Match Abandoned | Australia vs India, Highlights And Cricket Score 2nd T20I Match - Commentary

We take your leave then. Thank you for staying patiently with us. The third and final T20I will be played at the SCG on Sunday, 6.50 pm local (0750 GMT). Hopefully, that is a full contest. ADIOS! TAKE CARE!

Sad end then to what was promising to be a cracker of a run chase. India were the big favourites at the halfway stage but then the rain spiced it up. Anything could have happened with 90 needed from 11 overs or 46 needed from 5. Either ways, Australia are at least ensured that they do not lose this series.

So the inevitable has happened. The game has been CALLED OFF. The captains and the umpires are seen shaking hands and that will be it from this game. One can say the rain has come to the rescue of Australia as we feel it is India who would have been the favorites heading into the chase.

Update 9.50 pm local time - Cricket Australia tweets, 'If play doesn't resume before 10.02 pm local time then the match will be abandoned...'

The rain is playing hide and seek here, it is back just as we were going to start the chase, the players make their way back in and the groundsman run out with the covers.

The Indian bowling was excellent, the seamers were the one who did the majority of the damage. Khaleel picked two early on, Kumar also ended with two and Bumrah also had one to his name. The spinners were upto the task in this game. They did not let the pressure drop in the middle overs, they too were economical and took one apiece. They though will still be disappointed as they could not finish off well. However, one would feel, they are favorites to chase this total down. Will India level the series or will Australia take an unassailable lead?

Australia were reeling at 62-5 but a lower-order surge has kept them in the game. McDermott was the mainstay and the rest played around him. He finished as the top scorer for the Aussies.

So runs from the lower half has given the Australian bowlers something to bowl at. However, it is India who will head into the break as the happier side. They were brilliant right from the start. After electing to field, Finch was dismissed on the very second delivery of the game. The hosts never recovered after that as they kept losing wickets at regular intervals.

That is the end of the Australian innings, they won't come out to face the last six balls. 4 runs have been added to the Australian total. So India will need 137 from 19 overs.

Update - 2041 Local time - The covers are coming off and play is likely to resume in a few minutes. Let's see if Australia will bat the last over. Scratch what I just wrote, the drizzle has returned and our wait continues.

It did not rain for long but it was heavy rain so there is a lot of water on the covers. Seems like a repeat of the last game, do not think Australia will be batting again in this game.

The rain seems to have relented and the ground staff have started to do their bit.

This was coming. The umpires now feel it has gotten too heave and have decided to walk off. That is probably the last we have seen of Australia's batting tonight. Do not think they will be coming out for the last over. However, there is no official word on that, we will keep you updated.

Jasprit Bumrah to Ben McDermott. EDGED, FOUR! Useful runs for Australia. Full and outside off, McDermott looks to back away and drive but the ball takes the outside edge and flies past the diving keeper to the third man fence! Bumrah finishes with excellent figures of 4-0-20-1!

Jasprit Bumrah to Ben McDermott. Now McDermott swings hard, it is a yorker outside off and he misses.

Jasprit Bumrah to Andrew Tye. Finally manages to get bat to ball, with it coming in sharply off a length. Punched through the covers for a single.

Jasprit Bumrah to Andrew Tye. Hat-trick of swings and misses as Tye keeps fishing wildly.

Oh dear... the heavens have opened up but play continues. Kohli is not happy.

Jasprit Bumrah to Andrew Tye. Another play and a miss.

Jasprit Bumrah to Andrew Tye. Outside off, on a length, a swing and a miss.

Jasprit Bumrah to Andrew Tye. FIVE WIDES! A wild bouncer, Tye misses his pull and the ball flies over Pant to the fence behind.

Khaleel Ahmed to Ben McDermott. SIX! CLOBBERED! A short ball outside off, McDermott pulls this high into the evening sky, over mid-wicket! 19 from the over!

Khaleel Ahmed to Andrew Tye. Another swing, this time, a miss. Pant fumbles and the batsmen take a bye.

