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Australia [389/4] beat India [338/9] by 51 runs in the 2nd ODI

Yeah it was a great win, but the fact that we haven’t won a single series since 2002 means that no one cares about that fluke series win anymore.

The achievements of Pakistan and India over the last two decades are incomparable, and that is why I don’t see any reason why a Pakistani fan would be mocking the Indian team.

We would love for our team to be in the position. We would swap places in an instant.

Didn’t pak win two test series at uae against aus and had drawn in england
 
Maybe they will lose every game. Does it change the fact that they are much better than Pakistan and have been for a very long time? No, so why are we celebrating it?

India will have to lose every single Test in Australia until 2040 to be comparable to Pakistan. That puts into perspective how embarrassing we are.

Sorry to see you resorting to whataboutism - defending India brings the worst out of you.

Maybe you should stick to how India is getting a pounding in Australia, and how its basically a one man army right now with Kohli being the only player capable of doing anything. Rest are nobodies.
 
Didn’t pak win two test series at uae against aus and had drawn in england

I am talking about ODIs.

We haven’t won an ODI series against Australia since 2002 and we haven’t won an ODI series against England since 2005.
 
Yes and I am the President of USA.

Good try at clowning but do you seriously think the likes of Bhuvi Trundler, Old man shami, and one season wonder Bumrah is better than the current pakistani bowling line up?
 
Sorry to see you resorting to whataboutism - defending India brings the worst out of you.

Maybe you should stick to how India is getting a pounding in Australia, and how its basically a one man army right now with Kohli being the only player capable of doing anything. Rest are nobodies.

I don’t think Pakistani fans have the privilege to mock India. You can criticize but not make fun of them. So yes sorry for the whataboutism.

It is not about India only. We don’t have the right to mock any superior side, be it australia or England.
 
7th consecutive loss for India.
India need to start building back for some of their aging stars, especially the bowling as the bench looks super thin with the likes of Thakur.
 
Good try at clowning but do you seriously think the likes of Bhuvi Trundler, Old man shami, and one season wonder Bumrah is better than the current pakistani bowling line up?

There is no evidence that Bumrah is a one season wonder. Greater bowlers in history have gone through longer lean spells.

Shaheen will get into the Indian white ball team ahead of Bhuvi or Saini, but no other Pakistani bowler gets into the side.

In Test cricket, no Pakistani bowler makes the Indian team.

So yes overall, India’s bowling is clearly better than Pakistan across formats.
 
Goodness, some of the Pakistani posters here doing bhangras. It's embarrassing, guys. I know this is a huge score, but did you take a look at the pitch? I don't think any bowler in the world would've done well here.

The fact is that India is still a much better team than us, and Indian bowlers getting bashed in Australia doesn't change that.

Its banter, they take the mickey when we get hit, its time to give it back.
 
I don’t think Pakistani fans have the privilege to mock India. You can criticize but not make fun of them. So yes sorry for the whataboutism.

It is not about India only. We don’t have the right to mock any superior side, be it australia or England.

You don’t have the privilege to tell anyone what to do because the response you often receive is quite humiliating. The reason why Pakistani fans are excessive in their criticism or mocking of Indian cricket is because of how you mock Pakistan in comparison, it is the poor Indians who have to suffer the ridicule because of the nonsense and hatred you spread.

You’ve made your bed, now sleep in it :shh
 
I don’t think Pakistani fans have the privilege to mock India. You can criticize but not make fun of them. So yes sorry for the whataboutism.

It is not about India only. We don’t have the right to mock any superior side, be it australia or England.

Suck it up. They are getting marmalised.
 
You don’t have the privilege to tell anyone what to do because the response you often receive is quite humiliating. The reason why Pakistani fans are excessive in their criticism or mocking of Indian cricket is because of how you mock Pakistan in comparison, it is the poor Indians who have to suffer the ridicule because of the nonsense and hatred you spread.

You’ve made your bed, now sleep in it :shh

Its true. I am rubbing it because of the Hindutuva losers. There are lot of good Ind posters on this forum and its not aimed at them.
 
I don’t think Pakistani fans have the privilege to mock India. You can criticize but not make fun of them. So yes sorry for the whataboutism.

