India beats Australia by 44 runs to take a 2-0 lead in Twenty20 cricket series

1 of 9 |

Australia’s captain Matthew Wade, right, looks on as India players celebrate after Australia lost their second T20 cricket match against India in Thiruvananthapuram, India, Sunday, Nov. 26, 2023. (AP Photo/Aijaz Rahi)

2 of 9 |

India’s Yashasvi Jaiswal plays a shot during the second T20 cricket match between India and Australia in Thiruvananthapuram, India, Sunday, Nov. 26, 2023. (AP Photo/Aijaz Rahi)

3 of 9 |

India’s Prasidh Krishna, left, celebrates with captain Suryakumar Yadav the wicket of Australia’s Nathan Ellis during the second T20 cricket match between India and Australia in Thiruvananthapuram, India, Sunday, Nov. 26, 2023. (AP Photo/Aijaz Rahi)

4 of 9 |

India’s Ishan Kishan loses his balance while playing a shot during the second T20 cricket match between India and Australia in Thiruvananthapuram, India, Sunday, Nov. 26, 2023. (AP Photo/Aijaz Rahi)

5 of 9 |

Australia players walk out on to the field at the start of the second T20 cricket match between India and Australia in Thiruvananthapuram, India, Sunday, Nov. 26, 2023. (AP Photo/Aijaz Rahi)

6 of 9 |

Australia’s Josh Inglis dives to field the ball unsuccessfully during the second T20 cricket match between India and Australia in Thiruvananthapuram, India, Sunday, Nov. 26, 2023. (AP Photo/Aijaz Rahi)

7 of 9 |

Australia’s captain Matthew Wade bats during the second T20 cricket match between India and Australia in Thiruvananthapuram, India, Sunday, Nov. 26, 2023. (AP Photo/Aijaz Rahi)

8 of 9 |

Australia’s Marcus Stoinis bats during the second T20 cricket match between India and Australia in Thiruvananthapuram, India, Sunday, Nov. 26, 2023. (AP Photo/Aijaz Rahi)

9 of 9 |

Australia’s Steve Smith plays a shot during the second T20 cricket match between India and Australia in Thiruvananthapuram, India, Sunday, Nov. 26, 2023. (AP Photo/Aijaz Rahi)

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM, India (AP) — Wrist spinner Ravi Bishnoi took 3-32 to bowl India to a 44-run victory over Australia in their second Twenty20 cricket international on Sunday and give the hosts a 2-0 lead in the five-match series.

The top-three batters scored half-centuries to propel India to 235-4, its highest score in T20s against Australia.

Opener Yashasvi Jaiswal led the way at Thiruvananthapuram with 53 off 25 balls, while Ruturaj Gaikwad and Ishan Kishan scored 58 and 52, respectively.

In reply, Australia finished on 191-9 in 20 overs. Pacer Prasidh Krishna took 3-41 in four overs.

Other news

Khurram Shahzad, left, of Pakistan celebrates after taking the wicket of Australia's Steve Smith, right, on the fourth day of the first cricket test between Australia and Pakistan in Perth, Australia, Sunday, Dec. 17, 2023. (Richard Wainwright/AAP Image via AP)

Pakistan fast bowler Khurram Shahzad out of remainder of Australia test series with rib injury

West Indies' Jason Holder celebrates the dismissal of England's captain Jos Buttler during the fourth T20 cricket match at Brian Lara Stadium in Tarouba, Trinidad and Tobago, Tuesday, Dec. 19, 2023. (AP Photo/Ricardo Mazalan)

Seven newcomers in 15-man West Indies squad to play two test matches in Australia

England's Phil Salt celebrates after he scored a century against West Indies during the fourth T20 cricket match at Brian Lara Stadium in Tarouba, Trinidad and Tobago, Tuesday, Dec. 19, 2023. (AP Photo/Ricardo Mazalan)

Salt’s second T20 hundred levels series for England in Caribbean

Marcus Stoinis top-scored for Australia with 45 off 25 balls, but couldn’t take his side anywhere near the target.

Australia captain Matthew Wade opted to bowl first after winning the toss.

India won the first T20 in Visakhapatnam by two wickets.

Australia made two changes with World Cup winners Glenn Maxwell and Adam Zampa included after resting in the previous game, which was played just four days Australia beat India in the Cricket World Cup final.

India fielded an unchanged side.

Put into bat, Jaiswal and Gaikwad made good use of the conditions by adding 77 off 35 balls for the first wicket.

Jaiswal scored 50 off 24, smashing nine fours and two sixes along the way. He was out caught in the sixth over with India way ahead of the curve. His dismissal didn’t bring any respite as Kishan added 87 with Gaikwad for the second wicket on his way to a 29-ball half-century.

It was his second successive fifty in the series.

Kishan hit three fours and four sixes, while Gaikwad struck three fours and two sixes.

Nathan Ellis finished with 3-45 in four overs, dismissing both openers as well as stand-in skipper Suryakumar Yadav (19).

India was well placed at 189-3 when Yadav was out, before Rinku Singh smacked 31 not out off only nine balls – hitting four fours and two sixes at a strike-rate of 344.44.

Australia’s chase never really took off. Openers Steve Smith and Matthew Short both contributed 19 runs, before Bishnoi got the breakthrough by bowling Short. He then sent back Josh Inglis – the previous game’s centurion was caught for only two.

Another big moment came when Glenn Maxwell holed out off Axar Patel for 12 runs. Prasidh Krishna picked the first of his three wickets to send back Smith, as Australia found itself 58-4 in 7.2 overs.

Stoinis and Tim David (37) added 81 for the fifth wicket before David was out caught off Bishnoi. An over later, Stoinis was also out caught.

Wade hit an undefeated 23-ball 42 and added 36 for the 10th wicket with Tanveer Sangha (2 not out).

The third T20 game is on Tuesday at Guwahati.

___

AP cricket: https://apnews.com/hub/cricket