Kohli hits 40th ODI ton as India make 250
By Paritosh Pramanik
NAGPUR, Mar 5
IT WAS not a colossal innings. Neither was it a hurricane knock. What Virat Kohli produced was an innings filled with responsibility, stitched with calmness and driven by sheer control.
The Indian captain slammed a responsible century but other batsmen faltered as India posted 250 against Australia in the second One-Day International here at VCA Stadium in Jamtha on Tuesday.
It was an innings of substance from Kohli who slammed 116 from 120 deliveries and 10 boundaries. His fourth wicket partnership of 81 runs with rookie Vijay 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 of India’s innings, frustratingly saw wickets fall from the other end but used all his mental toughness to carve out another best effort. The Kohli-Shankar partnership gave India some edge. More than that, it gave more confidence to Shankar who was playing only his sixth ODI.
India had a poor start with Rohit Sharma (0) and Shikhar Dhawan (21) failing with the bat.
Sharma, who had a century at the venue in 2017, got out for a duck as tried to slap-cut the ball towards third-man only to see Adam Zampa collecting an easy catch off Pat Cummins.
Dhawan started with a couple of boundaries but failed to convert it into big. He flicked one to fence off Nathan Coulter-Nile and then pulled one towards long on to open up his arms. With captain Kohli, the duo added 38 runs for the second wicket. But Dhawan’s innings was cut short by Glenn Maxwell who trapped him in front. Australia asked for DRS after umpire turned down their appeal. However, TV replays showed that the ball was hitting the leg stump and Australia retained their review.
Ambati Rayudu (18) and Kohli tried to resurrect the innings but boundaries dried up. There was a passage of time when not a single boundary was scored for 51 deliveries.
But in the 15th over Rayudu played a beautiful cover drive to hit his first four off Maxwell. In the next over, a Zampa full toss was sent to mid-wicket fence as India started gaining the momentum.
Kohli started well but had to contain his shots after Dhawan’s fall. Occasionally he punished the loose deliveries but most on the times, he played for singles and twos. The Rayudu-Kohli partnership too did not last long. Rayudu was trapped by Nathan Lyon in his first over. After Rayudu’s departure, the Indian captain continued to absorb pressure and hit two successive boundaries off his nemesis Zampa. The first one was between fine-leg and square-leg and the second was through covers giving no chance to the boundary fielders. Shankar, on the other hand, started with a couple and a few singles. He then slapped a boundary in the next Coulter-Nile over breaching three off-side fielders as India reached 100 in the 21st over.
Shankar, who did not get chance in the first ODI, grabbed the opportunity and played some breathtaking shots which even Kohli acknowledged. He once glanced a ball to fine leg boundary and then in the 25th over hit a straight boundary off Coulter-Nile to pace up the innings.
Though Kohli did not entertain the crowd with his huge hits, he cleverly stitched his innings to inch closer to his 40th century.
The incredible Indian captain finally completed his century with a backward point boundary off Coulter-Nile. The innings was totally an unlike Kohli. It did not had even 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 Kedar Jadhav and MS Dhoni failed to produce heroics as they were sent back on successive deliveries by Zampa.
First, Jadhav gave a regulation catch to Finch at short cover and then Dhoni nudged one back to Usman Khawaja at first slip for a first ball duck.
Ravindra Jadeja and Kohli added a valuable 67 runs for the seventh wicket which helped India reach 249.
Cummins was the most successful bowler for Australia with four wickets which included the prized wicket of Indian captain. Zampa was the most expensive bowler and took two wickets while Coulter-Nile, Maxwell and Lyon took one each.
By Paritosh Pramanik
NAGPUR, Mar 5
IT WAS not a colossal innings. Neither was it a hurricane knock. What Virat Kohli produced was an innings filled with responsibility, stitched with calmness and driven by sheer control.
The Indian captain slammed a responsible century but other batsmen faltered as India posted 250 against Australia in the second One-Day International here at VCA Stadium in Jamtha on Tuesday.
It was an innings of substance from Kohli who slammed 116 from 120 deliveries and 10 boundaries. His fourth wicket partnership of 81 runs with rookie Vijay 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 of India’s innings, frustratingly saw wickets fall from the other end but used all his mental toughness to carve out another best effort. The Kohli-Shankar partnership gave India some edge. More than that, it gave more confidence to Shankar who was playing only his sixth ODI.
India had a poor start with Rohit Sharma (0) and Shikhar Dhawan (21) failing with the bat.
Sharma, who had a century at the venue in 2017, got out for a duck as tried to slap-cut the ball towards third-man only to see Adam Zampa collecting an easy catch off Pat Cummins.
Dhawan started with a couple of boundaries but failed to convert it into big. He flicked one to fence off Nathan Coulter-Nile and then pulled one towards long on to open up his arms. With captain Kohli, the duo added 38 runs for the second wicket. But Dhawan’s innings was cut short by Glenn Maxwell who trapped him in front. Australia asked for DRS after umpire turned down their appeal. However, TV replays showed that the ball was hitting the leg stump and Australia retained their review.
Ambati Rayudu (18) and Kohli tried to resurrect the innings but boundaries dried up. There was a passage of time when not a single boundary was scored for 51 deliveries.
But in the 15th over Rayudu played a beautiful cover drive to hit his first four off Maxwell. In the next over, a Zampa full toss was sent to mid-wicket fence as India started gaining the momentum.
Kohli started well but had to contain his shots after Dhawan’s fall. Occasionally he punished the loose deliveries but most on the times, he played for singles and twos. The Rayudu-Kohli partnership too did not last long. Rayudu was trapped by Nathan Lyon in his first over. After Rayudu’s departure, the Indian captain continued to absorb pressure and hit two successive boundaries off his nemesis Zampa. The first one was between fine-leg and square-leg and the second was through covers giving no chance to the boundary fielders. Shankar, on the other hand, started with a couple and a few singles. He then slapped a boundary in the next Coulter-Nile over breaching three off-side fielders as India reached 100 in the 21st over.
Shankar, who did not get chance in the first ODI, grabbed the opportunity and played some breathtaking shots which even Kohli acknowledged. He once glanced a ball to fine leg boundary and then in the 25th over hit a straight boundary off Coulter-Nile to pace up the innings.
Though Kohli did not entertain the crowd with his huge hits, he cleverly stitched his innings to inch closer to his 40th century.
The incredible Indian captain finally completed his century with a backward point boundary off Coulter-Nile. The innings was totally an unlike Kohli. It did not had even 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 Kedar Jadhav and MS Dhoni failed to produce heroics as they were sent back on successive deliveries by Zampa.
First, Jadhav gave a regulation catch to Finch at short cover and then Dhoni nudged one back to Usman Khawaja at first slip for a first ball duck.
Ravindra Jadeja and Kohli added a valuable 67 runs for the seventh wicket which helped India reach 249.
Cummins was the most successful bowler for Australia with four wickets which included the prized wicket of Indian captain. Zampa was the most expensive bowler and took two wickets while Coulter-Nile, Maxwell and Lyon took one each.
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