Australia seal the series with a convincing win
Australia produced a dominating performance in the 2nd
ODI match played at Sydney Cricket Ground, Sydney on Sunday. With this win,
Australia moves up to the top of the Super League tournament.
Australia captain Aaron Finch won the toss again and decided
to bat first. It was a steady start by Finch and Warner who struggled initially
against Bumrah and Shami. The Australian openers attacked Navdeep Saini making
life tough for the visitors. At the end of the first 10 overs, Australia raced
to 59 for 0.
Warner looked in ominous touch and completed his
half-century off 39 balls. Finch took some to settle before taking on the
Indian bowlers. It was an amazing batting display of batting by the Australian
openers who really showed their class. Finch also completed his fifty off 60
balls. Mohammed Shami provided the breakthrough for India getting Finch with a
leading-edge giving a simple catch to Kohli at extra cover. Australian openers
added 142 runs for the opening wicket.
Warner was looking for a big score but a superb direct throw
by Shreyas Iyer from long-on ended his innings. Steve Smith played with intent
and took the attack to Indian bowlers smashing him to all parts of the ground.
Marnus Labuschagne rotated strike while Smith completed his fifty off just 38
balls.
Hardik Pandya bowled his first over for quite some time with a change of pace. Smith just looked in great touch making life tough for the
Indian bowlers and completed his 2nd successive century off 62
balls. Pandya dismissed Smith giving a simple catch to Shami at short third
man. Smith and Labuschagne added 136 runs for the 3rd wicket.
Maxwell came to the crease and created enough pressure on
the Indian bowlers. Ravindra Jadeja dropped a simple chance of getting rid of Labuschagne.
Labuschagne took the advantage and completed his fifty off 46 balls. Maxwell
was superb with his striking to complete his fifty off just 25 balls. Bumrah dismissed
Labuschagne in the 49th over to end a superb 80 runs for the 4th
wicket. Maxwell hit some lusty blows from Navdeep Saini helping Australia post a
massive total of 389 for 4 in 20 overs.
Chasing a massive total of 390 runs to win, Shikhar Dhawan
and Mayank Agarwal provided a flying start putting the Australian bowlers under
pressure. Dhawan was lucky enough but remained positive with his stroke play.
Hazlewood provided the breakthrough taking top edge giving a simple catch to
Starc. The Indian openers added 58 runs for the opening wicket. Agarwal looked in
decent touch with cracking boundaries but was dismissed by Cummins. At the end
of the first 10 overs, India scored 67 for 2.
Virat Kohli was given out by the umpire and the decision was
overturned as it hit the inside edge. Kohli and Iyer looked in decent touch
putting pressure on Australian bowlers. Iyer struggled initially against pacers
but took the attack to the visitors. The things were looking good for India as
a superb diving catch by Smith ended the innings for Iyer. Iyer and Kohli added
93 runs for the 3rd wicket.
KL Rahul came to the crease and struggled initially with his
timing. Kohli kept on ticking the scoreboard completing his fifty off 53 balls.
Both batsmen showed their class making sure that they are on course for a win.
A superb catch by Moises Henriques ended the innings for Kohli. Kohli and Rahul
added 72 runs for the 4th wicket. Hardik Pandya looked out of sorts
with his timing after hitting a six.
Rahul showed his class and completed his fifty off 52 balls.
With the run rate climbing, both batsmen struggled to hit big shots. Zampa
dismissed the dangerous Rahul trying to hit a big shot. Rahul and Pandya added
63 runs for the 5th wicket.
Hardik Pandya was caught at the boundary but got a reprieve due
to no-ball. Ravindra Jadeja smashed Mitchell Starc for sixes to give some hopes
of winning. Cummins dismissed Jadeja and Pandya off successive deliveries
ending India’s chances. Jadeja and Pandya added 33 runs for the 7th
wicket. Australia won the match by 51 runs.
Australia 389 for 4 in 50 overs ( Smith 104, Warner 83, Maxwell
63*, Shami 1/73) beat India 338 for 9 in 50 overs ( Kohli 89, KL Rahul 76, Pat
Cummins 3/67, Hazlewood 2/59) by 51 runs.
For his superb knock of 104 off 64 balls, Smith was awarded
the man of the match award. Australia seals the 3 match series 2-0. The final
match will be played in Canberra on 2nd December.
Australia seal the series with a 51 runs win in the 2nd ODI at Sydney
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