India rode on Virat Kohli’s 92 and Kuldeep Yadav’s hat-trick to beat Australia by 50 runs in 2nd ODI of the five-match ODI series at the Eden Gardens in Kolkata on Thursday, September 21. The Men in Blue now have taken a 2-0 lead in the series.
Chasing a tricky total of 253 on a two-paced wicket, Australia got off to a worst possible start as Bhuvneshwar Kumar removed openers David Warner and Hilton Cartwright early. However, skipper Steve Smith and Travis Head, who was gifted a life after Rohit Sharma dropped him on 15, stitched a 76-run stand.
Virat Kohli’s Team India completed a 50-run win over Australia in the second ODI here on Thursday, thanks to a sensational hat-trick from Kuldeep Yadav. Having decided to bat, India lost Rohit Sharma early, but Virat Kohli and Ajinkya Rahane took the team forward, finishing the innings at 252 all out.
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Both Kohli (92) and Rahane (55) got out during the innings, with the former being eight short of his 31st ODI ton. For the Aussie bowlers, Nathan-Coulter-Nile and Kane Richardson picked up three wickets, while Pat Cummins and Ashton Agar picked one each.
In reply in 2nd ODI, the Aussies never looked settled, after having lost openers Hilton Cartwright and David Warner early. But, captain Steve Smith’s 59 in his 100th ODI gave hope for the visitors. Marcus Stoinis, too, joined the party by scoring his maiden fifty, but Kane Richardson’s departure courtesy the final wicket for Bhuvneshwar denied Australia the match.
Australia will have one last chance to step up in this series when the two teams now head to Indore for the third ODI on Sunday.
