Kohli, Shankar give India thrilling win in second ODI
By Paritosh Pramanik
NAGPUR, Mar 5
PRESSURE brings the best out of this Indian team. Put under pressure in the last game, Mahendra Singh Dhoni and Kedar Jadhav came out victors with their match-winning effort. Here at VCA Jamtha Stadium, Virat Kohli and Vijay Shankar first took the total to 250 and then the latter bowled over of his life taking two wickets in space of three deliveries that helped India beat Australia by eight runs.
In the edge of the seat encounter which went to the last over, Indian bowlers complemented captain Kohli’s responsible century (116; 120b, 10x4) with sharp bowling and thinking to take 2-0 lead in the five-match series.
Australia needed 11 from the last over but Shankar took two wickets from his first and third balls to crush their dream.
Seamer Jasprit Bumrah once again proved why he was rated among the top bowlers in the world with figures of 10-0-29-2. Spinner Kuldeep Yadav, Ravindra Jadeja and Jadhav shared five wickets amongst them which shut the door on the Australians.
After putting up 250, thanks to Kohli’s knock, bowlers strangulated Australia with tight and accurate bowling.
An impressive Bumrah bowled an excellent ninth over picking wickets on his second and fourth deliveries to strengthen the grip. This after Yadav had sent back dangerous-looking Alex Carey (22), after being hit for a four in the same over.
Indian bowlers delivered what their captain demanded. Despite defending a meagre 250 and with Australia starting off well with an 83 runs first wicket partnership between Aaron Finch (37) and Usman Khawaja (38), India never lost hope.
Boundaries flew thick and fast as the Aussie openers raced to 50 in just 9.2 overs. Shankar was hit for 13 runs from his first over with Finch picking up two boundaries and Khawaja one.
But introduction of spinners put brakes on the flow of runs. India managed to halt scoring with two quick wickets.
By 15th over, both openers were back in hut. Yadav trapped Finch in front and exactly after six deliveries, Jadhav bowled a beautiful delivery to force Khawaja give a simple catch to Kohli at short covers.
Shaun Marsh and Peter Handscomb added 39 runs for the third wicket but never looked comfortable against spinners. Dhoni showed agility behind the stumps taking a sharp catch off Yadav to see the back of Marsh. Dangerman Glenn Maxwell was kept quiet as he consumed 18 deliveries before being bowled by a Yadav delivery which kept low.
Handscomb waged a lone battle scoring 48 runs but was sent back by Jadeja who ran him out with a direct hit.
Marcus Stoinis kept Australian hopes floating with a gritty half century (52) but his departure in the last over sealed the deal.
Earlier, Kohli’s was not a colossal innings. Neither was it a hurricane knock. What he produced was an innings filled with responsibility, stitched with calmness and driven by control.
The Indian captain slammed a responsible ton but other batsmen faltered as managed 250.
It was an innings of substance from Kohli who slammed 116 from 120 deliveries and 10 boundaries, the last one being his 1000th four. His fourth wicket partnership of 81 runs with Shankar (46; 41b, 5x4, 1x6 ) gave India stability after the hosts were reeling at 75 for three.
Kohli, who entered the field as early as in the second over, saw wickets fall from the other end but used his mental toughness to carve out another best effort. The Kohli-Shankar partnership gave India the edge. More than that, it gave confidence to Shankar playing only his sixth ODI.
Apart from the 81-run stand, Kohli also had a very important 67 runs partnership with Jadeja (12) which was instrumental in India reaching 250 mark.
Kohli started well but had to curtail his shots. Occasionally, he punished loose deliveries but most of the times he played for singles and twos.
His innings was unlike Kohli. It did not have a single six. Most of his shots were carpet driven. The captain achieved personal milestones but wanted to take India miles ahead of the Australians. But he lacked in partners.
Two quick wickets put pressure back on India. Last match’s heroes Jadhav and Dhoni were sent back on successive deliveries by Zampa.
Shankar played perhaps the best match of his just-started career. Batting with Kohli, flourished. He did exactly that while bowling the last over of the match.