Khaleel Ahmed to Andrew Tye. Full and outside off, hit straight back over the bowler for a couple.

Khaleel Ahmed to Andrew Tye. FOUR! EDGED AWAY THIS TIME! Little bit of luck for Australia. Full and outside off, Tye swings hard but gets an outside edge which goes past short third man!

Khaleel Ahmed to Andrew Tye. FOUR! Fine shot. On a length outside off, Tye backs away and punches it through mid off for a boundary!

Khaleel Ahmed to Andrew Tye. WIDE. A bouncer on middle, Tye looks to hook but misses. Pant leaps to collect.

Khaleel Ahmed to Ben McDermott. A short ball, dragged through mid-wicket for a single.

Khaleel is back on.

Jasprit Bumrah to Andrew Tye. A short ball to finish, Tye looks to hook but misses.

Jasprit Bumrah to Ben McDermott. Dropped short, pulled through mid-wicket for one.

Jasprit Bumrah to Andrew Tye. A length ball, too straight, flicked through mid-wicket for a run.

Jasprit Bumrah to Andrew Tye. Full and outside off, driven straight to mid off. A hat-trick of dots.

Jasprit Bumrah to Andrew Tye. Outside off again, another slash and a miss. Two dots. Can Australia at least get run-a-ball?

Jasprit Bumrah to Andrew Tye. Outside off, a slash and a miss.

Andrew Tye is the new man in. Jasprit Bumrah is back on as well.

Bhuvneshwar Kumar to Nathan Coulter-Nile. OUT! Big wicket for India. NCN could have hurt them. No, this is not a joke. He has looked the most confident of ALL the batters so far. He came, he saw, he entertained but could not stay long. Short and outside off, a touch wide as well, Nathan smashes it well but again, the length of the ground consumes him. Straight to the substitute Manish Pandey at deep point.

Bhuvneshwar Kumar to Nathan Coulter-Nile. SIX! BRUTAL! NCN is making a statement to his top order batters here. A short ball outside off, Coulter-Nile pulls it over mid-wicket for a biggie!

Bhuvneshwar Kumar to Ben McDermott. Eases this through the covers for a run.

Bhuvneshwar Kumar to Ben McDermott. Full and outside off, driven through the covers for a couple.

Bhuvneshwar Kumar to Ben McDermott. Outside off, a play and a miss.

Bhuvneshwar Kumar to Ben McDermott. Full and outside off, driven straight to mid off.

Bhuvneshwar Kumar returns.

Krunal Pandya to Ben McDermott. Played to the mid-wicket region by the batsman. The batsmen have run through for a single.

Krunal Pandya to Nathan Coulter-Nile. Full and outside off, eased through the covers for a single.

Krunal Pandya to Nathan Coulter-Nile. FOUR! In a trice, NCN has become the third highest run scorer of the innings. A short ball, Coulter-Nile punches it through mid-wicket for a boundary!

Krunal Pandya to Nathan Coulter-Nile. The batsman has defended it by getting right behind the line of the delivery.

Krunal Pandya to Nathan Coulter-Nile. Gets across, looks to paddle but the ball goes off his pads through fine leg. Two runs taken. Leg byes signalled.

Krunal Pandya to Ben McDermott. Full on middle, played towards mid-wicket. The batsmen take the first run hard, go for the second but then Krunal gets to it and the batsmen return.

Kuldeep Yadav to Ben McDermott. On middle and leg, punched down to long on for a run.

Kuldeep Yadav to Nathan Coulter-Nile. Full and outside off, NCN comes forward and plays it with an open bat-face past slip to third man. A single taken.

Kuldeep Yadav to Nathan Coulter-Nile. The batsman shows the full face of the bat and defends the ball off the back foot.

Kuldeep Yadav to Nathan Coulter-Nile. SIX! Ho ho! First real big hit of the match. Told you, Australia's batting starts now. Landed outside off, Coulter-Nile swings this wayyyyyyy into oblivion, high over long off!

Kuldeep Yadav to Ben McDermott. Outside off, punched through mid on for a single.

