Date: February 3rd, 2012.
Location: Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG).
Event: 2nd T20 International.
Series Status: India leads 1-0.
The caravan moved back to Melbourne. The MCG, which had witnessed Deva's double century just a month ago in the whites, was now dressed in the vibrant colors of T20 cricket.
60,000 people filled the colosseum, a sea of blue and gold under the floodlights. The air was cool, but the atmosphere was feverish. The goal was simple: A series win in Australia.
Pre-Match Commentary (Mark Nicholas & Sunil Gavaskar):
Mark Nicholas: "Welcome to the mighty MCG! It is a perfect evening for cricket. The air is cool, the lights are blazing, and the crowd is buzzing. India leads 1-0 after that heist in Sydney where Siddanth Deva and Dhoni finished the game. Can the Aussies bounce back, or will the World Champions seal the series tonight?"
Sunil Gavaskar: "The key for India is consistency, Mark. Deva and Dhoni bailed them out last time from a precarious position. Today, the top order needs to fire. Virender Sehwag and Gautam Gambhir are due for a big one. They cannot rely on the middle order every time, especially on a drop-in pitch that might offer a bit of pace."
Mark Nicholas: "Australia has made one change. The veteran Brad Hogg comes in for Xavier Doherty to add some mystery spin. George Bailey, the new captain, has a tough task. Stopping this Indian juggernaut is like trying to stop a freight train with a tennis racket."
The two captains stood in the center. The coin went up.
George Bailey called Tails. It was Tails.
Bailey: "We'll bat. It's a good wicket, looks hard and dry. We want runs on the board this time. India chased well in Sydney, let's see if they can do it again chasing a bigger total."
Dhoni: "We would have bowled first anyway. The dew factor might come in later, although it's less likely here than in Sydney. We are playing the same team. We back our chasers."
Openers: David Warner and Travis Birt.
Bowler: Praveen Kumar.
Australia came out swinging. They had a point to prove after the collapse in Sydney.
Over 1: Praveen Kumar to David Warner
0.1: Warner stepped out first ball. He didn't bother with a sighter. He slapped a length ball over extra cover.
FOUR.
Commentary (Ian Chappell): "Bang! Warner means business. He is not waiting around tonight. He wants to dominate from ball one."
0.3: Praveen corrected his line, swinging it in. Warner flicked it off his pads.
FOUR.
Commentary (Chappell): "Too straight. You can't bowl there to Warner. He whips it away to the mid-wicket fence. Eight runs off the first three balls."
Over 3: Vinay Kumar to Travis Birt
2.3: Birt pulled a short ball over mid-wicket.
SIX.
Commentary (Nicholas): "That's gone miles! Into the second tier! The Aussies are flying here! This is the aggression Bailey wanted!"
Australia raced to 50/0 in 5 overs, punishing the Indian pacers. The crowd was roaring 'Aussie, Aussie, Aussie!'
Dhoni turned to his weapon. Siddanth Deva.
Over 6: Siddanth Deva to David Warner
Deva ran in. He didn't bowl pace. He bowled intelligence.
5.1: Deva bowled a cutter. Warner swung and missed. Dot.
5.2: Warner drove to mid-off. Dot.
5.3: Deva bowled a leg-cutter again, but slightly fuller.
Warner, looking to hit over mid-off, was deceived by the lack of pace. He was through the shot early. He sliced it high.
The ball swirled in the Melbourne sky.
Virat Kohli at long-off ran in, settled under it, and took a safe catch.
Commentary (Ravi Shastri): "He's done it again! Deva gets Warner for the second time in two matches! He has the wood over him! Warner tries to force the pace but Deva outsmarts him with the cutter. Huge wicket for India!"
WICKET (Warner 30).
Matthew Wade walked in. He looked to stabilize. He and Travis Birt added 40 runs quickly.
Over 10: Wade smashed Rahul Sharma for a SIX over long-on.
Over 11: Birt cut Jadeja for FOUR.
Australia was 110/2 in 14 overs (Birt fell to a run-out). Wade was looking dangerous on 28.
Deva returned for his second spell in the 15th over.
Over 15: Deva to Matthew Wade
Australia was accelerating.
14.1: Wade drove Deva for 2 runs.
14.2: Deva bowled a bouncer. Wade hooked. Top edge. It landed safely. 1 Run.
