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28 March 2024

2nd ODI: Rohit ton in vain again as Australia win

Published
By Cricket Correspondent and Agencies

India's Rohit Sharma burnished his reputation in limited-overs cricket with a second successive century but could not stop Australia from winning the second one-dayer by seven wickets on Friday to consolidate their lead in the series.

For the second time in three days, India rode Rohit's elegant century to post a 300-plus total before watching George Bailey help the hosts mount a clinical chase to put Australia 2-0 up in the five-match series.

Rohit showed the kind of form he is in, hitting a sparkling 124 and featuring in century stands with test skipper Virat Kohli (59) and the selfless Ajinkya Rahane (89) to help India post 308-8.

Yet, the satisfaction of a team victory eluded him as Bailey (76 not out) saw Australia home after Aaron Finch and Shaun Marsh had given the hosts a 145-run opening stand.

Mahendra Singh Dhoni opted to bat after winning his second toss of the series and opener Shikhar Dhawan again fell cheaply to pace with Joel Paris claiming his first ODI wicket in his second match.

Rohit and Kohli were once more left to rebuild the innings, which they did with some elegant shot-making.

The duo, who had forged a 207-run stand in India's five-wicket defeat at the WACA, added 125 before Kohli paid the price for attempting to steal a non-existent second run.

Rohit was lucky to reach his 10th ODI century, after snickometer confirmed he, then on 89, had edged Paris but Australia's caught-behind appeal was turned down by the umpire.

Rahane proved a perfect foil for Rohit, shunning risks and still finding the ropes to bring up a run-a-ball fifty in their 121-run stand when boundaries flowed from both ends.

Rohit's 127-ball knock ended in bizarre circumstances when Rahane's straight drive brushed bowler James Faulkner's fingers before hitting the stumps with the non-striker out of his crease.

After stemming the tourists' run flow in the last 10 overs, Australia returned for a strong start to their chase with Finch and Marsh denying India an early breakthrough with some fluent yet risk-free batting.

To make things worse, Ishant Sharma dropped Marsh when the batsman was 19.

Australia's opening pair eventually fell in quick succession after identical knocks of 71, but Bailey added 78 runs with skipper Steven Smith (46) and George Maxwell (26 not out) hit the winning run to complete the chase with one over to spare.

Bailey followed his 112 in Perth with a 58-ball knock that included six boundaries and a six.

Melbourne hosts the third match on Sunday.
 
Australia beat India by seven wickets in the second one-day international at Brisbane on Friday to take a 2-0 lead in the series.

Bailey completes his half century by smashing Sran into the stands as Australia just about a run a ball. Aus 271-3, 44 overs.

Yadav strikes at a crucial time removing skipper Smith who is castled. Aus 244-3, 40.5 overs.

Steven Smith b Yadav 46 (47b 4x4)

Sharma is rewarded with the dismissal of Marsh. Aus 166-2, 29.5 overs.

Shaun Marsh c Kohli b I Sharma 71 (84b 5x4)

India finally get a breakthrough as Rahane take a brilliant catch in the deep. Aus 145-1, 24.5 overs.

Aaron Finch c Rahane b Jadeja 71 (81b 7x4 1x6)

Jadeja comes into the attack and is despatched to the ropes on three occasions. Aus 135-0, 23 overs.

Finch completes his half century by slamming a boundary and six off Yadav. Aus 109-0, 21 overs.

Marsh slams a couple of boundaries off Yadav as Australia are in cruise control. Aus 79-0, 17 overs.

Steady start by Australia with the openers making 40 without loss in 10 overs.

Finch slams Sran for a couple of boundaries as Australia begin chasing 309. Aus 9-0, 1 overs.

India innings

Australia have restricted India to 308-8 despite a superb century from Rohit Sharma (124) and half centuries from Virat Kohli (59) and Ajinkya Rahane (89).

Ravindra Jadeja run out 5 (5b)

Rahane and Pandey fall in the penultimate over as India try to step up the tempo. Ind 302-6, 49 overs.

Manish Pandey c Paris b Faulkner 6 (5b 1x4)

Ajinkya Rahane c Smith b Faulkner 89 (80b 6x4 1x6)

Dhoni departs whacking Boland straight to long on. Ind 276-4, 46 overs.

MS Dhoni c Maxwell b Boland 11 (10b)

Lucky break for Australia as Rohit's wonderful innings comes to an end being run out off a deflection from Pattinson. Ind 255-3, 42.2 overs.

Rohit Sharma run out 124 (127b 11x4 3x6)

Rahane completes his half century off 51 balls with a couple. Ind 239-2, 41 overs.

Rahane slams two consecutive boundaries off Richardson. Ind 233-2, 40 overs.

Rohit dabs Paris to third man for a single to complete back-to-back centuries off 112 balls. Ind 204-2, 37 overs

Rahane dances down the tracks and smacks Paris to the midwicket boundary.

