for consecutive boundaries off his pads. The left hander hit his third consecutive boundary to set Australia innings on fire. Khawaja guided the last ball to the boundary as well. Australia was 21/0 after 2 overs.
Finch who did not have enough strike till that time went after Nehra hitting him through covers to bring his first boundary.
Dhoni was forced to replace Bumrah with Ashwin. Finch, currently ranked the number 1 T20 batsman in the world hit the first six off the match lofting Ashwin over long on. He again took his chances as he hit his second six, just missing Pandya at long on. Baffled with the sixes, Ashwin bowled a wide that beat everyone to the boundary. The fifty came up for Australia in only 22 balls. Ashwin went for 22 runs off his first over.
India got its first breakthrough as Nehra had Khawaja edged one to Dhoni . But he played his part scoring 26 runs off 16 balls. Australia was 54/1 after 4.2 overs. Nehra came back strongly to give only 2 runs with a wicket off Khawaja.
After the initial onslaught by the Australian batsman, Indian bowlers did pull things back as both Bumrah and Jadeja bowled some tight overs.Ashwin did comeback strongly, getting rid of David Warner stumped for 6 runs. Australia was 73/2 after 8 overs.
Jadeja continued to bowl economically as his first two overs went for 6 runs. Yuvraj gave India the biggest breakthrough as he had Steve Smith caught behind by Dhoni for only 2 runs. The Australian captain did not seem too happy with the decision as he walked back. Australia was 81/3 at mid way stage of the innings.
Pandya was brought into the attack in the 11th over and gave a strike immediately. He got rid of dangerous looking Finch as he tried to loft Pandya into the stands only to be caught by Dhawan at mid wicket. Finch scored a well made 43 runs off 34 balls. Australia brought up their 100 in the 13th over losing 4 wickets.
Maxwell got into business as he swept Jadeja to get a boundary to the fine leg. He followed it up with a terrific six off a switch hit. Australia was 129/4 after 16 overs.
Bumrah brought the crowds to live by getting rid of dangerous looking Maxwell bowled for 31 off 28 balls with Australia at 130/5.
Nehra bowled a superb 18th over as he gave away just 4 runs. Australia was 136/5 after 18 overs. Faulkner meanwhile got the placement right as he hits Bumrah for a boundary off his first ball. Australia was 145/5 with just an over remaining.
Pandya bowling the last over got Faulkner out of his first ball. Faulkner was out caught at long off by Kohli for 10 runs. Peter Nevill hit a cheeky boundary of his first delivery faced. He finished off the Australia innings with a six to give India a target of 161 runs to win.
Earlier Australian captain Steve Smith won the toss and decided to bat first. Both sides went in unchanged from their last match.