14.3: David Hussey Single.
14.4: Wade on strike.
Deva bowled a scorching yorker. 148 kmph.
It tailed in late. The reverse swing was evident.
Wade tried to jam it out. He was too late.
CRASH.
The leg stump was uprooted and cartwheeled towards the keeper.
Commentary (Gavaskar): "Cleaned him up! A toe-crusher from Deva! That stump is going for a walk! He breaks the partnership just when Australia looked set for 180! That is high-quality death bowling!"
WICKET (Wade 28).
Deva Figures: 4-0-28-2.
David Hussey played a gem of an innings to lift Australia.
Over 19: Vinay Kumar
18.1: Hussey smashed a length ball over long-on.
SIX.
Commentary (Nicholas): "David Hussey is turning it on! That is pure power! He cleared the biggest boundary on the ground!"
18.3: Hussey carved a full toss over point.
SIX.
Commentary (Shastri): "Another one! He is taking Vinay Kumar apart! Australia finishing strong!"
Australia finished on 168/7. A very competitive score at the MCG.
Gavaskar: "169 to win. It is not going to be easy. The outfield is huge, so boundaries are hard to come by. India will need to run hard. Deva was the pick of the bowlers again, keeping it tight and taking wickets."
Second Innings (India):
Target: 169.
Required Rate: 8.45.
Virender Sehwag and Gautam Gambhir walked out. Sehwag looked determined. He adjusted his gloves, looking at Brett Lee.
Over 1: Brett Lee to Sehwag
0.1: Lee ran in fast. 150 kmph. Short and wide.
Sehwag slashed. He didn't keep it down, but it flew over point.
FOUR.
Commentary (Shastri): "Classic Viru! No sighters needed! He sees width and he punishes it! The crowd loves it!"
Over 2: Clint McKay to Sehwag
1.3: Sehwag stepped out. He met the ball on the half-volley.
He lofted it over mid-on. Clean connection.
SIX.
Commentary (Nicholas): "That is magnificent! Up and over! Sehwag is in the mood tonight! That went twenty rows back!"
But the aggression cost him.
Over 3: Brett Lee to Sehwag
2.4: Lee bowled a clever slower ball.
Sehwag tried to run it down to third man. He didn't pick the change of pace.
It was too close to his body.
Edge.
The keeper, Matthew Wade, dived to his right.
WICKET (Sehwag 15 off 10).
Commentary (Chappell): "And Lee strikes back! Sehwag lives by the sword and dies by it. India lose their first wicket early. 20 for 1."
India: 20/1.
Virat Kohli walked in at No. 3.
He joined Gambhir. They decided to consolidate. The run rate was hovering around 8.
Over 6: Xavier Doherty to Kohli
5.2: Kohli used his wrists to flick a ball through mid-wicket. He placed it perfectly between the two fielders in the deep.
FOUR.
Commentary (Gavaskar): "Wristy elegance! Kohli finds the gap beautifully. He is such a busy player. That relieves the pressure."
Over 8: Brad Hogg to Gambhir
7.4: Gambhir swept the veteran spinner fine.
FOUR.
Commentary (Shastri): "Well played. Gambhir is looking solid. India needs this partnership to go deep."
Over 10: Clint McKay to Gambhir
Gambhir had played a solid anchor role, scoring 35.
9.4: McKay bowled a knuckleball.
Gambhir tried to clear mid-off. He didn't get the elevation.
Caught by David Warner.
WICKET (Gambhir 35).
Commentary (Shastri): "Gambhir goes! He set the platform but couldn't carry on. India are two down at the halfway stage. A big wicket for Australia."
Score: 80/2. 10 Overs gone.
Equation: 89 runs needed off 60 balls.
The crowd expected Siddanth Deva at No. 4. The chant of "DE-VA, DE-VA" started in the stands. The giant screen showed Deva sitting in the dugout, padded up.
But then, movement.
In the dugout, Deva stood up to walk out.
MS Dhoni stopped him at the boundary line. He put a hand on Deva's chest.
"Sit down, Sid," Dhoni said, adjusting his gloves. "I'm going."
"You sure, Skipper?" Deva asked, surprised. "Rate is climbing. Spinners are on."
