India vs Australia, 2nd ODI: As it happened...
Batting first, India set Australia a 253-run target with skipper Virat Kohli scoring 92. Then, bowlers dismissed Australia for 202 runs to set up a 50-run win. Kuldeep Yadav was the star for his hat-trick.
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New Delhi: An all-round Indian cricket team made short work of Australian challenge in the second match of the ODI series at Eden Gardens on Thursday. Batting first, India set Australia a 253-run target with skipper Virat Kohli scoring 92. Then, bowlers dismissed Australia for 202 runs to set up a 50-run win. Kuldeep Yadav was the star for his hat-trick. India now take 2-0 lead in the five-match series. ( Scorecard | Match Report)
Virat Kohli and Kuldeep Yadav were the stand-out performers today, but it was a complete team-work for India. In the absence of regular opener Shikhar Dhawan, Ajinkya Rahane stepped up and played one pivotal knock. His second-wicket stand with skipper Kohli helped India target a big total, even though it didn't materliazed.
Defending a par score, Indian bowlers took the bull by the horns and tamed the Aussies in a ground where the visitors have never tasted defeat. Kuldeep Yadav became the first Indian spinner to take a hat-trick, and third overall, but his cause was helped by the brilliance of Bhuvneshwar and Yuzvendra Chahal. Jasprit Bumrah and Hardik Pandya too did their job in a winning cause.
AUSTRALIA innings; Target 253
Over 43.1 | Score 202 All Out | Stoinis 62 (65)
Bhuvneshwar Kumar trapped Kane Richardson in front, and the third umpired confirmed it. Bhuvi's figures read: 6.1-2-9-3. India won the match by 50 runs.
Over 42 | Score 196/9 | Richardson 0 (6) ; Stoinis 56 (59)
Hardik Pandya returned for his last over of the day. The pacer leaked seven runs, with Marcus Stoinis hitting another six. Pandya's figures read 10-0-56-2. Australia still need another 57 runs from 48 balls.
Over 41 | Score 189/9 | Richardson 0 (4) ; Stoinis 49 (55)
Yuzvendra Chahal completed his spell, He gave away seven runs in the 10th over for figures of 10-1-34-2. Brilliant effort. Meanwhile, Marcus Stoinis continued to fight for Australia.
Over 40 | Score 182/9 | Richardson 0 (2) ; Stoinis 42 (51)
Chahal in for his ninth over. Fourth ball, Stoinis cut it elegantly through backward point for a boundary. Seven runs from the over.
Pandya for his ninth over. Fourth ball, shorter and slower and off the leading edge, Pandya took it comfortbaly. Caught and bowled as Coulter-Nile departed for just 8 runs. Kane Richardson walked in next.
A hat-trick for @imkuldeep18. He becomes the third Indian to achieve this feat, after Kapil Dev and Chetan Sharma #INDvAUS pic.twitter.com/1VNgiDUvzj — BCCI (@BCCI) September 21, 2017
Over 38 | Score 174/8 | Coulter-Nile 7 (16) ; Stoinis 37 (45)
Kuldeep in for his final over. Punished by Stoinis with two back-to-back boundaries. First one down to long leg as Bumrah fails to stop the ball from hitting the rope\ while the second one punched down extra cover for a four. 10 runs from the over.
Pandya in for his eighth over. Just two singles from it.
Over 36 | Score 162/8 | Coulter-Nile 6 (11) ; Stoinis 26 (37)
Kuldeep in for his ninth over and gave away just five singles in his over.
Bumrah back into the attack. Five runs from the over.
Over 34 | Score 152/8 | Coulter-Nile 1 (5) ; Stoinis 22 (31)
Kuldeep for his eighth over. Second ball, deceieved Wade and Dhoni did his job behind the stumps. Ashton Agar walked in next. Third ball, fullish on the leg stumo as the ball turned past his bat to strike the pads. And one more departed! Australia went 7 down. Pat Cummins in as Kuldeep was on a hat-trick. Last ball, google, nicked off the edge and Dhoni took it. HAT-TRICK! What a havoc he has wreaked! Klassy Kuldeep! Maiden too. First Indian spinner to achieve the feat.
Chahal in for his eighth over. Four singles from the over.
Over 32 | Score 148/5 | Wade 2 (6) ; Stoinis 20 (29)
Kuldeep in to give away just a single off his seventh over. Drinks break followed in.