It is not about India only. We don’t have the right to mock any superior side, be it australia or England.

I am sorry but who gave you the authority to tell others what privilege they have? I didnt know that you needed privilege to criticize a team? Thats a ridiculous proposition to begin with. Guess this whole forum should shut down because we are a 6th ranked team, whats the point in discussing other teams? This couldnt get any more snowflakier than this!

If you want to defend India - defend it on merits not with these rubbish arguments.
 
You don’t have the privilege to tell anyone what to do because the response you often receive is quite humiliating. The reason why Pakistani fans are excessive in their criticism or mocking of Indian cricket is because of how you mock Pakistan in comparison, it is the poor Indians who have to suffer the ridicule because of the nonsense and hatred you spread.

You’ve made your bed, now sleep in it :shh

Its true. I am rubbing it in because of the Hindutuva losers. There are lot of good Ind posters on this forum and its not aimed at them.
 
Good try at clowning but do you seriously think the likes of Bhuvi Trundler, Old man shami, and one season wonder Bumrah is better than the current pakistani bowling line up?
Bumrah is miles better than any bowler in Pakistan ATM. Shaheen is the only bowler that would provide some competition.

And again if Shami were in Pakistan he would walk into our side in all 3 formats with his eyes closed.

Saini is average though, doesn’t look like much of a thinking cricketer. Seems to be more of a red ball bowler, so I think we should wait and see how he goes later in the summer before completely writing him off.
 
Mark my words next match India bat first and score 380 and let's see what indian team bashers say here. Would be really entertaining to watch 😀
 
Good try at clowning but do you seriously think the likes of Bhuvi Trundler, Old man shami, and one season wonder Bumrah is better than the current pakistani bowling line up?

Starc got thrashed badly, more than bumrah. Two games in a row. He's probably aus's greatest limited overs seamer. Bhuvi would have definitely have been more successful than bumrah, imo.

I do wonder how Shaheen would have fared if he bowled on this pitch
 
Suck it up. They are getting marmalised.

Yes they are, but it has nothing to do with our poster boys of mediocrity that recently lost a home ODI to Zimbabwe.

Our fans need to look in the mirror first.

But then again, can you blame them? We are a terrible side, and that is bad enough already. If we stop making fun of India when they lose, how will we ever feel better?

So we have to find other ways to feel better since our team is not capable of winning on the pitch.
 
I don’t think Pakistani fans have the privilege to mock India. You can criticize but not make fun of them. So yes sorry for the whataboutism.

It is not about India only. We don’t have the right to mock any superior side, be it australia or England.

And who the hell are you to tell people what to say or what we should do. Get lost
 
You don’t have the privilege to tell anyone what to do because the response you often receive is quite humiliating. The reason why Pakistani fans are excessive in their criticism or mocking of Indian cricket is because of how you mock Pakistan in comparison, it is the poor Indians who have to suffer the ridicule because of the nonsense and hatred you spread.

You’ve made your bed, now sleep in it :shh

I am sorry but who gave you the authority to tell others what privilege they have? I didnt know that you needed privilege to criticize a team? Thats a ridiculous proposition to begin with. Guess this whole forum should shut down because we are a 6th ranked team, whats the point in discussing other teams? This couldnt get any more snowflakier than this!

If you want to defend India - defend it on merits not with these rubbish arguments.

Well that is my opinion. You are free to mock India just like I am free to remind Pakistani fans of the level of their team.
 
Mark my words next match India bat first and score 380 and let's see what indian team bashers say here. Would be really entertaining to watch 😀

I think you should remain humble for now. 370 and 390 in the space of 2 days is quite shameful when you claim to have Bumrah Wasim and Shami Younis, plus Saini Akhtar
 
Well that is my opinion. You are free to mock India just like I am free to remind Pakistani fans of the level of their team.

So we don’t have the privilege, and now we have the right?

What a bizarre human being
 
Well that is my opinion. You are free to mock India just like I am free to remind Pakistani fans of the level of their team.

If anything, you deserve to receive demerit points on such level of posting. You are not some theekaydar, mate.

Mocking, which you are calling it, i would call it criticizing is based on what the reality of the Indian team is right now. Pakistan is not the topic of discussion. This is proper snowflake behavior!
 