Now comes the real batting for Australia. Enter Nathan Coulter-Nile.

Kuldeep Yadav to Alex Carey. OUT! First wicket for Kuldeep as the procession continues. Floated outside off, Carey gets down to play the slog sweep but cannot quite time it well. This ground is way too big and Carey falls short. Easy catch for Krunal Pandya at deep mid-wicket.

Krunal Pandya to Alex Carey. A short ball, pulled down to long on for one.

Krunal Pandya to Ben McDermott. On middle and off, punched down to long on for a run.

Krunal Pandya to Alex Carey. Short and outside off, punched through the covers for a single.

Krunal Pandya to Ben McDermott. Serves it short this time, around off, Ben goes deep inside the crease and pulls it to deep mid-wicket for a run.

Krunal Pandya to Ben McDermott. Flatter and straighter on middle, defended back to the bowler.

Krunal Pandya to Alex Carey. Full and flighted outside off, Carey walks down the track and drives it through mid off for a run.

False start...

Kuldeep Yadav to Ben McDermott. FOUR! Terrific batting! Full and down the leg side, McDermott sweeps it behind square leg and gets a boundary!

Kuldeep Yadav to Ben McDermott. The batsman has punched the ball off the back foot.

Kuldeep Yadav to Ben McDermott. WIDE. Down the leg side, flick shot missed.

Kuldeep Yadav to Ben McDermott. Outside off, a swing and a miss.

Kuldeep Yadav to Alex Carey. The batsman has swept that one through the leg side. They pick up a single.

Kuldeep Yadav to Alex Carey. Down the leg side, Carey looks to paddle but misses. There is a massive appeal but it is struck down. Did that hit the bat? Nope. Replays show the elbow.

Kuldeep Yadav to Ben McDermott. Full and around off, driven through mid off for a single.

Alex Carey walks in at number 7, replacing Maxwell.

Krunal Pandya to Glenn Maxwell. OUT! BOWLED! Test match over for Maxwell. He was never at home at his home. Full and around off, Maxwell looks to defend but the ball goes straight on, past the willow, brushes his pad and hits the off stump.

Krunal Pandya to Glenn Maxwell. Big LBW shout, but not out. Height, says Pant. Bat, says Krunal. No review taken. Full on middle, Maxi looks to play the reverse sweep but misses and is hit on the pads. Suspect that was glove.

Krunal Pandya to Glenn Maxwell. Short and outside off, punched straight to cover.

Krunal Pandya to Glenn Maxwell. FOUR! This time he gets the paddle right. Full and down the leg side, Maxwell paddles it through fine leg.

Krunal Pandya to Glenn Maxwell. TOP EDGE, SAFE! On middle, Maxwell gets across to paddle but the ball goes off the top edge behind the keeper. Two runs taken.

Krunal Pandya to Glenn Maxwell. On middle, helped through mid-wicket for a couple.

Kuldeep Yadav to Ben McDermott. On the shorter side outside off, McDermott pushes it to covers. Another tight over, just 2 from it.

Kuldeep Yadav to Ben McDermott. Gives it air on middle, Ben tries to work it but closes the bat face a touch early. Gets a soft leading edge to covers.

Kuldeep Yadav to Ben McDermott. On the stumps, it is kept out.

Kuldeep Yadav to Glenn Maxwell. The quicker one on middle, Maxwell strokes it down to long on for another run.

Kuldeep Yadav to Glenn Maxwell. Flatter and on middle, Maxwell punches it back to the bowler.

Kuldeep Yadav to Ben McDermott. Very short again, Ben goes back and works it through square leg for a run. The Australians are happy at the moment to play it around and take the singles.

Krunal Pandya to Glenn Maxwell. A dot to end as Maxwell finds mid-wicket with his shot.

Krunal Pandya to Ben McDermott. Clips it right off the stumps towards deep square leg for a single. Had to get bat on that.

Krunal Pandya to Glenn Maxwell. This is eased down to long off for a run.

Krunal Pandya to Ben McDermott. Shortish again on middle, the batsman tucks it through square leg for another single. 50 up for Australia.