Pandya in for his seventh over. Fifth ball, shorter delivery to the off side slapped hard down the ground through mid-wicket for a boundary. Nine runs from the over.
Over 30 | Score 138/5 | Wade 1 (1) ; Stoinis 13 (22)
Chahal in for his seventh over and gave away just a single from his over.
Pandya followed in. Third ball, length delivery, outside off as Smith luckily got an edge to send it past Dhoni for a boundary. Fifth ball, shorter delivery as Smith shimmied to the right and send the ball soaring over midwicket for a ....catch out. Jadeja in the deep, sprinted in and grabbed the ball. Mathew Wade stepped in next.
Over 28 | Score 132/4 | Smith 55 (72) ; Stoinis 11 (15)
Pandya in for his fifth over. Last ball, length delivery, swung in in as Smith glanced it down to fine leg for a boundary. Just that four off the over.
Kuldeep in for his sixth over. Fourth ball, an elegant cover drive played by Marcus Stoinis to bring up a boundary. Seven runs from the over.
Over 26 | Score 121/4 | Smith 50 (65) ; Stoinis 5 (10)
Pandya back in for his second spell. Fourth ball, boundary down the leg side by Stoinis. Four runs off the over.
Kuldeep in for his fifth over. Single off the fourth delivery and Smith notched up his 18th ODI fifty.
Over 24 | Score 116/4 | Smith 49 (60) ; Stoinis 1 (2)
Chahal in for his sixth over. Fifth ball, Chahal outfoxes Maxwell and Dhoni did his work behind the stumps. Excellent combination, Maxwell left clueless and Eden crowd roars in happinenss. Marcus Stoinis stepped in next. Wicket-maiden for the spinner.
Kuldeep back in. Fourth ball, fullish well outside off as Smith utilising the width punched it hard down covers for a boundary. 10 runs from the over.
Over 22 | Score 106/3 | Smith 40 (56) ; Maxwell 14 (13)
Chahal in for his fifth over and just two singles and wide delivery from the over.
Bumrah back in for his second spell. Three runs from the over.
Over 20 | Score 102/3 | Smith 39 (51) ; Maxwell 12 (6)
Chahal gives away just a single in his fourth over.
Kuldeep cintinued. Third ball, fullish, on the middle stump as Maxwell slogged it hard and high over square-leg for a six. And then again! Photocopy shot and back-to-back maximum from Maxwell. 13 runs from the over. 100 up for the Aussies.
Over 18 | Score 88/3 | Smith 37 (44) ; Maxwell 0 (1)
Chahal in for his third over. Last ball, full toss, dipped in late and Head flicked it straight to Manish Pandey at mid-wicket. Five runs from the over.
Glenn Maxwell walked in next. Kuldeep in for his second over. Three runs from the over.
Over 16 | Score 80/2 | Smith 32 (37) ; Head 36 (35)
Chahal in for his second over and once again gave away just three singles from his over.
And Kuldeep Yadav stepped in for his first over. Four runs from it.
Over 14 | Score 73/2 | Smith 28 (32) ; Head 33 (28)
Yuzvendra Chahal was introduced into the attcak and he gave away just three singles form his over. Pandya in for his third over. Third ball, shorter delivery and Head flicked it over square leg for a boundary.
Over 12 | Score 61/2 | Smith 25 (27) ; Head 24 (21)
Smith and Head seems to be forming one deadly partnership. Easy boundaries are coming in for the visitors. And Hardik Pandya was at the recieving in of three boundaries in his last over.
Over 8 | Score 39/2 | Smith 16 (14) ; Head 15 (10)
Bumrah in for his fourth over. Third ball, fullish well outside off as Smith shimmied to the right to punch the ball along the ground through midwicket for a boundary. Change in length but keeping the line same, Smith crunched it down covers for another boundary. Last ball, bye four, glanced off his pads past Dhoni's fingers for a boundary.
Over 6 | Score 22/2 | Smith 7 (6) ; Head 11 (6)
Bumrah in for his third over. Two back-to-back boundaries notched up Travis Head. 12 runs from the over.
Over 5 | Score 10/2 | Smith 6 (5) ; Head 0 (1)
Bhuvin and dismissed Warner off the fifth delivery. Angled it in, length ball and Warner edged it straight to Rahane at slip. Australia back again on same track as they were in Chennai. Just a single off a leg bye.
