Best odds & specials for India vs. Australia in Hyderabad

JASON Behrendorff, take a bow.

Having bowled a single, excellent over on debut in Australia’s loss last weekend, the WA seamer followed up with pure gold as the tourists claimed a much-needed win in the first-ever T20 International game in Guwahati.

He bundled out Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, Manish Pandey and Shikhar Dhawan inside the opening five overs to finish with 4/21 and the man of the match award.

A feature of Behrendorff’s opening spell were the quick inswingers that claimed Rohit and Kohli – a deliberate ploy, the bowler admitted after the game.

“I was really happy with that,” he said.

“Few ones that I got hit to the boundary probably weren’t where I needed to be bowling.

“But then to get the ball up there, swinging the ball, hit guys on the pads and nick blokes off: those are the things we talk about in our meetings. To get the balls in those areas especially up front.”

Australia needed only 119 to win, but there were alarm bells early in the chase when both Aaron Finch and David Warner fell cheaply.

The klaxons were soon quieted, however, as Moises Henriques justified his inclusion at first drop with 62 from 46 balls.

Assisting the New South Wales allrounder was Travis Head, who showed some overdue signs of form en route to an unbeaten 48.

Even after that dominant display, the Aussies are outsiders in the head-to-head markets for this weekend’s decider in Hyderabad.

Online bookmaker Sportsbet.com.au has the visitors paying as much as $2.41 for the win, compared to India’s $1.57 quote.

Moises Henriques betting specials

• Top Australia batsman – $7.50 at Sportsbet
• Top Australia bowler – $10 at Ladbrokes
• Man of the match – $17 at Sportsbet

Henriques is not a fashionable cricketer, particularly in the eyes of Australian fans who reside outside NSW.

While there is a case for saying he has jumped the selection queue in the past, his Twenty20 credentials are hard to ignore.

The guy is a rock year in, year out for the Sydney Sixers in the Big Bash League and has become a valuable commodity in the Indian Premier League as well.

That IPL experience could prove decisive as Australia look to rescue an otherwise disappointing tour with a morale-boosting series win.

Tuesday’s task was not an especially difficult one, but the fact remains that Henriques got the job done without a hint of fuss.

He also has a happy knack of following one big score with another, so do not be surprised if he pops up with another handy knock on Friday night.

India vs. Australia T20 prediction

We saw what happened when Australia headed into the final game of the recent ODI series off the back of a big win.

India struck back with serious venom on that occasion, chasing down 242 within 46 overs as Rohit smashed 125.

The Aussies could be in for similar punishment if that man survives the early overs in Hyderabad.

That said, the tourists should take plenty of heart from the fact they won without big contributions from Finch, Warner, or the absent Steve Smith.

Behrendorff showed the world what everyone who has watched him bowl for Perth Scorchers and WA already knew: when fit and firing, he can hang with the very best of them.

India could easily romp away with it, but all the value is with the Aussies.

Australia to win – $2.41 at Sportsbet.com.au