Yes they are, but it has nothing to do with our poster boys of mediocrity that recently lost a home ODI to Zimbabwe.

Our fans need to look in the mirror first.

But then again, can you blame them? We are a terrible side, and that is bad enough already. If we stop making fun of India when they lose, how will we ever feel better?

So we have to find other ways to feel better since our team is not capable of winning on the pitch.

Based on what we are seeing in Australia, India are also awful. They fell to pieces in the WC and are getting smashed here like when we smashed them in the CT, Should the Ind fans stop talking? Stop talking rubbish
 
Starc got thrashed badly, more than bumrah. Two games in a row. He's probably aus's greatest limited overs seamer. Bhuvi would have definitely have been more successful than bumrah, imo.

I do wonder how Shaheen would have fared if he bowled on this pitch

I can only guess may be 10 overs 85/1
 
If anything, you deserve to receive demerit points on such level of posting. You are not some theekaydar, mate.

Mocking, which you are calling it, i would call it criticizing is based on what the reality of the Indian team is right now. Pakistan is not the topic of discussion. This is proper snowflake behavior!

He’s not having a great day so I guess the nonsense coming out from him can be pardoned.

Another case of Majnu saith saying “Bolne de, Takleef hua hai bechare ko”.
 
Bumrah is miles better than any bowler in Pakistan ATM. Shaheen is the only bowler that would provide some competition.

And again if Shami were in Pakistan he would walk into our side in all 3 formats with his eyes closed.

Saini is average though, doesn’t look like much of a thinking cricketer. Seems to be more of a red ball bowler, so I think we should wait and see how he goes later in the summer before completely writing him off.

I reckon i was harsh on Bumrah, which happened in the heat of the moment. But i certainly dont rate the likes of Trundler Bhuvi or Old man Shami.

Not saying that we have legends sitting in our ranks, but my comment was never about India's bowling versus Pakistan. It was about the likes of Mamoon calling India's bowling line up as the best bowling line up which is ridiculous.

England, NZland far better.
 
Based on what we are seeing in Australia, India are also awful. They fell to pieces in the WC and are getting smashed here like when we smashed them in the CT, Should the Ind fans stop talking? Stop talking rubbish

Come on not again the CT final. Is this the only match you remember ? Not those 9 losses in CWC and the latest last year 🤭
 
Starc got thrashed badly, more than bumrah. Two games in a row. He's probably aus's greatest limited overs seamer. Bhuvi would have definitely have been more successful than bumrah, imo.

I do wonder how Shaheen would have fared if he bowled on this pitch

Its not about Pakistani bowling line up. Do you think India's bowling line up is the best in the world which was my point of contention to begin with?
 
I still feel that scores north of 300 lead to boring hackathons and aren't a good representation of proper cricket.

Haven't seen enough of Bumrah but it's always weirdly satisfying to see him bowl but these tracks are so flat that even he gets neutralized. These pitches are akin to defanging a tiger and then tell it to go hunt a bison.

It's painful to watch Henriques, Stoinis type bowlers bowling cutters banging the ball mid-pitch at the thunderous speed of 110 kph and being successful while the likes of Bumrah, Starc, Shami getting carted all over the place because they are offering the batters pace on the ball.

Cricket needs reverse swing and fast bowlers in this era to buck the trend of flat pitches, short boundaries, and ridiculously oversized bats.

250/7 playing 245/9 at the start of the 50th over is still the most entertaining form of cricket. If you want these hackathons, do all the experimentation in T20 cricket while leaving some authenticity in the 50 over version.
 
I reckon i was harsh on Bumrah, which happened in the heat of the moment. But i certainly dont rate the likes of Trundler Bhuvi or Old man Shami.

Not saying that we have legends sitting in our ranks, but my comment was never about India's bowling versus Pakistan. It was about the likes of Mamoon calling India's bowling line up as the best bowling line up which is ridiculous.

England, NZland far better.

To be honest the best bowling lineup currently is england in tests (in england), India (in India) and may be new Zealand (only in NZ). There are no really all country champs as west indies of 1970s and aussie of 2000s unfortunately.
 