Over 4 | Score 9/1 | Smith 6 (5) ; Warner 1 (4)
Steve Smith waked in next. His 100th ODI game and it seems Australia needs him today. Bumrah in for his second over. Fifth ball, outside off delivery as lucky Smith got a nick off the outer edge of the bat to send the ball whistling down to third man for a boundary. Seven runs from the over.
Over 3 | Score 2/1 | ; Warner 0 (3)
Bhuvi in for his second over. Last ball, length delivery, lethal inswinger outfoxes the batsman to sneak through bat and pads for a castle down the middle stump. Superb delivery! Wicket-maiden over.
Over 2 | Score 2/0 | Cartwright 1 (9) ; Warner 0 (3)
Jasprit Bumrah into the attack for the second over. Just a single from the over off a leg bye.
Over 1 | Score 1/0 | Cartwright 1 (4) ; Warner 0 (2)
Hilton Catwright and David Warner walked in to start off proceedings for the Aussies while Bhuvneshwar Kumar opned up the attcak for India. Just a single off the over.
INDIA innings
Overs 50 | Score 252/10 | ; Bumrah 10 (6)
Last six deliveries to go. Richardson in for the fional over. Pandya went for a biggy, trwing to whack the slower full toss over the lonf-off boundary. But Warner in the deep, ceases his bid to rampage. Yuzvendra Chahal walked in next. Fourth ball, slower delivery, swung it in and Bumrah drifted it through midwicket for a surprising boundary. 250 up for India. Last ball run out and that was the end of Indian innings.
Overs 49 | Score 246/8 | Pandya 20 (25) ; Bumrah 5 (3)
Cummins in for his final over. Second ball, new batsman Kildeep Yadav edged the outside off delivery and Wade dived to pluck a stunner behind the stumps. One-handed blinder! Jasprit Bumrah walked in next and notched up a boundary down third man. His first in his career.
Overs 48 | Score 239/7 | Pandya 19 (24) ;
So the verdict...Not Out! Why? Rule book says that mis that batsman is under the misconception that he is out then further action won't be taken by the umpire. But Bhuvi is the man to depart pff the last ball.
UPDATE: Rain has stopped and covers are off
Overs 47.3 | Score 236/6 | Pandya 19 (23) ; Bhuvneshwar 18 (30)
Richardson back in for his ninth over. Rain intervened once again. But huge discussion going on...whats that about? Third delivery, above the waist level and Pandya ramped it straight up in the air and Smnith caught it at covers, but NO ball signalled by the umpire. However, was there a run-out too? Answer to be unvieled after the rain pause.
Overs 47 | Score 233/6 | Pandya 19 (23) ; Bhuvneshwar 15 (27)
Coulter-Nile for his final over. Second ball, slower, outside edhe, shorter too as the ball edged off the top half of the bat to fly over keeper for a boundary. Lucky indeed. Third ball, fullish on the middle stump as Bhuvi fired it...to Pandya. Fell down after being struck and writhed in pain as the physio ran in to help the batsman.
Overs 46 | Score 226/6 | Pandya 18 (21) ; Bhuvneshwar 10 (23)
Stoinis for his ninth over. Pandya, where is he? No sixes, no boundaries...is he still trying to ease in? Four singles form it.
Overs 45 | Score 222/6 | Pandya 16 (18) ; Bhuvneshwar 8 (20)
Coulter-Nile back in. Run rate has dractically lowered down. In the last five overs, Team India have managed to amass just 15 runs without losing a wicket. Two singles from the over.
Overs 44 | Score 220/6 | Pandya 15 (15) ; Bhuvneshwar 7 (17)
Ashton Agar walked back to the dressing room to nurse an injury. Stoinis in for his eighth over. Just two runs from the over.
Overs 43 | Score 218/6 | Pandya 15 (15) ; Bhuvneshwar 5 (11)
Cummins in for his ninth over. First ball, length ball and placed it well outside off as Pandya punched it hard down covers for a boundary. Eight from the over.
Overs 42 | Score 210/6 | Pandya 8 (10) ; Bhuvneshwar 4 (10)
Credit to the Aussies, even in that humid condition, the have maintained their calmness and composure to bounce back into the game. Richardson in for his eighth over. Two singles from the over.
Overs 41 | Score 208/6 | Pandya 7 (6) ; Bhuvneshwar 3 (8)
And all of a sudden 300 looks a little bleak for the Indian team. Virat Kohli looked at his rampaging best, but was denied a ton and then Richardson removed Dhoni to stutter the home team's hope of a big total. All now on Hardik Pandya, fans will definitely pray for yet another firework like that in Chennai. Just a single from the over bowled by Cummins.
