India skipper Virat Kohli yet again proved he is a master at chasing, scoring his 39th ODI century to guide India to a series-levelling six-wicket win over Australia in the second ODI at Adelaide. The hosts had won the first ODI at Sydney by 34 runs.
Chasing 299 to win, Kohli (104) was ably supported by Mahendra Singh Dhoni who brought up his second consecutive half-century in the series and hit the winning runs, too. The veteran wicketkeeper-batsman, who had a disappointing 2018 season and was criticised for his 96-ball 51 in the first ODI, stayed unbeaten on a well-made 55, with Dinesh Karthik (25*) keeping him company at the other end.
Kohli, who had an average Test series against Australia by his lofty standards, came to the party when his team needed him. His 104 was studded with five fours and two sixes, and he put on a 82-run partnership with Dhoni. The India skipper, however, could not take his team to the finishing line. But Dhoni and Karthik rose to the occasion with an unbeaten 57-run stand off 34 balls, taking India home with four balls to spare.
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India got off to a swift start with Shikhar Dhawan hitting five boundaries in his 28-ball 32. He put on 47 runs for the opening wicket with Rohit Sharma (43).
The latter had another strong outing, adding 54 runs with Kohli for the second wicket as India crossed 100 in the 18th over.
But just when things were going smoothly, he mis-hit a pull off Marcus Stoinis (1/46) and was caught in the deep.
Ambati Rayudu (24) then came to the crease, and added 59 runs with Kohli for the third wicket.
Kohli, meanwhile, was in cruise mode, rotating strike and picking the odd boundary with ease, as he reached fifty in 66 balls. The star batsman stayed in the same mode as the asking rate climbed.
But it was Rayudu who tried attacking the bowling and perished instead, caught in the deep off Glenn Maxwell (1/16) in the 31st over.
Dhoni then joined Kohli, and the duo helped India cross 200 in the 37th over to keep pace with the asking rate.
Kohli changed gears as he hit two sixes through pure timing, and reached his hundred off 108 balls. It was his sixth ODI hundred against Australia.
Earlier, Australia won the toss and chose to bat. Shaun Marsh scored his seventh ODI hundred to take Australia to a challenging total. Marsh came to the crease at 26/2 and scored 131 runs and added 94 runs off 65 balls with Glenn Maxwell (48 off 37 balls).
The hosts were unchanged from the previous game, while India brought in debutant Mohammed Siraj in place of Khaleel Ahmed.
Bhuvneshwar Kumar (4/45) and Mohammed Shami (3/58) did the star turn with the ball for India.
The third and final ODI will be in Melbourne on Friday.
(With PTI inputs)