Krunal Pandya to Glenn Maxwell. Gives it air on middle, Maxwell plays it with soft hands towards mid on for a run.

Krunal Pandya to Glenn Maxwell. Fires it down the leg side, Maxwell leaves it alone and it has been wided.

Krunal Pandya to Ben McDermott. Fires it on the pads, Ben flicks it fine down the leg side for a run.

Krunal Pandya is on.

Kuldeep Yadav to Ben McDermott. It is on the pads again, BM works it through square leg for a run.

Kuldeep Yadav to Ben McDermott. The googly on the pads, Ben fails to pick it. He tries to work it around the corner but gets a soft leading edge towards the off side.

Kuldeep Yadav to Glenn Maxwell. Another full toss outside off, Maxwell times it nicely through covers, it is in the gap and the batsmen run three.

Kuldeep Yadav to Glenn Maxwell. Slower through the air on off, it comes even slower off the deck. Maxwell goes back and tries to punch it through the off side but it goes off the inner half towards mid-wicket.

Kuldeep Yadav to Glenn Maxwell. Gets his length right this time. Tosses it up on off, Maxwell defends it.

Kuldeep Yadav to Ben McDermott. A full toss to begin with. Ben does not take full toll of it. He strokes it down to long off for a run.

Kuldeep Yadav is into the attack.

Jasprit Bumrah to Glenn Maxwell. A beauty to end! Angles this into the batsman first and then gets it to leave him late. Maxwell's outside edge is beaten as he tries to defend. A run and a wicket from it. Excellent from Bumrah.

Jasprit Bumrah to Glenn Maxwell. On off again and Maxwell blocks it out.

Jasprit Bumrah to Glenn Maxwell. BEATEN! A loose shot this from Maxwell, it is full and wide outside off. Maxwell goes after it but is beaten.

Ben McDermott strides out to the middle.

Jasprit Bumrah to Marcus Stoinis. OUT! Another one bites the dust! A soft dismissal to be honest and India are all over the Australians here. This is short and outside off, Marcus cuts it but does not keep it down. It goes towards Karthik at sweeper cover who moves to his left and takes an easy catch. One of the saviors from the last game for Australia is walking back without making much of an impact.

Jasprit Bumrah to Marcus Stoinis. Back of a length on middle, Stoinis gets behind the line and blocks it out.

Jasprit Bumrah to Glenn Maxwell. On a length outside off, Maxwell strokes it through covers for a run. This is what they have to do now, work it around, wait for the bad balls and try and build a partnership here.

Khaleel Ahmed to Marcus Stoinis. A dot to end! A wicket and 6 runs from the Powerplay which belongs to India. Australia are 40 for 3. Just ahead of a length outside off, it stays a touch low. Marcus tries to guide it down to third man but is beaten by the low bounce.

Khaleel Ahmed to Marcus Stoinis. FOUR! Full marks to the bowler there but runs for the batsman. Stoinis has to consider himself lucky here. This is slightly short and outside off, Marcus is into the shot a touch early, the ball takes the leading edge and flies over the first slip fielder for a boundary.

Khaleel Ahmed to Marcus Stoinis. A little too wide outside off, Stoinis lets it be.

Khaleel Ahmed to Marcus Stoinis. WIDE! Down the leg side, Stoinis makes a leave. It has been wided.

Marcus Stoinis is the new man in.

Khaleel Ahmed to D'Arcy Short. OUT! Plays it on! Another failure for Short and Australia have lost their third in the Powerplay. They are in big trouble here. Just ahead of a shorter length around off, Short looks to hoick it across the line but the ball does not bounce as he anticipated it to. The ball takes the inside edge and shatters the stumps behind. Khaleel gets his second and the move to give him his third over has really paid off.

Khaleel Ahmed to D'Arcy Short. Hits the length hard around off, Short pushes it towards covers.

Khaleel Ahmed to Glenn Maxwell. A little too straight to start his third. Maxwell flicks it down to fine leg for a single.