Overs 40 | Score 206/6 | Pandya 7 (5) ; Bhuvneshwar 1 (1)
Richardson back in and silenced the roaring crowd. First ball, little fullish well outside off as Dhoni bent forward, reached out and chipped it straight to Steve Smith at covers. Fans left awestruck! Bhuvneshwar Kumar walked in next.
Overs 38 | Score 201/5 | Pandya 4 (1) ; Dhoni 4 (5)
Colter-Nile for his eighth over. Fifth ball, length ball, swung it in, deceived Kohli to kiss the inside edge as the ball castled down the middle stump. OHHH....nervous ninety and the skipper missed his chance to overhaul the Aussie great in the list of ODI tons. Hardik Pandya stepped in next.
Overs 37 | Score 195/4 | Kohli 90 (102) ; Dhoni 4 (5)
Stoinis in for his seventh over. Second ball, length outside off and Kohli utilising the width leaned forward to drive it down covers. Five runs from the over.
Overs 36 | Score 190/4 | Kohli 85 (98) ; Dhoni 4 (3)
Coulter-Nile back into the attack. Third ball, Kedar went for a cut through point but this time unlucky as Maxwell plucked it well and ceased the partnership from becoming more lethal. Camera turned to Dhoni and berserk went the Eden crowd. Fifth ball, back of the length, swung it in as Dhoni went Lara-seque to drift the ball towards backward-square-leg for a boundary.
Overs 35 | Score 176/3 | Kohli 84 (96) ; Kedar 24 (23)
Stonis in for his sixth over. First ball, back of the length delivery, outside off as Jadhav sliced it way over third man for a six. Nine runs from the over.
Overs 34 | Score 176/3 | Kohli 82 (93) ; Kedar 17 (20)
Agar in for his ninth over. Jadhav punished the spinner with two back-to-back boundaries.
Overs 33 | Score 165/3 | Kohli 79 (90) ; Kedar 9 (17)
Marcus Stoinis back into the attack for his second spell. Fifth ball, length delivery, flatter well outside the off stump as Kohli shuffled to play a cut through point for a boundary. Seven runs from it.
Overs 31 | Score 154/3 | Kohli 72 (85) ; Kedar 7 (10)
Richardson in for his sixth over. Six runs from it. Drinks break once again.
Overs 30 | Score 148/3 | Kohli 68 (82) ; Kedar 6 (7)
Agar continued into his seventh over. Seven runs from it.
Overs 29 | Score 141/3 | Kohli 65 (79) ; Kedar 2 (4)
Richardson back in for his fifth over. First ball, length delivery outside off as Kohli shimmied to the right to ramp it through mid-on for a boundary. Seven runs from the over.
Overs 28 | Score 134/3 | Kohli 59 (75) ; Kedar 1 (2)
Agar in for his sixth over. Second ball, spun it in as Pandey looking for a cut fell short of striking the ball as the ball rattled against the stumps. Manish once again failed to deliver as he departed for 3 this time. Kedar Jadhav walked in next. Had notched up a 40 in the first ODI.
Overs 27 | Score 131/2 | Kohli 58 (73) ; Pandey 3 (11)
Coulter-Nile in for his sixth over. Just two singles from the over.
Overs 25 | Score 124/2 | Kohli 54 (67) ; Pandey 1 (5)
Coulter-Nile back in for his second spell. Three runs from the over.
Doesn't get much closer than that! #INDvAUS pic.twitter.com/vJDFyjl8Fd — cricket.com.au (@CricketAus) September 21, 2017
Overs 24 | Score 121/2 | Kohli 53 (64) ; Pandey 0 (2)
Change in attack as Travis Head stepped in for his first over. Run-oout mishap and Rahane departed shortly after his fifty. Century stand falls apart and Manish Pandey walked in next.
Overs 23 | Score 115/1 | Kohli 52 (62) ; Rahane 50 (62)
Cummins in for his sixth over. Anbd Rahane too notched up a fifty, 20th in ODIs.
Overs 22 | Score 111/1 | Kohli 50 (60) ; Rahane 48 (58)
Agar in for his fifth over. Single in the fifth ball and 45th ODI fifty by Virat Kohli.
Overs 21 | Score 104/1 | Kohli 46 (56) ; Rahane 46 (55)
Pat Cummins back into the attcak for his second spell. Three singles form the over.
