The ongoing second ODI between Australia and India at Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG) is seeing a repeat of the previous match as Australia batted after winning the toss and the openers put a century partnership yet again.
Last match Aaron Finch and David Warner had added 150 plus runs and this time as well, the two added 142 runs in 23 overs, before Finch got out for 60, caught by Kohli off Shami.
But Warner carried on and was looking in ominous form as he had made 83 runs in 77 balls with 7 fours and 3 sixes. However, he was caught short of the crease by a direct hit from Shreyas Iyer and went back to the pavilion.
However, if the Indian bowlers had thought they had some relief, they were wrong, as Marnus Labuschagne joined his idol Smith and added 136 runs for the 3rd wickets. Steve Smith continued his golden run with the bat and slammed yet another ton, his second successive against India in this ODI series.
This ton also came in 62-balls, equaling his effort in the first ODI. He got out soon to Hardik Pandya, who was bowling after 16 months. Smith made 104 in 64 balls with 14 fours and 2 sixes.
But then Marnus Labuschagne and Glenn Maxwell kept the tempo going, adding 80 runs in 7-odd overs. Labuschagne made 70 off 61 balls with 5 fours, while Maxwell hit 63* in 29 balls with 4 fours and 4 sixes.
This was the second time that the top five of the Australian batting order hit 50 or more runs in a single ODI innings. Australia finished the 50 overs at 389/4.
For India Hardik Pandya with 1/24 was the best bowler by far, while Shami (1/73), Saini (0/70), Bumrah (1/79), and Chahal (0/71) all proved to be expensive, giving the Indian team management headache.
The cricket fraternity was all applause for the Steve Smith masterclass and lauded him on Twitter, as Australia seemed likely to pocket the match and the series.
Here are the tweets:
