Australia beat India 51 runs in the second ODI at Sydney Cricket Ground thanks to another impressive batting display to seal the three-game series with a game to spare. After beating India by 66 runs in the opener, having scored 374, Australia put another grand total on the board that proved too much for the visitors. Smith broke 104 of 64 balls, his second century of the series, while all of Australia’s other top-five hitters scored fifty to help the home team score 389/4. In return, Virat Kohli scored a smooth 89 as India managed to score 338/9, well below the target, as Australia took an unbeatable 2-0 lead in the series.
By winning the toss and opting to hit, Australia’s starters Aaron Finch and David Warner got off to another good start against the visitors, putting up 142 for the first wicket, before Finch fell to Mohammed Shami.
Warner departed shortly after for a well done 83, thanks to a brilliant direct hit from Shreyas Iyer.
Smith, who threw a 105 of 66 balls in the last game, took control from there along with Marnus Labuschagne.
The two got into 136-race position as Smith raced toward his 11th-century ODI. Smith hit 14 fours and two sixes on his 104 hit.
Hardik Pandya, who had not pitched since undergoing back surgery, received the ball for four overs from India captain Virat Kohli and managed to fire the dangerous Smith.
But Australia continued to rack up misery, with Glenn Maxwell entering and breaking 63 in just 29 deliveries.
In the chase, India got off to a good start, with starters Shikhar Dhawan and Mayank Agarwal making 58 runs before both were sent back in quick succession by Josh Hazlewood and Pat Cummins, respectively.
Kohli and Shreyas Iyer got into position for 97 runs before Moisés Henriques ruled the latter out by 38.
He then teamed up with Kohli KL Rahul, and the two made 72 runs for the fourth wicket before the Indian captain found the midwicket outfielder with a shooting shot, with 11 less than a century remaining.
Kohli hit seven limits and two sixes in his 89-run hit, which also saw him reach 22,000 runs in international cricket.
Rahul tried to keep India in the game along with Hardik Pandya, but with the order rate increasing, Rahul fell to Zampa trying to go for the big shots.
The wicketkeeper-batsman scored 76 of 66 deliveries, with four limits and five highs.
Pat Cummins then fired Ravindra Jadeja and Hardik Pandya from back-to-back deliveries in their last over to finish as Australia’s best bowler for the night, at 3-67.
Mohammed Shami then missed a hoick from Glenn Maxwell, who took a simple catch back, before Zampa caught Jasprit Bumrah’s leg before the wicket.
Promoted
Australia and India will now travel to Canberra for the third ODI, ahead of a three-game T20I series.
India will conclude its tour of Australia with a four-match test series.
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