'Clearly bounced': Controversy erupts in Australia's win over India
Indian fans have been left fuming after Australia’s historic win in the second T20.
Glenn Maxwell blasted an unbeaten century in Bangalore to deliver Australia their first limited-overs series win in over a year.
Maxwell, having also top-scored in the tour opener at Vizag, continued his hot form with an astonishing array of sweetly-timed sixes, funky footwork, classical boundaries and audacious strokes to finish 113 not out from 55 deliveries.
The wonderful knock saw Australia chase down India’s total of 190 in the final over of the match.
However the match wasn’t without controversy.
Marcus Stoinis claimed a contentious catch early in India’s innings, with the third umpire failing to find conclusive evidence to overturn the on-field decision of out.
Aussie legend Matthew Hayden believed Stoinis’ fingers were underneath the ball.
“That’s a clean catch I feel,” Hayden said.
“The more times you look at it the less convinced you are.
“The fielder knows that’s out.”
However replays appeared to show the ball hitting the grass slightly before going into Stoinis’ hands, and India fans were left fuming that Shikhar Dhawan was forced to depart.
Clearly not OUT… grounded first.. By Stoinis… NOT OUT… #INDvAUS
— anup mahapatra❗ (@am_i_anup) February 27, 2019
@BCCI why the hell this Anil Chaudhary is always there in India's matches at home. Always give a suspected decision. Was there any lens in his eyes when Stoinis claimed that catch..?? Every time he comes to ground looks like a गंवार…
— Abhay Guleria (@AbhayGuleria9) February 27, 2019
It’s clear in replay that ball bounced inches before his fingers. Unfortunate incident.
— Virendra Bhalla (@virenbhalla) February 27, 2019
That certainly dropped before he grabbed the catch. Crazy.
— Dr. Pradip (@repubindia) February 27, 2019
You really need to have vision issues if you give that out… Sorry but the ball clearly bounced….
— Pankaj Bhalani (@pankajbhalani) February 27, 2019
It was not out
— Swapnanil Das (@SwapnanilDas14) February 27, 2019
I think 3rd umpire nithin menon forgot his specs. Please sponsor a specs to save all other india and aussy 18 wickets 😊😊
— karthikeyan v (@usakarthi) February 27, 2019
Very poor decision made by third umpire. Dhawan was not out and the confidence of Stoinis. #shame
— Wricky Jr Yepthomii (@WrickyYepthomii) February 27, 2019
@BCCI @ICC Umpire Nitin Menon should be out of International Umpires panel. In 2nd T20 It was very clear that Dhawan was not out as the ball touched the ground before going into d hands of Stoinis. Please reply. This is totally immatured umpiring.
— Soumendra k Dhal (@Soumendraodisha) February 27, 2019
Maxwell makes history
It was going to take something special to top Virat Kohli’s masterful unbeaten 72 off 38 balls, which had piloted India to an imposing total of 4-190.
Maxwell duly delivered.
The innovative batsman entered the fray at 2-22 then smacked nine sixes and seven fours as his team wrapped up a seven-wicket win in 19.4 overs.
The right-hander put on a 73-run stand with D’Arcy Short, who also backed up his promising performance in the first T20 with a polished 40, then sealed the deal alongside Peter Handscomb to make all sorts of history.
Maxwell became the first Australian to register three international T20 centuries, reaching three figures in the penultimate over but holding off on celebrations until victory was assured.
The result, coming after Pat Cummins’ last-ball heroics in Vizag, meant Australia won their first T20 series over India.
It was also Australia’s first limited-overs series triumph since February 21 last year, when caretaker captain David Warner celebrated a T20 tri-series title in Auckland.
“Tonight means a lot to all of us,” Maxwell said.
“We haven’t had a lot of success over the last 9-10 months.
“It’s a tough place to come … they’re different conditions to back home.
“Winning momentum is really good momentum, so if we can keep that going towards a World Cup it’s only going to hold us in good stead.”
The rivals’ five-match ODI series, which starts on Saturday, will hold more pointers regarding their World Cup plans and prospects.
with AAP
