Aussies lose T20 series, Finch hurt

Australia have many questions to answer ahead of the Twenty20 World Cup, with Aaron Finch tweaking his hamstring in a 27-run loss to India.

Shane Watson leaves the field after being caught out

Australia have questions to answer ahead of the T20 World Cup, with India beating them by 27 runs. (AAP)

Australia crashed to a Twenty20 series loss to India on Friday night, when skipper Aaron Finch tweaked his hamstring in a 27-run defeat.

Finch hobbled off the MCG after being run out on 74, with his side finishing 8-157 in response to India's record 3-184.

The 29-year-old, who underwent hamstring surgery in 2015, was furious after pulling up lame and short of his ground in the 16th over.

"He hurt his right hamstring when he was batting. Unfortunately that last little bit, the last run-out stirred it up a little bit more," Shane Watson said.

"He's getting assessed at the moment. Fingers crossed it's not too bad.

"He's definitely done some form of damage .. I don't know the extent.

"It's at least a week or so out.

"It's very unfortunate for him. He's hitting the ball very nicely."

Finch is set to miss the ODI tour of New Zealand that starts next week, with Usman Khawaja likely to be called up in his place.

If it is a serious setback for the opener he could be racing the clock to be fit for the T20 World Cup, which starts in seven weeks and is being hosted by India.

Australia made six changes to their XI but Shikhar Dhawan, Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli continued to pummel an understrength attack after being asked to bat first by Finch.

India's total set a new venue record, surpassing the 9-182 that Australia managed when David Warner debuted in 2009.

Finch and Shaun Marsh shared a 94-run opening stand to give their side hope before a game-changing collapse of 3-7.

It means Sunday's SCG series finale will be a dead rubber, with India having enjoyed a 37-run win in Adelaide.

Finch was reprieved on 62, 64 and 67 - including a sitter that somehow slipped through Dhawan's hands in the deep.

MS Dhoni simply had too many runs to play with, much to the delight of the many Indian fans in a vocal crowd of 58,787.

It was a similar story on Australia Day, when Kohli's 90 helped India power to 3-188 in their 20 overs.

Bowling looms as Australia's biggest concern at the T20 World Cup.

Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood, James Pattinson, Pat Cummins and Nathan Coulter-Nile headline the Australian pacemen on the sidelines.

It showed in Melbourne.

Dhawan and Sharma managed 12 runs from the opening three overs but added 32 in the next two, attacking John Hastings and James Faulkner with great success.

Nathan Lyon, on T20 debut after being called up in place of legspinner Cameron Boyce, also copped some treatment in the 97-run opening stand.

Lyon's first over went for 15 runs, with the lowlight a high full toss that was no-balled.

The Test offspinner didn't get another chance to bowl, while Hastings and Faulkner logged final figures of 0-35 each from their respective three overs.

Dhawan was caught on 42 attempting to reverse-sweep Glenn Maxwell, while Sharma was run out for 60 after ending up at the same end as Kohli.

Neither dismissal curbed India's momentum, with Kohli's unbeaten 59 coming from 33 balls.

"I love coming to Australia and batting on these wickets," Kohli said after being named man of the match.


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Source: AAP



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