Shameful posting here. I am a cricket fan. Doesn't matter how Pakistan fare, this game has nothing to do with Pakistan. If the only way you can defend India is by Dragging Pakistan in it than this is the best "You know things are bad when " post you will ever find on this forum .
 
Good try at clowning but do you seriously think the likes of Bhuvi Trundler, Old man shami, and one season wonder Bumrah is better than the current pakistani bowling line up?

Miles better. They just don't know what variations to use in this pitch and that's on the management. Bhuvi actually can clock 140. He is just injury prone.

Pakistani bowling is not on India's level. Don't be fooled by these flat Pattas pancake pitches. Any top bowler would get smashed.

Skippies were lucky they don't have to bowl early during the day on fresh patta pitches.
Night time is easier.
 
Did people actually call India's bowling the best? They are mediocre at best except their spinners who are good in India. That's it and always has been from last 20 years. It was the batting which used to win them games and the quality has dropped significantly from greats like Sachin, Sehwag, Dhoni and Yuvraj to only having an aging Kohli and Rohit. This is a team in decline and no new players with talent are coming up.
 
Its not about Pakistani bowling line up. Do you think India's bowling line up is the best in the world which was my point of contention to begin with?

It's no longer the best. It was for a while in the 2017-19 period when Chahal and Kuldeep were constantly restricting teams in the middle overs and Bumrah,Bhuvi were quite efficient with the new ball and at the death.

Now Kuldeep has lost it and Bumrah post injury is not even half of what he was before. I think Australia and New Zealand have the best attacks right now.
 
These Australia pitches are a disgrace to cricket. Spoiled 2015 WC as well. Why isn't anybody telling them to do away with this?
 
Its not about Pakistani bowling line up. Do you think India's bowling line up is the best in the world which was my point of contention to begin with?

Australian bowling is the best in Aussie condtions.

Indian bowling is the best in Asia.

England is the besttt in England.

N.z in n.z along with Aussies.

There is no one attack that's good everywhere. Not one.

Best attack for all condtions in tests are Aussies and India.

Best for odi across all condtions would be? No one.

On flat Pattas I don't see any bowling attack being successful unless they play at home.
 
Next world cup is in India so you know all these matches in Australia are pointless and India is going to win it.
 
It's no longer the best. It was for a while in the 2017-19 period when Chahal and Kuldeep were constantly restricting teams in the middle overs and Bumrah,Bhuvi were quite efficient with the new ball and at the death.

Now Kuldeep has lost it and Bumrah post injury is not even half of what he was before. I think Australia and New Zealand have the best attacks right now.

When did n.z ever win a series in India? When they win in Asia they can claim they are a good attack.

Aussies have a good attack but even they lost in India last time when they were at full strength.

India aren't quite full strength in this series are they?
 
Australian bowling is the best in Aussie condtions.

Indian bowling is the best in Asia.

England is the besttt in England.

N.z in n.z along with Aussies.

There is no one attack that's good everywhere. Not one.

Best attack for all condtions in tests are Aussies and India.

Best for odi across all condtions would be? No one.

On flat Pattas I don't see any bowling attack being successful unless they play at home.

I totally agree with you. I hated to watch aussies of 2000s but now I miss them. Wonder how much this australian team would have scored against 2000s aussie bowling 🤔
 
I think you should remain humble for now. 370 and 390 in the space of 2 days is quite shameful when you claim to have Bumrah Wasim and Shami Younis, plus Saini Akhtar

What you don't get is that all top bowlers got smashed here. Medium Pacers had more success.
Much easier to bowl under lights in the dark.

Your Wasim and waqar would get hammered for 410 on these pitches too. They have been smashed by far weaker teams in the past.
 
Unless he has changed recently, Virat is not like Sachin Tendulkar who will be contented to to score runs for the team under someone else's captaincy. He's got to be the captain. Drop him and his career is finished.

Yeah it was a great win, but the fact that we haven’t won a single series since 2002 means that no one cares about that fluke series win anymore.

The achievements of Pakistan and India over the last two decades are incomparable, and that is why I don’t see any reason why a Pakistani fan would be mocking the Indian team.

