Updated November 24, 2018 06:11:50

Photo: Nathan Coulter-Nile was called to the Australian team when Billy Stanlake rolled an ankle while warming up. (AAP: Daniel Pockett)

Australia will have to wait for the third game of the Twenty20 to try to take the series against India, after Friday's match was called off due to bad weather.

India needed 137 from 19 overs in the rain-affected second T20 against Australia at the MCG.

Australia postal a total of 7 for 132 with one over left when the driving rain that made for a miserable Melbourne day returned and eventually stopped play.

Ben McDermott top-scored with 32 not out and Andrew Tye made unbeaten 16.

India's target might have needed further adjustment under the DLS method but just as their innings was about to start, the rain returned.

The cold and wet conditions matched the home side's fortunes so far, with Billy Stanlake ruled out when he rolled an ankle during the warm-up.

Then Australia lost the toss and they steadily lost wickets before some late-order resistance.

The conditions were so dismal that Dinesh Karthik wore a beanie in the field.

Nathan Coulter-Nile took Stanlake's place and that was the only change to the two line-ups, after Australia won the opening match of the three-game series earlier this week in Brisbane and broke a four-game T20 losing streak.

Despite the poor weather throughout most of Friday, the match started on time.

The home side made a disastrous start when Aaron Finch tried to drive a wide delivery from Bhuvneshwar Kumar and was caught behind for a golden duck on the second ball of the innings.

The Australian T20 captain has made just 96 runs from his last 10 international innings.

No top-order batsman made it past 20 and when local favourite Glenn Maxwell was bowled for 19, Australia were in dire straits at 5 for 62.

Coulter-Nile belted two sixes in his quickfire 20 as the Australians staged a rearguard action.

Australia were still struggling at 7 for 103 after 17 overs, but Khaleel Ahmed then bled 19 runs, including two fours and a six, in his last over.

Kumar claimed two wickets and Jasprit Bumrah took 1 for 20 from his four overs.

ABC/AAP

Topics: sport, cricket, australia, vic, melbourne-3000, india

First posted November 23, 2018 18:27:47