It was an encore of the first ODI as Australia raced away to a huge 389 for 4 in the second game of the three-match series before restricting India to 338 for 9 to take a 2-0 lead at the Sydney Cricket Ground. On a day when Hardik Pandya finally returned to bowling, it was the aggression of the Australian batters and the ineffectiveness of the Indian bowling attack that made bigger news. Steven Smith was the star of the show yet again as he raced away to his second successive hundred in just 62 balls to level the record for the third fastest ODI ton for an Australian that he had only created a few days ago.
After an explosive stand of 142 runs, Smith and Glenn Maxwell once again made full use of the dull bowling by the Indians in the middle overs as they took the team to 389 for 4 in a must-win game for the Indians. The visitors, unlike the first ODI, were much sharper on the field on Sunday and began on an explosive note as Mohammed Shami and Jasprit Bumrah stuck to a tight line and length to make run-scoring hard.
The Fab Five ⚡#AUSvsIND #CricketAustralia #indiatourofaustralia #Maxwell #Smith #Warner #cricketnews pic.twitter.com/dqb5TEApJ3
— Cricket News (@cricketnews_com) November 29, 2020
However, Navdeep Saini was once again India’s weak link as he sent down loose deliveries one after the other, which the in-form openers made full use of. India yet again ended with a wicketless powerplay – their fifth in a row – while the Australians managed their third successive hundred-plus stand for the opening wicket.
Shami eventually got Aaron Finch in the 23rd over and David Warner soon followed as he was run out off a brilliant direct hit by Shreyas Iyer. However, the Indians were unable to get back into the game as Smith was at his best. He was ably supported by Glenn Maxwell, who scored an unbeaten 63 in just 29 balls to take Australia close to the 400-run mark.
In reply, the Indians got off to a blazing start as they piled on 50 runs in just 6.1 overs, before Shikhar Dhawan fell to Josh Hazlewood. Mayank Agarwal was dismissed just 8 balls after the left-hander was sent back to the pavilion, as the Indians slipped to 61 for 2 after 9 overs. Skipper Virat Kohli combined with Shreyas Iyer to lead the rescue act but was unable to keep up with the asking rate that climbed to over 9 an over. Though Kohli got a sedate 50, off 53 balls, Iyer, at the other end, was unable to keep up with the pressure as he was dismissed by Moises Henriques, who replaced injured Marcus Stoinis in the XI.
Oh captain, majestic captain! #indiatourofaustralia #AUSvsIND #TeamIndia #Kohli #cricketnews pic.twitter.com/BpkEnwss0Q
— Cricket News (@cricketnews_com) November 29, 2020
The experienced duo of Rahul and Kohli kept India in the hunt as they raced away to a partnership of 50 in no time, and just when Kohli was trying to up the ante, he fell while trying to attempt a pull shot. The skipper scored a fine 89 in 87 balls.
India, needing 131 in the last 60 deliveries, were in with a chance as the duo of Rahul and Hardik Pandya looked in good touch, but once the wicket-keeper was dismissed, it was curtains for the Men in Blue. Though Navdeep Saini and Ravindra Jadeja tried their best with some big hits during the end, the target was always going to be a steep one. India have now lost their last five ODI games on the trot and will have to get back to the drawing board ahead of the last and final ODI.