India has set a target of 253 runs in 50 overs for Australia in the second ODI being played at Eden Gardens in Kolkata. Virat Kohli won the toss and chose to bat first in conditions favorable for batting. India went into the match with the same playing eleven as first ODI. However, Australia made two changes to their side, as Ashton Agar and Kane Richardson came in the side at the expense of Adam Zampa and James Faulkner.
India did not have the best of starts to their innings as they lost Rohit Sharma early to Nathan Coulter-Nile who took a great reaction catch of his bowling. India’s skipper then took on the responsibility to stabilize the innings with Ajinkya Rahane. Both the players scored well-established half-centuries to get into a comfortable position.
But Rahane’s wicket triggered another middle-order collapse for the Indian team. India lost three wickets for 23 runs in 18 deliveries. Kohli fell eight runs short of a well-deserved century. This century would have taken his tally to 31 centuries which would have taken him to the second spot on the list with most centuries.
For Australia, Coulter-Nile was the pick of the bowlers again. After taking four wickets in the first match, he took three crucial wickets of Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, and Kedar Jhadav.
Rain interrupted play in the 47th over amidst huge controversy over Hardik Pandya’s wicket. However, after much debate, Pandya was adjudged not out.
Australia needs 253 runs in their quota of 50 overs to level the series 1-1.
Let’s have a look at how Twitter reacted after India’s innings.
India have won the toss and are batting first in Kolkata.
LIVE: https://t.co/8861maq9VL #INDvAUS pic.twitter.com/L3OEPlsEkb
— ICC (@ICC) September 21, 2017
Congratulations @msdhoni for your 300th ODI representing India,today.
What a phenomenal journey this has been. Best wishes always.#INDvAUS— VVS Laxman (@VVSLaxman281) September 21, 2017
Bhuvneshwar smashes one back and knocks Pandya out at the non-striker's end. That looked brutal, but Pandya is fine #INDvAUS
— Cricbuzz (@cricbuzz) September 21, 2017
Unlucky to miss out on a hundred, but that was another Masterclass from Virat. Stage set for Dhoni and Hardik for last 12 overs.#INDvAUS
— VVS Laxman (@VVSLaxman281) September 21, 2017
Virat Kohli…
His 6th score in the 90s in ODIs
99
96*
94
92
91
91#IndvAus— Mohandas Menon (@mohanstatsman) September 21, 2017
https://twitter.com/TheRohitGulati/status/910820915142782976
https://twitter.com/rajivv1390/status/910830392390774784
https://twitter.com/StarCricket/status/910832578583683072
Wtf. Smith wants that as out. Unsportsmanlike!!!! #INDvAUS
— Swapnil joshi (@Unique_aamAadmi) September 21, 2017
https://twitter.com/Live_BCCITv/status/910832565736456193
https://twitter.com/Live_BCCI/status/910832449915035649
253 is the target to defend! A task ahead for bowlers!#INDvAUS
— Shreyas Srinivasan (@ShreyasS_) September 21, 2017
Bumrah has the highest strike of the match so far#INDvAUS #gunrrahh
— Akki (@CrickPotato) September 21, 2017
https://twitter.com/yasin0786/status/910838900762984448