By Paritosh Pramanik
NAGPUR, Mar 5
PRESSURE brings the best out of this Indian team. Put under pressure in the last game, Mahendra Singh Dhoni and Kedar Jadhav came out victors with their match-winning effort. Here at VCA Jamtha Stadium, Virat Kohli and Vijay Shankar first took the total to 250 and then the latter bowled over of his life taking two wickets in space of three deliveries that helped India beat Australia by eight runs.
In the edge of the seat encounter which went to the last over, Indian bowlers complemented captain Kohli’s responsible century (116; 120b, 10x4) with sharp bowling and thinking to take 2-0 lead in the five-match series.
Australia needed 11 from the last over but Shankar took two wickets from his first and third balls to crush their dream.
Seamer Jasprit Bumrah once again proved why he was rated among the top bowlers in the world with figures of 10-0-29-2. Spinner Kuldeep Yadav, Ravindra Jadeja and Jadhav shared five wickets amongst them which shut the door on the Australians.
After putting up 250, thanks to Kohli’s knock, bowlers strangulated Australia with tight and accurate bowling.
An impressive Bumrah bowled an excellent ninth over picking wickets on his second and fourth deliveries to strengthen the grip. This after Yadav had sent back dangerous-looking Alex Carey (22), after being hit for a four in the same over.
Indian bowlers delivered what their captain demanded. Despite defending a meagre 250 and with Australia starting off well with an 83 runs first wicket partnership between Aaron Finch (37) and Usman Khawaja (38), India never lost hope.
Boundaries flew thick and fast as the Aussie openers raced to 50 in just 9.2 overs. Shankar was hit for 13 runs from his first over with Finch picking up two boundaries and Khawaja one.
But introduction of spinners put brakes on the flow of runs. India managed to halt scoring with two quick wickets.
By 15th over, both openers were back in hut. Yadav trapped Finch in front and exactly after six deliveries, Jadhav bowled a beautiful delivery to force Khawaja give a simple catch to Kohli at short covers.
Shaun Marsh and Peter Handscomb added 39 runs for the third wicket but never looked comfortable against spinners. Dhoni showed agility behind the stumps taking a sharp catch off Yadav to see the back of Marsh. Dangerman Glenn Maxwell was kept quiet as he consumed 18 deliveries before being bowled by a Yadav delivery which kept low.
Handscomb waged a lone battle scoring 48 runs but was sent back by Jadeja who ran him out with a direct hit.
Marcus Stoinis kept Australian hopes floating with a gritty half century (52) but his departure in the last over sealed the deal.
Earlier, Kohli’s was not a colossal innings. Neither was it a hurricane knock. What he produced was an innings filled with responsibility, stitched with calmness and driven by control.
The Indian captain slammed a responsible ton but other batsmen faltered as managed 250.
It was an innings of substance from Kohli who slammed 116 from 120 deliveries and 10 boundaries, the last one being his 1000th four. His fourth wicket partnership of 81 runs with Shankar (46; 41b, 5x4, 1x6 ) gave India stability after the hosts were reeling at 75 for three.
Kohli, who entered the field as early as in the second over, saw wickets fall from the other end but used his mental toughness to carve out another best effort. The Kohli-Shankar partnership gave India the edge. More than that, it gave confidence to Shankar playing only his sixth ODI.
Apart from the 81-run stand, Kohli also had a very important 67 runs partnership with Jadeja (12) which was instrumental in India reaching 250 mark.
Kohli started well but had to curtail his shots. Occasionally, he punished loose deliveries but most of the times he played for singles and twos.
His innings was unlike Kohli. It did not have a single six. Most of his shots were carpet driven. The captain achieved personal milestones but wanted to take India miles ahead of the Australians. But he lacked in partners.
Two quick wickets put pressure back on India. Last match’s heroes Jadhav and Dhoni were sent back on successive deliveries by Zampa.
Shankar played perhaps the best match of his just-started career. Batting with Kohli, flourished. He did exactly that while bowling the last over of the match.
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