We would love for our team to be in the position. We would swap places in an instant.

Who else want to swap places with a team who concedes 370 plus in back 2 back matches
 
What you don't get is that all top bowlers got smashed here. Medium Pacers had more success.
Much easier to bowl under lights in the dark.

Your Wasim and waqar would get hammered for 410 on these pitches too. They have been smashed by far weaker teams in the past.

Plz don't speak of the Ws......
 
Steve GOAT smith, the difference between the two sides this series. :bow:

This is it. Put this guy in any other team and watch him belt Cummins Starc and Hazelwood into oblivion. Smith is the difference in Australia. No one can get him out. I don't know what this boy is on but whatever he is on every player needs to use it and abuse the crap out of it.
 
Next world cup is in India so you know all these matches in Australia are pointless and India is going to win it.

And the people who wants kohli's head now will unfortunately have to cover their faces on shame. And kohli will be a world cup winner and greatest batsman ever (with over 50 centuries 🤭)
 
What you don't get is that all top bowlers got smashed here. Medium Pacers had more success.
Much easier to bowl under lights in the dark.

Your Wasim and waqar would get hammered for 410 on these pitches too. They have been smashed by far weaker teams in the past.

Do few jumping jack......which would help 2 let go of ur ego......and delusion......and bakwass......
Highly recommended....
Pun intended
 
What you don't get is that all top bowlers got smashed here. Medium Pacers had more success.
Much easier to bowl under lights in the dark.

Your Wasim and waqar would get hammered for 410 on these pitches too. They have been smashed by far weaker teams in the past.

No I get that. Alhamdolillah I play cricket with a sportsman’s spirit so I understand the ups and downs of the game. But I would suggest the Indian fans wanting to hit back with their bragging rights to display some humility at the moment.

What if India do score 360 in the last game and with the form their bowlers are in, do not defend it? How silly would those chest beaters look then?
 
Plz don't speak of the Ws......

I don't want to disrespect them. Actually just him. wasim.the other one whose name I won't mention because he was just plain awful to be honest vs good sides.

I am not wrong though. No attack would be able to stop Smith on this track. These flat Pattas are made to be belters especially during the day. All fast bowlers will get destroyed.
It's a medium fast heaven.dilbbly dobbies did real well here. Henriques, stoinis last time, zampa with his weird hops, Maxwell pandya etc.
 
This is it. Put this guy in any other team and watch him belt Cummins Starc and Hazelwood into oblivion. Smith is the difference in Australia. No one can get him out. I don't know what this boy is on but whatever he is on every player needs to use it and abuse the crap out of it.

So Bumrah and Sami are not good enough 2 contain a worldclass bat.....Saini the perpetual learner is not good......
What would have happend if sami Bumrah were in 90s....almost every team had world class bats....more than one....

Arrange few matches with Lanka.....it will feel good
 
Do few jumping jack......which would help 2 let go of ur ego......and delusion......and bakwass......
Highly recommended....
Pun intended

Everything I said is spot on. Come back when Aussies can actually win whilst playing under the lights. On this pitch you need to take pace of the ball and just bowl a lot of variations. Perfect for guys like Bhuvi who would have owned finch as usual. He also has a phenomenal record against you chumps btw. When finch fires Aussies win. When he doesn't they lose.
 
Everything I said is spot on. Come back when Aussies can actually win whilst playing under the lights. On this pitch you need to take pace of the ball and just bowl a lot of variations. Perfect for guys like Bhuvi who would have owned finch as usual. He also has a phenomenal record against you chumps btw. When finch fires Aussies win. When he doesn't they lose.

Excuses will come out of u like waterfall....Bhuvi is lucky 2 miss out.......otherwise he would have been murdered literally.....
 
No I get that. Alhamdolillah I play cricket with a sportsman’s spirit so I understand the ups and downs of the game. But I would suggest the Indian fans wanting to hit back with their bragging rights to display some humility at the moment.

What if India do score 360 in the last game and with the form their bowlers are in, do not defend it? How silly would those chest beaters look then?

Well if they win. They win right? We are also not quite full strength tbh. I am yet to see both teams compete at absolute full strength.

Last time that happened was in India. India won 2-1.
 
