Jaipur: An inspired India pulled off an incredible nine-wicket victory over Australia in the second one-day international, achieving the second highest ever run chase in ODI history in what turned out to be a high scoring contest here on Wednesday.
Chasing a mammoth victory target of 360 on a belter of a track at the Sawai Man Singh Stadium, India crossed the line with a 40 balls to spare as records tumbled like nine pins.
This was also India’s highest ever successful run chase as the hosts restored parity 1-1 in the seven-match series.
Rohit Sharma (141 not out), Virat Kohli (100 not out) and Shikhar Dhawan (95) were the main contributors for India.
Kohli took a more than decent Australian attack to task with the fastest ever ODI century by an Indian and seventh fastest in the world, scored in only 52 balls.
This was his 16th ODI century in 115 matches. His innings had eight fours and seven sixes.
Rohit (141 not out from 123 balls) got a well-deserved third ODI century while Shikhar Dhawan again showed love for anything Australian but was unlucky to miss out on a ton.
It was a match where the Australians created a world record with their five top batsmen scoring half-centuries but the Indian batsmen proved they were better on the night.
Skipper George Bailey once again played a smashing innings. Coming in at number four, he 92 runs from just 50 deliveries.
Opening batsman Phil Hughes also played a valuable part with an innings of 83.
Although none of the Indian bowlers came away unscathed, it is worrying that Ishant Sharma was once against left looking clueless, conceding 70 runs from his nine overs, which should only increase the calls for his head after poor performances earlier in the one-off T20 international and the first one-dayer.
The Australians now have the ignominy of ending second best in two highest run-chases having faced similar fate against Herschelle Gibbs’ South Africa seven years back, when they failed to defend a mammoth score of 434.
Indian batting’s troika showed why they are not afraid of any target and reasserted India’s supremacy in the 50-over format.
While bowling continues to be a worrying factor for skipper MS Dhoni, he should at least feel happy that Kohli along with Rohit and Shikhar are ready to take the legacy of Indian batting forward in the next decade.
“I think this is one of the best you can see, irrespective of the field restrictions and the pitch, it was still a tall chase,” Dhoni said at the presentation ceremony.
“I told them not to look at the target and just go and play. Shikhar batted very well, Kohli was amazing, Rohit got a big knock. It was an ideal pitch, fast outfield, but you need to keep the shape as a batsman, that’s what they did well.”
Rohit was named Man-of-the-Match.
“It was very important for me to play the big innings,” he said.
“It took a long time coming, but I would like to say that the hardwork never stopped. I wanted to bat throughout the innings, I agree that I have played some stupid shots to get out, but this was much needed.” (PTI)
