Australia has now recorded an unassailable lead in the Australian Tour over India after winning the second ODI by 51 runs.
The hosts buried to build an unassailable 2-0 series lead, all thanks to great performance from Steve Smith. The Batsman produced another master-class recording a 64-ball 104 on Sunday.
Australian batted first and then rode on five fifty-plus scores, which include Smith’s blazing knock. The then wrap up their inning with an imposing 389 for four against a sluggish Indian side.
The Australian run-machine has therefore recorded his fifth century against India in the 50-over format. He had earlier recorded another half-century from 666 deliveries in the series-opener, making it two consecutive achievements.
India couldn’t surmount a target of 390 as it proved to be too much for them. They were only able to 338 for nine. The team’s captain Virat Kohli (89), who blamed their loss on unimpressive showing from the bowling department, and KL Rahul (76) finished as their main contributors.
In what later turned out to be another forgettable outing for India, they started the big chase with the in-form Shikhar Dhawan (30) and Mayank Agarwal (28) with boundaries from the onset.
Agarwal got the Indan innings going, having found the fence twice in the first over. Dhawan on his part struck Mitchell Starc for three successive fours as well. Argwal’s magnificent cover drive took the visitors past 50 in 6.1 overs. However, he was eliminated while trying to go for one too many boundaries.
Kohli then came in to play some delightful shots on the way to his 87-ball innings, giving the visitors hope as India kept the required rate within 9-10 runs per over.
But the hosts got a breakthrough from pacer Josh Hazlewood after he caught Kohli brilliantly by a diving Moises Henriques at midwicket.
Hardik Pandya came in the middle to partner KL Rahul. Despite playing some big shots, they couldn’t get enough. Rahul was next to leave the field after scoring five sixes and four boundaries in his 66-ball knock. After his departure, India capitulated.
Written by: Oladipupo Mojeed