Excuses will come out of u like waterfall....Bhuvi is lucky 2 miss out.......otherwise he would have been murdered literally.....

Bhuvi took finch's head out in 5 games out of 7. Yea buddy I think he would have been fine on this pitch.
 
So Bumrah and Sami are not good enough 2 contain a worldclass bat.....Saini the perpetual learner is not good......
What would have happend if sami Bumrah were in 90s....almost every team had world class bats....more than one....

Arrange few matches with Lanka.....it will feel good

They are but on Pattas no one will be able to get wickets. Not them and definitely not your two Ws in flat Pattas.
It is hard.
 
Its not about Pakistani bowling line up. Do you think India's bowling line up is the best in the world which was my point of contention to begin with?

The only other bowlers who could've performed better are boult and maybe Archer. Starc and bumrah are one of the best bowlers in the world
 
Finch ......so what ...what about Warner Smith Maxi Labu .....

Have a look at Australia's record. When finch fires they win. Or else they lose often.

Finch is key. Always. Smith comes later. We all know he is a monster in Australia. But finch is always the main danger. He sets the pace.
 
I am talking about ODIs.

We haven’t won an ODI series against Australia since 2002 and we haven’t won an ODI series against England since 2005.

Who cares about JAMODIS ? While You are at it , please know that Pakistan has a much better ODI record in Australia than India, but no one actually cares about it, because its the tests only that count.
 
2nd ODI: Virat Kohli Feels India Were "Ineffective With The Ball" In Second Straight Loss

After crashing to a 51-run defeat in the second ODI, India captain Virat Kohli felt that his side's bowlers weren't effective against Australia at the Sydney Cricket Ground, on Sunday. Just like the first ODI, the visitors' bowlers were expensive against the Aussies, with Jasprit Bumrah conceding 79 runs in 10 overs, and notching a wicket. Mohammed Shami conceded 73 runs from nine overs, and grabbed a dismissal. Meanwhile, Hardik Pandya made his return to bowling on a good note, registering a wicket in four overs, and conceding 24 runs. After the match, Kohli said, "We were ineffective with the ball, and didn't hit the areas."

The hosts posted a target of 390 runs, with Steve Smith scoring a superb century (104 runs from 64 balls). Meanwhile, David Warner (83), Aaron Finch (60), Marnus Labuschagne (70) and Glenn Maxwell (63) also grabbed half-centuries.

"They have a strong batting line-up, they know the conditions and the angles well. The chase felt steep, and one or two wickets would take the RRR up so we had to keep hitting. They took the chances that they created in the field, which was the difference," he quipped.

Also explaining his decision to use Pandya as a bowler, Kohli said that the all-rounder felt okay to bowl. Kohli revealed that he didn't plan to use Pandya for four overs, but the Mumbai Indians (MI) cricketer felt good, so he bowled more deliveries. "I think he (Pandya) gave away a bit of a bowling plan on this pitch, a lot of them bowled cutters. His bowling was out of nowhere I just asked him", said Kohli.

Even opposition captain Finch quipped, "As Virat said, we probably got a blueprint with Hardik's bowling, he was really hard to hit with pace off deliveries".

This was the first time Pandya bowled for India since his return from injury. He grabbed the wicket of Smith.

India could only muster 338 for nine from 50 overs, and fell short by a big margin. Kohli said that if KL Rahul or Shreyas Iyer could have continued batting, they could have reached the target with Pandya coming into help in the death overs.

Kohli scored 89 runs from 87 balls.

Listen to the latest songs, only on JioSaavn.com
The visitors lost the first ODI by 66 runs in the same venue on Friday. The hosts lead 2-0 in the three-match ODI series, and Kohli will be hoping to prevent a whitewash in the third ODI on December 2.

Other than the ODIs, both sides face each other in three T20Is and a four-match Test series.

https://sports.ndtv.com/australia-v...with-the-ball-in-second-straight-loss-2331802
 
On the back of another sublime century from Steve Smith and a couple of classic catches, Australia comprehensively sealed the three-match Dettol ODI Series but might have sustained a sizeable blow for the Test campaign to follow.