Jasprit Bumrah to D'Arcy Short. FOUR! Finds the gap this time and gets the desired result. Full and outside off, Short opens the face of the bat and drives it square on the off side. The ball races away. Good way to end the over for Australia.

Jasprit Bumrah to D'Arcy Short. Tight lines! Attacks the middle pole and the ball skids off after pitching. Short defends it to point.

Jasprit Bumrah to D'Arcy Short. Good fielding! Short and outside off, Short cuts it towards point, the fielder there moves swiftly to his right and saves a few runs for his side.

Jasprit Bumrah to Glenn Maxwell. Goes fuller this time around off, Maxwell strokes it towards mid on for a single.

Jasprit Bumrah to Glenn Maxwell. Top nut! Bumrah bends his back on this one and lands it on a length around off, it takes off after pitching. Maxwell tries to keep it out but is beaten. Pant behind collects it at head height.

Jasprit Bumrah to Glenn Maxwell. Maxwell is off the mark straightaway! He lands it on a length around middle, Maxwell tries to keep it out but gets it off the inner half through square leg for a couple.

Jasprit Bumrah is into the attack.

Khaleel Ahmed to D'Arcy Short. Back of a length around off, Short pushes it to covers. 8 runs and a wicket from Khaleel's second.

Glenn Maxwell comes in now.

Khaleel Ahmed to Chris Lynn. OUT! In the air... taken! Lynn has thrown it away. The dropped catch has not cost India a lot. Khaleel is pumped up and why not, he was taken for a few in the last game and now, gets the big-hitting Lynn. He bowls it full and wide outside off, it is the slower one. Lynn throws his bat at it. He ends up slicing it towards deep point. Pandya there runs in and takes a good catch.

Khaleel Ahmed to Chris Lynn. WIDE! Pressure getting to the bowler here. He bowls it wide outside off and it has been wided.

Khaleel Ahmed to Chris Lynn. FOUR! BRUTE! A gift, a full toss on off, Lynn smashes it over the bowler's head and the ball races away. Lynn is going after everything here.

Khaleel Ahmed to Chris Lynn. Good delivery! Changes the angle and comes from around the wicket. Bowls a yorker outside off, Lynn fails to jam it out.

Khaleel Ahmed to Chris Lynn. WIDE! But a very good bumper! Short and it zips off the surface. Lynn thinks of pulling it but then is beaten by pace. The umpire though signals it as a wide.

Khaleel Ahmed to Chris Lynn. In the air... but safe! There is a fielder in the deep but it is hit away from him. Lynn walks down the track and Khaleel bowls it wide outside off. Chris hits it over covers for a brace.

Khaleel Ahmed to Chris Lynn. Full and outside off, slanting away, Lynn slashes but misses.

Bhuvneshwar Kumar to D'Arcy Short. On the pads, Short works it around the corner on the leg side and takes a couple. 10 from the over and now runs have started to come for the Aussies.

Bhuvneshwar Kumar to Chris Lynn. Fuller in length on off, Lynn strokes it towards mid off for a quick run.

Bhuvneshwar Kumar to Chris Lynn. DROPPED AND SIX! Kumar could have easily had two in this over. Bumrah has misjudged that badly. Lynn goes down on one knee and hits it towards fine leg. Bumrah there comes running in a little, he then realizes the ball is going over his head. He tries to catch it with a leap but the ball bursts through his hands and goes over the ropes. Lynn with a life now, how costly will these drops prove?

Bhuvneshwar Kumar to Chris Lynn. On a length and around middle, it is kept out.

Bhuvneshwar Kumar to Chris Lynn. Swing and a miss! Good length and outside off, Lynn swings blindly but misses.

Bhuvneshwar Kumar to D'Arcy Short. EDGED AND DROPPED! A tough chance but you have seen those been taken. Kumar could have easily had another. Back of a length and it slants away from the batter. Short plays inside the line, the ball takes the outside edge and goes towards first slip. Pant dives full stretch to his left, he does hold onto it but the ball pops out as his elbow hits the ground. The ball rolls wide of first slip and the batsmen take a run. Short gets a reprieve, maybe this is the sort of luck he needed to get back in form.

