Glenn Maxwell scored a scintillating hundred as Australia kept the series alive by defeating India by 5 wickets in the second T20 international at the Barsapara Cricket Stadium in Guwahati on Tuesday.
After being put into bat India got off to a poor start, losing Yashasvi Jaiswal (6) to Jason Behrendorff as the left hander nicked an attempted heave to wicket keeper behind the stumps. Ishan Kishan perished without scoring, slapping Kane Richardson to Marcus Stoinis at cover.
Captain Suryakumar Yadav along with Ruturaj Gaikwad added 57 runs for the third wicket before the former perished to Aaron Hardie for 39.
Gaikwad and Tilak Varma put on an unbeaten 141 run stand for the third wicket. The 26 year Gaikwad reached his maiden hundred off just 52 balls by launching off spinner over wide long on for a maximum. The over also featured two more sixes and as many fours. The Men in Blue eventually ended up with an impressive total of 222/3 in their 20 overs.
In response, Australia openers Travis Head and Aaron Hardie got their side off to a brisk start. The pair added 47 runs for the opening stand before the latter (16) fell to Arshdeep Singh while attempting a big hit.
Head fell for 18 ball-35, miscuing a slower short ball off Avesh Khan. Australia slipped even further when Ravi Bishnoi knocked over Josh Inglis (10) with a slider.
Maxwell along with Marcus Stoinis resurrected the innings with a 60 run stand for the fourth wicket before the former was caught at covers by Suryakumar Yadav off Axar Patel. Tim David then chipped a catch to cover off Bishnoi for a golden duck.
With 87 needed off the last six overs, Maxwell (104)* carried on his great World Cup form by smashing the Indian bowlers to all parts of the ground. Captain Matthew Wade chipped in with an unbeaten 28 to take the visitors to a comfortable 5 wicket win.
Australia 225/5 (Maxwell 104*, Head 35, Wade 28*, Bishnoi 2-32) beat India 222 for 3 (Gaikwad 123*, Suryakumar 39, Tilak 31) by five wickets