The sight of Test opener David Warner hobbling from the field early in India's chase of Australia's imposing 50-over total of 4-389 with what appeared to be a serious groin injury will have tempered any celebrations as his teammates await an update on its severity.

India's concerns heading into the ODI series finale at Canberra on Wednesday – then the three-match Dettol T20I Series that precedes the Vodafone Tests starting December 17 – are essentially two-fold.

Firstly, they must unearth a means of stopping Smith who has taken his already exceptional game to a new level by scoring at a rate in excess of 160 per 100 balls faced in his two international outings so far this summer.

Secondly, and complementarily, they need one of their top-order batters to emulate the Australia maestro and turn solid starts into triple-figure scores.

In posting their second consecutive 300-plus run-chase – this time falling 51 runs short – India have produced 13 individual scores of 20 or more but are yet to celebrate a century.

They were set a target of 375 to win on Friday night, and despite posting their second-highest ODI run chase at the SCG they finished 66 runs adrift.

Tonight they faced a mountain scaled only twice previously in almost 50 years of 50-over men's cricket, and never in Australia.

Indeed, India's highest successful ODI run chase anywhere on the planet came at Jaipur in the dizzyingly high-scoring 2013 series when Kohli's unbeaten century off 52 balls carried them to a remarkable 1-362 off just 43.3 overs.

The memory of that game would have remained strong for the India skipper, though he might not have harboured such fond recollections of the SCG where he averaged just 9.5 from his previous six ODI knocks with a best effort of 21 last Friday night.

But he strode to the crease shortly after 7.30pm tonight, with a cool south-easterly having doused the day's earlier scorching heat, carrying a reputation as the greatest second-innings batter the 50-over game has known, averaging almost 70 in run chases for his country.

By that stage of the game, Australia had already suffered a significant blow with Warner sent to hospital for scans on the adductor muscle he damaged in performing a tumbling save at mid-off in the innings' fourth over.

The loss of openers Shikhar Dhawan (30 off 23) and Mayank Agarwal (28 off 26) dulled India's early onslaught, but while Kohli remained at the wicket there was a sense no target was too lofty.

That was apparent when he miscued a pull shot from the bowling of Pat Cummins that soared into the crowd, only compounding Australia's joy when he was adjudged lbw next delivery with just 11 to his name.

No sooner had umpire Paul Reiffel's finger been raised than Kohli had called for a review, his surety he had edged the ball onto his pad vindicated by technology.

From then on, he played hardly a false stroke and it took two moments of brilliance from Australia in the field to hobble his team and curtail his brilliance.

The first came from the irrepressible Smith, who threw himself goalkeeper-style to his right at mid-wicket, hanging parallel to the turf to hold an airborne pull shot from Shreyas Iyer (38 from 36) who had combined for a 93-run stand with Kohli.

The next was near identical in execution but carried even greater gravity, as Moises Henriques – playing his first ODI for more than three years – launched to his left to cleanly intercept a cross-bat shot Kohli had rifled through the leg side.

His departure for 89 from 87 balls faced left India needing 165 from their final 15 overs, with K.L. Rahul and Hardik Pandya (top scorer in Friday night's failed chase) the last specialists batting and, seemingly, India's final hope.

But Rahul's departure for 76 as he tried to blaze a boundary from every delivery, and Pandya's inability to lay bat on a series of balls from Cummins meant the target was never seriously in peril.

It was possible the day's most decisive blow was landed half an hour before the first ball was bowled.

With a foul nor-westerly howling across the SCG and temperatures around the city peaking above 40C, Kohli's frustration was palpable when his team was condemned to the field.

With no change to their starting XI – Australia's sole alteration from Friday's win was allrounder Henriques replacing injured Marcus Stoinis – India were relying on an improved bowling effort to avoid a repeat of two days earlier.

But despite Jasprit Bumrah beginning with a maiden, the tourists' bowling innings quickly started to follow a familiar pattern as Warner and Finch assuredly turned a solid start into a formidable foundation.

Where skipper Aaron Finch was the pacesetter on Friday, Warner took the front-running and scored 37 of the pair's first 50 runs.

By the time they posted their 12th century partnership in ODIs – with only Adam Gilchrist and Matthew Hayden's 16 hundred opening stands ahead of them for Australia – Finch had picked up the pace and another daunting total loomed.