Overs 20 | Score 101/1 | Kohli 45 (53) ; Rahane 45 (53)
Agar for his fourth over. Both the Indian batsmen look well settled. Fifth ball, outside off and Kohli lazily drifted the ball past the keeper for a boundary to third man. 100 up for the home team. 10 runs from the over.
Overs 19 | Score 91/1 | Kohli 39 (50) ; Rahane 41 (50)
Stoinis in for his fourth over. First ball, shorter delivery, outside off as Kohli with ample ease pulled it through midwicket for a boundary. That sure did give an evidence of the fast outfield at Eden. Eight runs from the over.
Overs 18 | Score 83/1 | Kohli 31 (44) ; Rahane 41 (50)
Agar for his third over. Just a single from the over.
Overs 17 | Score 82/1 | Kohli 30 (42) ; Rahane 41 (46)
Change in attack as the Stoinis replaced Richardson. Five runs between the wickets.
Overs 16 | Score 77/1 | Kohli 29 (40) ; Rahane 38 (42)
Agar continied into his second over after the drinks break. Five runs from it.
Extremely hostile conditions in Kolkata at the moment. Hard to believe rain was the big concern less than 24 hours ago! #INDvAUS pic.twitter.com/Z8sRouNKEp — cricket.com.au (@CricketAus) September 21, 2017
Overs 15 | Score 72/1 | Kohli 28 (38) ; Rahane 33 (38)
Richardson for his fourth over. Gave away just two singles. Time for Drinks Break.
Overs 14 | Score 70/1 | Kohli 27 (33) ; Rahane 33 (37)
Spin came into play for the 14th over. Ashton Agar in for his first over. He had last played an ODI match back in 2015 against England at Manchester. Six runs from the over.
Overs 13 | Score 64/1 | Kohli 23 (30) ; Rahane 31 (34)
Richardson continued. Third ball, little up the lengthg, well outside off as Kohli leaned forward to punch it down covers for a boundary. Mathew Wade seemed to face some difficulty owing to the humid weather in Kolkata. Assisatnce from the Aussie dug out ran in for his help. Eight runs from the over.
Overs 12 | Score 56/1 | Kohli 17 (26) ; Rahane 29 (32)
Stoinis in for his second over. Six runs scopped up between the wickets by the duo.
Overs 11 | Score 50/1 | Kohli 12 (23) ; Rahane 28 (29)
Richardson in for his second over. Last ball, shorter delivery, pulled over square leg and boundaryu for Kohli. That brought up 50 for the home team. Six runs from the over.
Overs 10 | Score 44/1 | Kohli 7 (18) ; Rahane 27 (28)
Another new bowler into the attack – Marcus Stoinis. Gave away just a single.So that brought an end to the first powerplay.
Overs 9 | Score 43/1 | Kohli 6 (13) ; Rahane 27 (27)
Change in attack as Kane Richardson stepped in for his first over. He has been replaced for James Faulkner for this match as Aussies have been looking for a stike bowler. Second ball, kept it outside the off stump, up the length delivery and Kohli punched it down covers for his first boundary. A smile on his face! Last ball, and Rahane crackled it down backward point to end the over with a boundary. Nine runs from the over.
Overs 8 | Score 34/1 | Kohli 1 (9) ; Rahane 23 (25)
Coulter-Nile in for his fourth over. First ball, fuller delivery outside the off stump and Rahane played his favourite shot – the cover drive. Elegantly timed and a boundary for the opener. And once again! Fifth ball, little up the length, outside the off stump and Rahane crunched iot down extra cover. Eight runs from the ove
Overs 7 | Score 26/1 | Kohli 1 (9) ; Rahane 15 (19)
Cummins for his fourth over. Kohli didn't seemed to take the risk of attempting the outside off deliveries. Leaving it alone, letting it pass straight to Mathew Wase behind the stumps. Maiden over.
Overs 6 | Score 26/1 | Kohli 1 (3) ; Rahane 15 (19)
Coulter-Nile for his third and got the first breakthrough for the Aussies, once again in the first powerplay. First ball, fullish to the outside off region as Rohit looked to punch it down covers. But mistimed the shot as the ball retracted off the lower edge of the bat to fly slowly to Coulter-Nile. Juggle and a catch and Rohit departed with just seven runs. Virat Kohli stepped in next. Last time he had fallen for a duck, can he turn things time?
Last ball, Rahane ramped up a boundary down covers to end the over.
