India’s Virat Kohli hits a six during his innings in the second One-Day International match against Australia at the Sawai Mansingh Stadium in Jaipur, yesterday. Kohli scored India’s fastest ODI century in just 52 balls.
Jaipur: Superlative batting by Rohit Sharma (141 not out), Virat Kohli (100 not out) and Shikhar Dhawan (95) helped India comfortably chase down Australia’s mammoth target of 359 for five in 43.3 overs and win their second ODI by nine wickets at the Sawai Mansingh Stadium here yesterday.
India scored 362 for one to record their highest and the overall second highest ODI chase so far, tying the seven-match ODI series against the visitors 1-1.
Having put up 359 for five, Australia seemed to have batted India out of the game but Dhawan, Rohit Sharma and Kohli played superbly to comfortably overhaul the Australian score.
Kohli’s 100 off 52 balls became the fastest century by an Indian and the seventh fastest ODI hundred.
India started the chase with a 176-run opening stand between Dhawan and Rohit.
Things, however, could have been different had wicketkeeper Brad Haddin not dropped Dhawan on 18.
Dhawan made the Australians pay dearly for Haddin’s lapse taking their bowlers to task on a placid batting wicket.
The left-hander smashed his way to 95 off 86 balls before a loose shot cost him his wicket.
After that it was all Kohli’s show as the Delhi batsman blasted seven sixes and eight fours in his blitzkrieg innings.
In between all the Kohli mayhem, Rohit Sharma completed a much-awaited third career century with a fine innings.
He had to wait for three years for this feat and was visibly elated.
Both players looked in a hurry to head back to the dressing room, piling on the pressure on the Aussie bowlers. Earlier, Australia got off to another quick start courtesy Aaron Finch (50).
The right-hander, who has made his way into the national squad thanks to his performances with Pune Warriors in the Indian Premier League, hit seven boundaries and a six.ians
