Images from the second One-Day International between Australia and India in Brisbane, on Friday.
Rohit Sharma's second successive century was once again overshadowed by Australia's collective batting might as the hosts continued their dominance over Indian bowlers to notch up a seven-wicket victory in the second One-Day International and take a 2-0 series lead in Brisbane, on Friday.
- Scorecard
Rohit, who was adjudged the Man of the Match, stood out for a second consecutive game with a 127-ball 124, which was the cornerstone of India's 308 for eight, a score that could easily have been more if not for a late collapse.
With 11 fours and three sixes, Sharma was the outstanding performer -- Ajinkya Rahane (89) and skipper Virat Kohli (59) being the other notable contributors. This was Sharma's 10th ODI hundred.
However, the Australians never looked in trouble as they easily chased down the steep target with an over to spare, exposing India's bowling frailties.
Openers Aaron Finch (71) and Shaun Marsh (71) laid the foundation before George Bailey (76 not out) and Steve Smith (46) snatched the game from India for a second time in three days.
The Indian bowlers were disappointing to say the least and never managed to threaten the Aussies, who scored at will and paced their chase to perfection yet again.
Ishant Sharma (1-60), playing an ODI after 354 days, was especially wayward and undid all the good work done by his new-ball partner Barinder Sran (0-51). Ishant was also guilty of dropping Marsh early in his innings.
Australia also completed the highest-ever run-chase in Brisbane, beating their own previous record of 301 for nine achieved against England in January 2014.
Earlier, opener Rohit Sharma struck his second successive century before superb bowling by Australia in the death overs restricted India to 308 for eight.
Rohit continued his good form as he stroked 124 from 127 balls, hitting 11 fours and three sixes, before he was unfortunately run out at the non-striker's end after the bowler got a slight touch while to trying to stop a straight drive. Virat Kohli also saw his promising innings of 59 cut short courtesy of a run out, while Ajinkya Rahane played a good innings of 89 from 80 balls.
India struggled at the end, scoring 75 runs from the final 10 overs, including just 38 runs from the last five overs losing five wickets in the process.
Earlier, India captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni won the toss and once again elected to bat. The visitors made one change with pacer Ishant Sharma coming in for Bhuvneshwar Kumar.
Australia, who won the first ODI in Perth, made three changes as David Warner, Mitchell Marsh and Josh Hazlewood made way for Shaun Marsh, John Hastings and Kane Richardson.
Shikhar Dhawan perished early when he was caught behind off Joel Paris for six, in the third over before Rohit and Kohli rallied India with a 125-run stand for the second wicket.
Things were going along fine when Kohli was dismissed against the run of play. He went for a quick double even as Rohit tried to send him back, but he went ahead for the second run nevertheless and was run-out in the 24th over as Kane Richardson's throw from square leg found him short after he made a fluent 59 from 67 balls.
The Mumbai duo of Rohit and Rahane stitched together another good partnership of 121 runs before the former was unfortunately. The bowler James Faulkner got a slight touch on Rahane's straight drive, which hit the stumps at the non-striker's end with Rohit out of his crease.
Mahendra Singh Dhoni struggled to get going in the final overs and was caught at long-on for 11 off Boland. Faulkner claimed the wickets of Rahane and Manish Pandey (6) in the 49th over as India struggled to get the big hits in the final few overs. Infact, they lost four wickets for 10 runs off the last 10 ball of the innings.
Left-arm pacer Faulkner bagged two wickets while Paris, John Hastings and Scott Boland bagged a wicket each.