Khaleel Ahmed to D'Arcy Short. Width on offer again out off, not a lot this time. Short guides it down to third man for a single. Good over for Australia.

Khaleel Ahmed to D'Arcy Short. Once again it is slightly short and there is width on offer, Short this time guides it away from the point fielder and bags a brace.

Khaleel Ahmed to D'Arcy Short. On the shorter side this time outside off, Short fails to middle it and finds the cover-point fielder.

Khaleel Ahmed to D'Arcy Short. FOUR! First runs off the bat for Australia. Short is off the mark in style! Fuller than the last ball and on off, Short strokes it hard towards mid off. Kohli moves to his left and dives to stop it but is not able to do so. It races away to the fence.

Khaleel Ahmed to D'Arcy Short. Two good deliveries to start off. Length again and this time it is closer to the off pole. Short pushes it to mid off.

Khaleel Ahmed to D'Arcy Short. A little shape for him! Pitches it around off and it moves away. Short shoulders arms to it.

Khaleel Ahmed to bowl from the other end. He was expensive in the last game. He would want to bowl well here.

Bhuvneshwar Kumar to Chris Lynn. Yes, he does! Ends with a dot. A wicket and two runs from the first over. This is on middle and it comes back in. Lynn fails to flick and is hit on the pads. An appeal follows but the umpire shakes his head.

Bhuvneshwar Kumar to Chris Lynn. Behind a length and on off, Lynn stands tall and pushes it to covers. A good over till now, can Kumar end it well?

Bhuvneshwar Kumar to Chris Lynn. WIDE! Down the leg side, Lynn misses the flick and it has been wided. So no runs off the bat as of now.

Bhuvneshwar Kumar to Chris Lynn. Good length outside off, Lynn does what maybe Finch should have. Left it alone.

Bhuvneshwar Kumar to Chris Lynn. A good delivery to a new batsman first up. On middle, Lynn goes back and defends it onto the ground.

Chris Lynn is the new man in.

Bhuvneshwar Kumar to Aaron Finch. OUT! EDGED AND TAKEN! India strike on the very second delivery of the game and it is a huge wicket. The Aussie skipper bags a golden duck. The sucker ball does the trick, it is full and very wide outside off, tempting Finch to go for it. Aaron, who wants no sighters, goes after it away from his body. The ball takes the outside edge and Pant takes a catch moving to his right. Ideal start for India after electing to bowl.

Bhuvneshwar Kumar to D'Arcy Short. No swing first up and Australia are underway courtesy a leg bye. It is on the pads, Short tries to flick but misses to get hit on the pads. The ball rolls towards the leg side and the batsmen cross.

We are all set for the action to begin. The Indians are in a huddle as the Australian openers, Aaron Finch and D'Arcy Short, make their way out to the middle. The visitors now make their way out. Bhuvneshwar Kumar will start the proceedings for India. It is slightly overcast out there and it will be interesting to see if there is some swing available for the pacer. A slip in place for him. Here we go...

Australian skipper, Aaron Finch, says they wanted to bowl first. Mentions they now will look to put some runs on the board and put the Indians under pressure. Informs Billy Stanlake is injured so Nathan Coulter-Nile comes in place of him.

Indian skipper, Virat Kohli, says the wicket was under covers and the conditions are overcast and hence, they want to bowl first. Reckons they batted well in the last game but due to the D/L method they fell short. Further adds they need a complete game today. Informs they are unchanged.

TOSS - Up goes the coin and it lands in the favor of India. They will bowl first.

Hello and welcome to the 2nd T20I between Australia and India. A rare win in the previous game from the hosts saw them go 1-0 up in the series. They would now look the take an unassailable lead with a win here today at the MCG. The visitors, on the other hand, will be eager to get back to winning ways. They were sloppy in the first game but one would surely expect a better performance from them here. Will we see India bouncing back or will the Aussies make it 2 out of 2? Stay tuned to find out in what could be another rain-marred day.