Rajkot, January 17: Team India came back strongly in Rajkot to avenge their Mumbai defeat with a 36-run win over Australia in the second ODI here on Friday (January 17) to level the series.
Virat Kohli and his boys learnt from the mistakes they committed in Mumbai and first posted a more challenging total of 340-6, featuring 96 from Shikhar Dhawan, 80 from KL Rahul and Virat Kohli's 78, to set a mammoth total for Australia to chase. The tourists in response were bundled out for 304 all out and lost the match.
With this win, the Men In Blue have set up a series decider against the Aussies in Bengaluru on Sunday (January 19).
KL Rahul was awarded the man of the match for his explosive knock and brilliant wicketkeeping, which included a stumping and a catch.
Steve Smith (98) top-scored for the Aussies but his effort went in vain as no other batsman showed enough resistance against the Indian bowlers.
Here's how the second ODI between India and Australia panned out:
KL Rahul, Player of the Match: I couldn't have asked for a better start. Each day I've been thrown different roles and responsibilities and I'm enjoying it for now. Batting at 5, I wanted to give myself a few balls, you know what the wicket is doing and Virat said that it's coming on nicely. A few came off the middle, and I was confident I could score, and everything else faded away. Glad I got some partnerships going and played my role to the best of my abilities. Kuldeep told me my 'keeping was good too. I grew up 'keeping but I didn't do it a lot for my first-class team, but in the last few weeks I did keep for Karnataka, so I've been in decent wicketkeeping touch, so hopefully I can keep my spinners and fast bowlers happy.
Virat Kohli | India captain: We live in the days of social media and the panic button was pressed too early. It's important to not leave someone like KL out. You saw how he batted today. This is probably the best he's played at the international level. The knock showed maturity and class, and we know exactly what we're doing in the dressing room. Important couple of games for Shikhar. He was injured for a long time and in ODIs he's been one of our most consistent and aggressive performers, and he can change the situation for the team. It augurs well when the two openers are so good together. Rohit's left shoulder has popped out of few times, and he should be good to go in the next game. I asked the bowlers what they wanted to do and they said this was the time to execute the yorkers. All three of them were really good with the yorkers, particularly Shami who changed everything in that over. KL is becoming a multi-dimensional player, and it's really great when players step up like this.
Aaron Finch | Australia captain: I didn't expect it to be cold. I didn't think I'd need the long-sleeved sweater. I think we were one wicket shy of where we needed to be throughout the bowling innings, but they're world class. Zampa's length has been fantastic so far. The way Smithy started today, and nearly got through to the end, but not quite. Marnus and Smith, the only time they're apart is when they're asleep. I think on these tracks, it's important to capitalize when the batsman gets in. We were always just one more wicket down than what we'd have liked at any stage of the chase and that's when the required rate started getting out of reach.
Wicket! Adam Zampa (6) edges Jasprit Bumrah and KL Rahul takes a simple catch. Australia all out for 304 and India win this game by 36 runs and level series.
1,0,4,4,6,4!! Kane Richardson hits 19 runs from that Shami over as Australia reach 304 in 49 overs.
Wicket! Mitchell Starc (6) edges Saini and KL Rahul takes a simple catch. Australia - 275/9 in 46.5 overs.
Wicket! Saini traps Ashton Agar (25) plumb in front of the wicket. Umpire raises his finger. The batsman goes upstairs to review it but in vain. Australia - 274/8 in 46.1 overs.
Shami misses the hat-trick. Big appeal for LBW off Starc but the umpire wasn't interested. India had no reviews left either. But the ball was clearly missing the leg stumps.
Bowled! Shami gives Pat Cummins a taste of his own medicine as he's been dismissed a first ball duck. Shami on hat-trick. Australia - 259/7 in 42.2 overs.
Bowled! Shami cleans up Ashton Turner (13) with a yorker. He fails to repeat the Mohali heroics this time. Australia - 259/6 in 42.1 overs.
4,4,2,1,1,0! 12 runs came from that over bowled by Saini. Australia reach 259/5 in 42 overs.
