AUS vs IND: 2nd ODI Review – Hosts go up 2-0 with another commanding win

It was the action replay of the first ODI with the only difference being India and Australia scoring more runs with the bat. With their second win on the trot at the Sydney Cricket Ground, the Aussies have already sealed the three-match series.

The second ODI started with Aaron Finch winning the toss and batting first. Finch and David Warner started the innings on a positive note with the latter taking the charge early. The duo added 142 runs in less than 23 overs. As it happened in the first ODI, there was no respite for India at all after Finch’s dismissal with Steve Smith repeating his heroics from the first game. He took on the opposition bowling nonchalantly. Even though Warner got run-out after scoring 83, Australia’s run-rate never came down.

Superman Smith

Smith continued his good form and once again slammed a 62-ball ton while Marnus Labuschagne made the most of the opportunity scoring 70. But it was Glenn Maxwell’s innings that made the difference, as he scored 63 off 29 balls with four sixes and as many fours. Australia, courtesy of five 50+ scores from the top order, posted a mammoth 389 in their 50 overs.

India started briskly again in the chase courtesy their openers Shikhar Dhawan and Mayank Agarwal. But the duo could not convert their starts. At 60/2, India needed to rebuild the innings and Virat Kohli, along with Shreyas Iyer, did just that. However, the required rate kept creeping up and the pressure got to the visitors. Once that partnership was broken, Australia were always ahead in the game despite India fighting till the end. Kohli played a sublime knock of 89 runs while KL Rahul also scored a half-century. But the target was a little too much for India who could only reach 338 runs to fall short by 51 runs.

Turning Points:

Virat Kohli’s wicket – The Indian captain is rated highly in Australia and his record in the country is a reason for that. The man was determined on the day to take India home. After taking his time early in the innings, Kohli was looking ominous for Australia. He had started to play eye-catching flicks and slowly but steadily, the visitors were coming back in the game. The hopes of Kohli getting to his 44th ODI ton also increased.

But Josh Hazlewood once again got him to play a pull shot in the 35th over and Moises Henriques pulled off a stunning catch at mid-wicket to hurt India. This wicket dashed India’s hopes majorly and they could never really recover and eventually fell short.

Cummins’ double blow – With Hardik Pandya and Ravindra Jadeja in the lower middle order, no opposition can rule the Indian team out of the game. Which is why Pat Cummins’ two-wicket over turned out to be the final nail in the coffin. The Aussie pacer got rid of both batsmen who were just finding their groove. Once they were back in the hut, it was all but over for India.

Personal Milestone/Records

• Virat Kohli completed 22,000 international runs in this game
• 389 is now Australia’s highest total against India in ODIs

Way Forward

The third and final ODI of the series will be played on Wednesday (December 2). While Australia will look to whitewash India, the visitors will be keen on getting off the mark in World Cup Super League with a win.