The Indian team levelled the 3 match ODI series with a 36 runs win over Australia in the 2nd One day international match played at SCA Stadium, Rajkot on Friday.
Australian captain Aaron Finch won the toss and decided to field first. Shikhar Dhawan looked in brilliant form right from word go putting pressure on Starc and Pat Cummins. Rohit Sharma showed his class with proper shots. At the end of 10 overs, India were 55 for 0.
After the power play overs, Dhawan and Rohit made the batting look easy. After hitting a boundary off Adam Zampa bowling, Rohit tried to hit a another four but was dismissed for 42. The Indian openers added 81 runs in 13.3 overs. The Indian captain Kohli came at number 3 position and rotated the strike well. Shikhar reached his fifty off 60 balls and then attacked Ashton Agar which made the Australian think. Kohli played sensibly taking singles and hitting boundaries. Kane Richardson struck to dismiss the dangerous Dhawan for well made 96. Dhawan and Kohli added 103 runs for the 2nd wicket.
Shreyas Iyer who came at number 4 was tentative and was dismissed by Adam Zampa trying to hit a big shot. KL Rahul looked in great touch coming at number 5 and made the batting look easy. On the other hand, Kohli completed his half-century off 50 balls. Rahul impressed with his stroke making against all Australian bowlers. Zampa dismissed Kohli for the 5th time with a good catch by Starc. Kohli and Rahul added 78 runs for the 4th wicket.
Manish Pandey who came into the side scored just 2 runs. KL Rahul completed his fifty off just 38 balls and added 58 runs for the 6th wicket. Rahul was dismissed in the final over. India posted 340 for 6 in 50 overs.
Chasing 341 runs to win, David Warner and Aaron Finch struggled against the Indian pacers. Mohammed Shami produced the breakthrough for India getting the wicket of Warner with a stunning one-handed catch by Manish Pandey. The Indian bowlers kept it tight not allowing Finch and Smith to score runs easily. At the end of 10 overs, Australia were 55 for 1.
After the power play overs, Ravindra Jadeja dismissed Finch with a great stumping by KL Rahul. Finch and Smith added 62 runs for the 2nd wicket. Marnus Labuschagne playing his first ODI in Indian soil looked composed with his stroke play and took on Indian bowlers. Smith showed his class with attacking stroke play to reach his fifty off 47 balls. Labuschagne and Smith rotated the strike well to leave Australia in a good position. Ravindra Jadeja produced the breakthrough dismissing Labuschagne for 46. Labuschagne and Smith added 96 runs for the 3rd wicket. Kuldeep Yadav was bought into the attack in the 38th over and changed the game around with wickets of Carey and well-set Steve Smith.
Mohammed Shami, Navdeep Saini and Jasprit Bumrah bowled brilliantly in death overs. Shami dismissed Ashton Turner and Pat Cummins off successive deliveries. Kane Richardson hit 24 off 11 balls and remained not out. India bowled out Australia for 304 in 49.1 overs.
India 340 for 6 in 50 overs (Shikhar Dhawan 96, KL Rahul 80, Virat Kohli 77, Adam Zampa 3/50) beat Australia 304 in 49.1 overs ( Steve Smith 98, Labuschagne 46, Mohammed Shami 3/77, Kuldeep Yadav 2/65) by 36 runs.
The third and deciding ODI will be played on 19th January at M Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bangalore.