Rohit survives a confident appeal for a caught behind off Paris on 89 with television replays suggesting he had got a nick. Ind 173-2, 31 overs.

India are perfectly poised at the halfway despite the loss of Kohli after a 125-run stand with Rohit. Ind 142-2, 25 overs.

Australia get a breakthrough as Kohli fails to beat the throw from Richardson turning back for a second despite some hesitation from Rohit. Ind 134-2, 23.5 overs.

Virat Kohli run out 59 (67b 4x4)

Big over for India as Richardson goes for 15 with Rohit turning it on smacking a couple of sixes over midwicket and straight over the bowler's head. Ind 125-1, 23 overs.

Kohli cracks Faulkner through the covers for a boundary to bring up his half century off 60 balls and also the century partnership with Rohit. Ind 110-1, 22 overs.

Rohit completes his half off 61 balls to continue his prolific form. Ind 97-1, 19 overs.

Kohli gets going sweeping Maxwell for a boundary. Ind 92-1, 18 overs.

Faulkner comes into the attack and Rohit greets him by pulling a bouncer to the square leg fence. Ind 82-1, 17 overs.

Rohit has a scare after driving Maxwell just short of the fielder at point inside the circle. Ind 74-1, 16 overs.

Spin introduced as Maxwell comes into the attack and Rohit paddle sweeps him to fine leg for a boundary. Ind 69-1, 14 overs.

Rohit punches Boland through the covers for a delightful boundary to bring up the 50 of the innings. Ind 53-1, 11 overs.

Australia have pegged back India in the Powerplay overs which produced only four boundaries and a six for the loss of Dhawan. Ind 47-1, 10 overs.

Rohit smashes Richardson through point for another boundary before flicking off a top edge for an extraordinary six over fine leg. Ind 34-1, 6 overs.

Rohit gets his first boundary by cracking Richardson uppishly through point. Ind 19-1, 4 overs.

Dhawan gets the first boundary of the match but is caught behind next ball to hand Paris his first wicket in international cricket. Ind 9-1. 2.2 overs.

WICKET! Shikhar Dhawan c Wade b Paris 6 (4b 1x4)

Richardson opens with a maiden to Sharma in the second over.

India have won the toss and elected to bat first in the second ODI at Brisbane on Friday.

Australia: SE Marsh, AJ Finch, SPD Smith, GJ Bailey, GJ Maxwell, MS Wade, JP Faulkner, KW Richardson, JW Hastings, JS Paris, SM Boland

India: S Dhawan, RG Sharma, V Kohli, AM Rahane, MK Pandey, MS Dhoni, RA Jadeja, R Ashwin, I Sharma, UT Yadav, BB Sran

Preview

Another 300-plus run pitch was likely for the second one-day international against India in Brisbane, Australia all-rounder James Faulkner said Thursday.

The Australians comfortably ran down India's 309 for three to win the opening ODI in Perth by five wickets on Tuesday and Faulkner said to expect the same flow of runs at the Gabba on Friday.

"Everyone was quite surprised by the way the wicket played in Perth, it was very flat and we saw a lot of runs scored," Faulkner told reporters.

"I think any time you see 300 runs scored and chased it's definitely a flat wicket.

"I'm expecting the same sort of scenario here as well, I haven't seen a one-day wicket that hasn't been flat here for a fair while, so it should have good pace, carry and be a good contest again.

"In general it's a tough gig bowling in Perth and here.

"Runs can be scored so fast due to the pace on the ball. Everyone got hit the other day so I don't think you can single out one or two bowlers."

Indian opener Rohit Sharma scored an unbeaten 171 in his team's innings in Perth, but Steve Smith and George Bailey both scored centuries to get Australia home on a lifeless WACA pitch in the ODI series opener.

"Every time you go onto the ground you try to entertain, I don't think you specifically go out there and think 'I want to put on a show', it's more worrying about what you can do to contribute to the team," Faulkner said.

"The revolution in T20 cricket and how successful the Big Bash League has been this season with the crowd numbers that have attended and also on TV, it's only going to get bigger.

"It's an exciting time for cricket in general, you're seeing a lot more high scores in the one-day format as well. That's entertaining enough."

Rohit Sharma said there were no safe scores in ODI cricket in the modern era.

"When you bat first you actually don't know what is a defendable score. You get 340 and again it is not a safe score anymore," Sharma told reporters.

"When we were batting in the middle (in Perth) the idea was to capitalise and bat as long as possible, considering we have got a couple of newcomers in the middle order.

"The top three batsmen - myself, Virat Kohli and Shikhar Dhawan - it is a big responsibility to bat as long as possible.

"So I think 309 was a pretty good score on that track but as Australia batted really well and if you don't take wickets in the middle of the innings it is always going to be difficult especially here in Australia," he added.