"I need time in the middle," Dhoni said calmly. "And I want to control the spin. You rest. We might need you for the Tri-Series."
He promoted himself ahead of Deva and Raina. He wanted to take responsibility and control the chase from the middle overs.
Commentary (Nicholas): "Wait a minute... that's not Deva! That's the Captain! MS Dhoni promotes himself to Number 4! That is a statement. He wants to be there at the end. Deva is held back. It's a luxury to have the Player of the Match from Sydney waiting in the wings."
Virat Kohli was in the zone. He rotated the strike and hit bad balls for four.
Dhoni started slow, accumulating singles, letting Kohli take the lead.
They added 70 runs in quick time, running brilliantly between the wickets, turning the large MCG outfield into their advantage.
Over 14: Brad Hogg to Dhoni
13.3: Hogg tossed it up.
Dhoni stepped out. He launched the veteran spinner over long-on.
The ball sailed into the second tier.
SIX.
Commentary (Shastri): "That's gone! Downtown! Dhoni sends it into the stands! The power of the man! He decides it's time to go!"
Over 16: Daniel Christian to Kohli
15.2: Kohli played a glorious cover drive.
FOUR.
Commentary (Gavaskar): "Picture perfect. Head over the ball. That is the shot of the day."
15.4: Kohli pulled a short ball.
FOUR.
Commentary (Nicholas): "Kohli is playing a gem here. He is finding the boundary at will now. India are cruising."
Over 18: Xavier Doherty to Kohli
Kohli was on 60. He tried to finish it quickly.
17.5: Kohli stepped out to hit over cover. He sliced it.
The ball swirled.
Caught on the boundary by Mitchell Marsh.
WICKET (Kohli 60).
Commentary (Nicholas): "Kohli goes! A fantastic innings of 60 comes to an end. But has he done enough? India needs 19 from 13 balls. A twist in the tale?"
Score: 150/3.
Equation: 19 runs needed off 12 balls.
Suresh Raina joined Dhoni.
Deva sat in the dugout, pads on, helmet on, watching. He was enjoying the show.
Over 19: James Hogg
18.1: Dhoni on strike.
He slog-swept a wrong 'un.
SIX.
Commentary (Shastri): "Whacked! Over mid-wicket! Dhoni is in a hurry to finish this! That relieves all the pressure!"
18.2: Dhoni took a double. Hard running.
12 runs off the over.
Equation: 7 runs needed off 6 balls.
Over 20: Clint McKay
Target: 169.
Score: 162.
Equation: 7 needed off 6 balls.
Ball 19.1: McKay to Dhoni
McKay bowled full.
Dhoni whipped it. The bottom hand power.
The ball raced to the mid-wicket boundary.
FOUR.
Commentary (Gavaskar): "Four! Just a flick of the wrists! Dhoni brings the equation down to 3 runs! He wants to finish it in this over!"
Ball 19.2: McKay to Dhoni
McKay bowled wide.
Dhoni pushed a single to long-off.
1 Run.
2 needed.
Ball 19.3: McKay to Raina
Raina tapped it to point and ran a quick single.
Misfield allowed them to come back for the second.
2 Runs.
INDIA WINS BY 7 WICKETS.
Final Score: India 169/3 (19.3 Overs).
MS Dhoni: 40* (25 balls).
Suresh Raina: 10*.
Series: India wins 2-0.
Post-Match Analysis (Star Cricket):
Sunil Gavaskar: "A clinical chase. Dhoni's promotion was the masterstroke. He realized that Deva had done the heavy lifting all summer and took the burden on himself today. Kohli was magnificent."
Ravi Shastri: "India wins the T20 series 2-0. They have momentum going into the Tri-Series. The youngsters are firing, and the Captain is in form. A complete performance."
Post-Match Presentation:
Mark Nicholas: "A clinical chase, MS. You promoted yourself today. Why?"
Dhoni: "Yes. I wanted to spend some time in the middle. Deva has been doing the heavy lifting in the Tests and the first game. I wanted to contribute and make sure we didn't leave too much for the end. Plus, Deva needs to save his energy for the Tri-Series."
Deva ran onto the field and hugged Dhoni.
"You stole my job, Skipper," Deva laughed. "I was padded up for nothing."
"You needed a rest," Dhoni winked, handing him a stump. "Enjoy the view from the dugout for once."