Overs 5 | Score 19/0 | Rohit 7 (13) ; Rahane 11 (17)
Cummins for his third over. Just one run from the over.
Overs 4 | Score 18/0 | Rohit 6 (11) ; Rahane 11 (13)
Coulter-Nile in and punished off the very first delivery. Stunningly timed slice through point and Rahane seemed to ease in with that boundary. Second ball, and once again down the off side but this time through point and cover. Excellent from Rahane! Nine runs from the over.
Overs 3 | Score 9/0 | Rohit 6 (11) ; Rahane 3 (7)
Pat Cummins back in for his second over. Third ball, up the length, outside off and elegantly played cover drive by Rohit to bring up the first boundary in the game. And just that boundary of the over.
Overs 2 | Score 5/0 | Rohit 2 (5) ; Rahane 3 (7)
Nathan Coulter-Nile stepped in for the second over to share the new ball. Had scalped three big wickets in the Chennai ODI to stutter India's top order lineup – Kohli for a duck and Manish Pandey too. Two singles from the over.
Over 1 | Score 3/0 | Rohit 1 (2) ; Rahane 2 (4)
Former India opener Virender Sehwag and India women's team member Jhulan Goswami rang the bell as the players headed into the field. Openers Rohit Sharma and Ajinkya Rahane walked in along with the Aussie squad. Pat Cummins opened the bowling attack.
And once again, outside off deliveries coming from the pacer. Aussies have stuck to their startegy. Well why not when the stuff panned out during the Test series erlier this year and then again in the first ODI match in Chennai. Three singles from the over.
FUN FACTS: This will be Mahendra Singh Dhoni's 300th ODI for India. Also, Aussie skipper Steve Smith will be playing his 100th ODI of his career.
India (Playing XI): Rohit Sharma, Ajinkya Rahane, Virat Kohli(c), Manish Pandey, Kedar Jadhav, MS Dhoni(w), Hardik Pandya, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Kuldeep Yadav, Yuzvendra Chahal, Jasprit Bumrah
Congratulations to Steve Smith on winning his 100th ODI cap! #INDvAUS pic.twitter.com/4K2o9nIRZO — ICC (@ICC) September 21, 2017
Australia XI: Warner, Cartwright, Smith (c), Head, Maxwell, Stoinis, Wade (wk), Agar, Richardson, Cummins, Coulter-Nile
TOSS TIME: Virat Kohli wins the toss and elects to bat first
Sourav Ganguly and VVS Laxman out in the middle of Eden Gardens. Who could forget that Very Very Special innings here 16 years ago? #INDvAUS pic.twitter.com/HIOS2aJsPY — cricket.com.au (@CricketAus) September 21, 2017
.@Gmaxi_32 hitting a few in the warm-ups #INDvAUS pic.twitter.com/ba7vZwOfV1 — cricket.com.au (@CricketAus) September 21, 2017
READ: Stats in line for the 2nd ODI match at Eden Gardens
"What do you think? Bat or bowl first?" @WACA_Cricket duo Coulter-Nile and Agar check out the pitch in Kolkata #INDvAUS pic.twitter.com/iO5CZppQxy — cricket.com.au (@CricketAus) September 21, 2017
The covers are off. First look at the pitch for the 2nd ODI at Eden Gardens. Win the toss and? #INDvAUS pic.twitter.com/a7AX5cWPd6 — BCCI (@BCCI) September 21, 2017
Welcome to Eden Gardens for the second #INDvAUS ODI. No rain this morning and the covers are coming off! Toss at 5.30pm AEST (1pm local) pic.twitter.com/OtwGtnmAx5 — cricket.com.au (@CricketAus) September 21, 2017
India were down in the dumps at 87/5 in Chennai, before young all-rounder Hardik Pandya (83) and seasoned campaigner MS Dhoni (79) upturned the script with an 118-run six wicket stand that helped the hosts post a challenging total, which the Kangaroos could not match up to in a rain-truncated chase.
The tourists, according to their former skipper Michael Clarke, have to win the second rubber in order to have any chance of taking the series. In order to do that, Smith's wards will need to improve on their death bowling which looked rather flat in Chennai conceding 83 runs in the last 10 overs.
But at this moment, all eyes are focussed heavenwards, with the Met office predicting thundershowers on the morrow. Another shortened cricketing contest is also within the realms of possibility, as the city has been lashed by spells of heavy showers over the past few days. (With IANS inputs)
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