Four! Ashton Agar gets back-to-back boundaries off Saini. But while preventing the second boundary, Rohit injured his left shoulder. He's been treated outside the boundary.
Australia reach 235/5 after 40 overs. Ashton Turner and Ashton Agar are present in the middle for the tourists. They are the last recognised batting pair.
WICKET!! Steve Smith (98) chops it on to his stumps and Kuldeep gets the big man out. Australia - 221/5 in 37.5 overs.
HUGE WICKET!! Steve Smith OUT for 98 🚶♂️
— Fox Cricket (@FoxCricket) January 17, 2020
📺 Stream #INDvAUS ad-break free on Kayo: https://t.co/CfILOrTeyB
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Wicket! Alex Carey (18) gives a simple catch to Virat Kohli at cover. Kuldeep Yadav gets his first wicket of the match and that's his 100th ODI wicket. Australia - 220/4 in 37.2 overs.
With that wicket of Steve Smith, @imkuldeep18 has unlocked another milestone as he gets to his 100 ODI wickets 👏👏 pic.twitter.com/Ha887U9RFd
— BCCI (@BCCI) January 17, 2020
Australia are 212/3 in 36 overs. They need 129 runs off 84 deliveries to win this game.
SIX!! Steve Smith goes big this time and gets a maximum off Jadeja over mid-wicket. He moves on the 88*.
200 up for Australia in the 35th over. They are still in control of the run chase with Smith holding his fort. He's nearing another fine century.
Smith and Carey milk 13 runs from that Kuldeep Yadav over and Australia reach 199/3 in 34 overs.
SIX!! Alex Carey flicks Kuldeep Yadav over mid-wicket for a maximum. Effortless shot this.
Wicket! The partnership has been broken. Jadeja gets rid of Marnus Labuschagne for 46. The batsman plays a lofted shot over mid-off but there was no power in it. Mohammed Shami takes a simple catch to dismiss him. Australia - 178/3 in 30.5 overs.
Steve Smith goes in vain. They appealed for a leg before, but the replays showed it was Umpire's Call. India won't lose the review.
This is a fabulous partnership. These two, Smith and Labuschagne, just seem to score runs everywhere. Set for a good finish. Still tilted marginally towards India.
— Harsha Bhogle (@bhogleharsha) January 17, 2020
Desperate Review from Virat Kohli and Ravindra Jadeja off Steve Smith goes in vain. They appealed for a leg before, but the replays showed it was umpire's call.
1,1,1,4,0,0! 7 runs conceded by Jasprit Bumrah in the first over of his comeback spell. Australia (163/2 in 28 overs) are going at well in the run chase.
Four! Labuschagne gets a boundary on the final delivery of that Jadeja over. Australia - 156/2 in 27 overs. The tourists are going at a decent pace in the run chase and the hosts are in desperate need of a wicket. Kohli has brought Bumrah into the attack.
150-up for Australia and they have lost just two wickets in the process. The visitors are very much in control of the run chase.
The partnership between Labuschagne and Smith is worth 62 and this stand is getting dangerous for India. Australia reach 144/2 in 24 overs.
50! Steve Smith brings up his half-century and he's ensured Australia keep themselves in the hunt in this run chase.
Top knock from Smith so far. He played 77% deliveries off the back foot against seamers, scoring 25 off 29. Against spin though, 62% off the front foot, scoring 27 off 21. He's yet to play a false shot against Kuldeep & Jadeja. #INDvAUS
— The CricViz Analyst (@cricvizanalyst) January 17, 2020
100 comes up for Australia in the 18th over. Steve Smith - 36* & Marnus Labuschagne - 12* are looking to keep their team in the hunt after openers departure. Australia reach 104/2 in 18 overs.
OUT!! KL Rahul stumps Aaron Finch (38) and Ravindra Jadeja breaks the partnership for his team. It was a close call and the TV umpire took his time to rule in the favour of the fielding side. Australia - 82/2 in 15.1 overs.