India wins their 2nd of five ODIs against Australia beating them by 50 runs at Eden Gardens on Thursday. India won the rain-curtailed 1st ODI in Chennai. It was raining in Kolkata on Wednesday with the grounds being kept covered. There was high chances of rain affecting the match today as well. But the weather remained calm today.
A brilliant opening spell from Bhuvneshwar Kumar and a terrific maiden hat-trick from Kuldeep Yadav towards the end of the innings helped India beat Australia. He became the third Indian to take a hat-trick against Australia.
Batting first, India set a 253-run target to Australia with skipper Virat Kohli scoring 92. Then, bowlers dismissed Australia for 202 runs to set up a 50-run win.
Virat Kohli missed a milestone ton in the Kolkata ODI against Australia on Thursday. Kohli, who is tied with Ricky Ponting with 31 ODI centuries, needed just eight more runs to become second-highest century-maker in the 50-over format. Indian Cricket legend Sachin Tendulkar with 49 centuries is on the top of that list.
Aussie bowlers, Nathan-Coulter-Nile and Kane Richardson picked up three wickets, while Pat Cummins and Ashton Agar picked one each. But Australian batting side never looked settled, after having lost openers Hilton Cartwright and David Warner early.
Captain Steve Smith’s 59 in his 100th ODI gave hope for the visitors, but Hardik Pandya caught out Smith when he was settling. Marcus Stoinis, scored his maiden fifty, but Kane Richardson’s LBW made the final wicket for Bhuvneshwar and denied Australia the match.
As a last chance for Australia to hop back to the championship, now they have 3rd ODI on Sunday at Indore.
India have an 11-8 win-loss record at this historic venue and have clashed with Australia just once 14 years ago.
