Dhoni lauds bowlers after T20 series win over Aus

Mahendra Singh Dhoni lavished praise on his bowlers after India beat Australia by 27 runs in the second Twenty20 International at the MCG on Friday to take an unassailable 2-0 lead in the three-match series.


"Spinners did a great job; also Hardik’s (Pandya) over with that wicket (of Chris Lynn) was good.

"Jasprit Bumrah has done well at death bowling. He has bowled yorkers.

"It is your choice if you want to bowl back of a length if the pitch is good, but if you are not bowling yorkers because you can't bowl them, you will go for runs," said Dhoni, at the post-match presentation.

India rode on half-centuries from Rohit Sharma (60) and Virat Kohli (59), and a useful 42 by Shikhar Dhawan, to post a formidable 184 for three before their bowlers came up with a collective effort to rip through Australia's middle order and restrict them to 157-8.

At one stage, Aussie skipper Aaron Finch and Shane Watson were going strong, but Ravindra Jadeja took a stunning reflex return catch to dismiss the latter in the 15th over.

Talking about that catch, Dhoni said: "That Jadeja catch was fantastic. That was a crucial part of the game. No wonder commentators keep saying catches win matches."

He felt the support his team received from the crowd in Melbourne was fantastic.

Rohit, Kohli power India to series win in Melbourne



Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli maintained their prolific form with the bat to give India a series-clinching 27-run victory over Australia in the second Twenty20 International at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on Friday.

Man-of-the-series in India's 4-1 defeat in the One-day internationals that preceded the T20s, Rohit hit a 47-ball 60 and partner Shikhar Dhawan (42) to give the touring side a brisk start.

Put in to bat, India rode their opening stand of 97 to amass 184-3 in their 20 overs, with Kohli providing a late assault in a strong top-order performance with a swashbuckling, unbeaten knock of 59.



Kohli, who smashed an unbeaten 90 in India's 37-run victory in Adelaide on Tuesday, hit seven boundaries and a six during his 33-ball knock.



Australia, who made six changes in the side from their last defeat, also made a strong start, with captain Aaron Finch providing the fireworks.

Finch (74) and Shaun Marsh added 94 for the opening wicket to keep Australia, who handed T20 debuts to three players, in the hunt but India's spinners picked up quick wickets to halt their march.



Finch hit eight fours and two sixes in his 48-ball knock before he was run-out trying to steal a quick single.

India captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni missed a regulation stumping off Marsh but made amends with smart work with the gloves to dismiss dangerman Glenn Maxwell for one off left-arm spinner Yuvraj Singh.

Dhoni was also lucky when the ball ricocheted off his pads to hit the stumps with James Faulkner out of his crease, the dismissal snuffing out Australia's hopes of levelling the series at 1-1.

The hosts could only manage 157-8 in their 20 overs.

Left-arm spinner Ravindra Jadeja and Jasprit Bumrah picked two wickets.

The final match of the series is in Sydney on Sunday.

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