He was slowed temporarily when taken unawares by a waist-high full toss from Navdeep Saini – teammates in this year's Indian Premier League - that left him doubled up, as much in shock as pain with India keeper Rahul offering some not-so-expert medical help.

It was against the run of play therefore when Finch fell for 60, his attempt to flick Mohammed Shami through the leg side finding a leading edge that landed with Kohli at extra cover.

But his departure only heightened Warner's urgency, which brought about a second unexpected breakthrough three overs later when the opener squandered what seemed an almost certain century in his quest for an extra run.

Scampering for a single after Smith knocked spinner Ravi Jadeja to long-on, Warner instantly saw a second but his usually impeccable dive for the crease line was thwarted by a direct hit from Shreyas Iyer and his innings ended at 83 from 77 balls.

His night then finished less than four overs into India's chase, and his immediate playing future rests on the result of scans taken this evening.

The dual setback did not hamper Australia's progress, as batting buddies Smith and Marnus Labuschagne were united for the first meaningful time this summer.

Whereas Smith's innings last Friday seemed to involve significantly more muscle, today's was a study in style as he manipulated the ball through rather than over the field using unorthodox bat-face angles and incomparable timing.

The 31-year-old targeted Jadeja who had been India's most economical bowler among the runs flurry (his first seven overs costing 29 runs) hitting the left-armer for four through cover and then six over midwicket before taking consecutive boundaries from the next over of Saini's.

Smith's half-century arrived soon after, as did his 100-run stand with Labuschagne as the pair pushed Australia beyond 250 heading into the final 10 overs of their innings.

That's when the former Australia captain really got going.

Using deft touch and only the occasional flourish of brute force, Smith surged from 70 to a century in 13 deliveries that yielded four boundaries and a six to equal his benchmark from Friday night where his 62-ball century was the third-fastest in Australia batter in ODIs.

He would have bettered it by one ball had Labuschagne not lost his footing when turning for a second run when Smith was on 99.

And the milestone only heightened the audacity of Smith's strokeplay, as he launched an extraordinary falling-down ramp shot to send a Hardik Pandya delivery from way outside off-stump to the fine-leg fence.

His next trick, the toppling-over late cut, brought his demise for 104 (off 64 balls) which allowed Labuschagne and Glenn Maxwell to share the spotlight for most of the final 52 deliveries of the innings which brought 97 runs.

Labuschagne finished with 70 from 61 while Maxwell followed his blazing cameo from Friday with an even more incandescent effort, 63 not out from just 29 deliveries laced with four sixes and as many boundaries as he stood and swung like a baseball slugger.

With five scores of 50-plus in their 4-389, Australia equalled a record for most such milestones in an ODI innings which also came against India, at that game in Jaipur as part of the run-glut series of 2013.

And for the second time in as many matches, India occasionally raised hopes they were up to the huge challenge before once again ending well short.

Dettol ODI Series v India 2020

Australia ODI squad: Aaron Finch (c), Sean Abbott, Ashton Agar, Alex Carey , Pat Cummins (vc), Cameron Green, Josh Hazlewood, Moises Henriques, Marnus Labuschagne, Glenn Maxwell, Daniel Sams, Steven Smith, Mitchell Starc, Marcus Stoinis, Andrew Tye, Matthew Wade, David Warner, Adam Zampa

India ODI squad: Virat Kohli (c), Shikhar Dhawan, Shubman Gill, KL Rahul (wk), Sanju Samson (wk), Shreyas Iyer, Manish Pandey, Hardik Pandya, Mayank Agarwal, Ravindra Jadeja, Yuzvendra Chahal, Kuldeep Yadav, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Shami, Navdeep Saini, Shardul Thakur.

First ODI: Australia won by 66 runs

Second ODI: November 29, SCG, 2.40pm AEDT

Third ODI: December 2, Manuka Oval, 2.40pm AEDT

https://www.cricket.com.au/news/mat...ts-report-kohli-finch-bumrah-starc/2020-11-29
 
Oof the Indian bowlers have taken some hammer in the 2 ODIs.

They must be wondering what's hit them.
 
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