Australia registered a convincing four-wicket victory in the second T20I at the iconic Melbourne Cricket Ground, the series moves to Hobart, with the action taking place at the picturesque Ninja Stadium, known more commonly as Bellerive Oval. India will try to get back into this five-match series, while Australia will look to set a tighter grip with the hosts currently leading 1-0 – courtesy of a rain-hit opener in Canberra.
In return, India’s batting collapsed to mere 125 all out inside 19 overs at the MCG. An fighting 68 by Abhishek Sharma and gritty 35 by Harshit Rana were of little help as visitors succumbed before Josh Hazlewood’s incisive spell of 3/13. In reply, Mitchell Marsh and Travis Head made light work of the chase as Australia reached home with 40 balls to spare.
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AUS vs IND, 3rd T20I: Pitch Report
There is a decent contest between bat and ball on the surface at Bellerive Oval. Seamers enjoy swing and seam, especially early in the innings with the presence of cloud in the environs. However, gradually, the pitch settles down, and batting becomes a lot more accessible as the line can be played out with greater confidence by batters. The average first-innings score here hovers around 158–160, suggesting a track that rewards patience and timing over raw power.
While the bounce stays true, the ball can often grip a little as the game progresses, so proper shot selection is important. Off-spinners usually find it hard to get good turn, while pacers with decent variations – cutters, slower balls, and back-of-the-hand varieties – are considerably more successful during the middle and death overs.
AUS vs IND, 3rd T20I: Weather Forecast
The forecast for Hobart is promising comfortable playing conditions at 11°C-20°C on match day. There might be some cloudiness in the morning, but it should clear up by the evening. Humidity around 60-65 percent also promises mild swing. The rain percentage is low, and it should be a full 40-over-a-side encounter. The possibility of dew could be high later in the game, thereby causing problems for bowlers, and particularly spinners, to get a good grip on the ball.
AUS vs IND, 3rd T20I: Toss Strategy
Captains winning the toss might fancy batting first, keeping in mind that the pitch might get a bit slower under lights, making stroke play tricky in the second innings. Considering dew might play a part, a total of 170+ would be a good score to post. Still, confident chasing teams would always like to bowl first and bank on early movement to make early inroads.
