India beat hosts to wrap up T20I series

Australia

Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli hit half-centuries as India beat Australia by 27 runs in the second T20I in Melbourne on Friday to wrap up the three-match series with a game to spare.

Rohit hit 60 from 47 balls while Kohli scored an unbeaten 59 off just 33 balls, including seven fours and a six, as India posted a formidable total of 184 for three in their 20 overs.

The right-handed Rohit and Shikhar Dhawan put on 97 from 11 overs for the opening partnership to set a solid platform for the visitors to launch in the middle and latter overs.

Batting at number three, Kohli carried on the momentum from the opening stand as he particularly climbed into the bowling of medium-pacer John Hastings, who went for 35 in his three overs.

Seamer Andrew Tye, who was making his international debut for the Aussies, was the home team's best performer with the ball only going for 28 runs in his four overs while taking the wicket of India captain MS Dhoni (14).

Australia got off to a fabulous start in the chase as openers Aaron Finch and Shaun Marsh (23) put 94 in the first 10 overs, before spinner Ravi Ashwin broke the partnership.

Captain Finch went on to hit 74 from 48 balls but when was the fifth man out in the 16th over, Australia's hopes of pulling the series level were virtually none, the Aussies restricted to 157 for eight.

Ashwin finished with figures of one for 27 in four overs while left-arm tweaker Ravi Jadeja captured two for 32 to seal the game, and series, for the Asian side.

The third and final T20I takes place in Sydney on Sunday.

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