India beat Australia in the 2nd ODI at Adelaide today to level the series before the ultimate encounter at Melbourne on Friday. With a scintillating Century, Captain Virat Kohli drove his team home proving his mastery in the job of chasing a target. Dhoni contributed 55 of 54 balls and lived through till they crossed the finishing line. Dhoni’s innings was a much -awaited one both for his team and for himself.
Sikhar Dhawan and Rohit Sharma, in the pursuit of 299, gave India a good start of 47 runs before the former departed leaving his opening partner play another significant inning with Virat Kohli for the second wicket. The duo made 66 runs among themselves. Rohit miscued a Marcus Stioni delivery only to be out caught at
Virat played a circumspective inning being at the driver’s seat but a concentration- lapse immediately after a drink break in the 44th over cost his wicket. By then he had scored his 39th ODI century and had structured the mainstay of the innings with Dhoni. Rayudu had scored 24 runs in a partnership of 69 runs with Kohli, before that crucial Kohli- Dhoni innings.
Kartik joined Dhoni and they finished the innings in style with 4 more balls to go.
Earlier, Shaun Marsh scored 131, his 7th ODI ton, and the host could post a challenging total of 289. Maxwell’s quickfire 48 of 37 was the important contribution that accelerated the scoreboard. There was a time in the mid-40s of the innings when the host team was heading for 320 or 325. But accurate bowling by Bhubaneswar (4-45) and Shami (3-56) put the brake on the speed and checked them at under-300.
Indian pace pair Bhubaneswar and Shami with their accurate bowling made the Australian pair’s job difficult. Both claimed a wicket each in their first spell.
Marsh took the charge when they were 26-2 and stabled the innings with the help of Khwaja, Stoinis in the middle overs and later with Maxwell till the flurry of wicket fell in the last two overs.
Sairaj did not have a good debut match; he conceded 66 runs with a reward. A quick run out by Jadeja to remove Khwaja and Dhoni’s glove work to do away with Stoinis are two catchy moments in the first half of the encounter at Adelaide.
Kohli was adjudged Man of the Match
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