VISAKHAPATNAM, India, (Reuters) – Virat Kohli hit 118 and Suresh Raina hammered an unbeaten 71 to inspire India to a brilliant five-wicket win over Australia in the second one-day international yesterday.
It was the 21-year-old Kohli’s third ODI century and he compiled 11 fours and one six as the home side reached a target of 290 with seven balls to spare.
India lead the three-match series 1-0 after the first game in Kochi was washed out. Kohli mixed caution with aggression in his 121-ball innings and shared a 137-run partnership with Yuvraj Singh (58) for the third wicket.
After Kohli and captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni (nought) were removed in the same over by paceman John Hastings, Raina picked up the baton by racing to 71 not out in 47 balls.
Earlier, skipper Michael Clarke (111 not out) and Mike Hussey (69) stitched together a 144-run stand for the third wicket to guide Australia to 289 for three in 50 overs.
Cameron White also smashed an unbeaten 89 in 49 balls, containing six fours and six sixes, as the visitors plundered 84 runs from their last five overs.
“Cameron White’s innings was unbelievable, one of the best ODI innings I have seen. I thought 289 would be enough but India were too good today,” said Clarke.
The third and final game will be held in Margao on Sunday.
Scoreboard
Australia innings
S. Marsh b Nehra 0
T. Paine c V. Kumar b Nehra 9
M. Clarke not out 111
M. Hussey lbw b Ashwin 69
C. White not out 89
Extras (lb-10 w-1) 11
Total (three wickets; 50 overs) 289
Did not bat: S. Smith, J. Hopes, J. Hastings, N. Hauritz, M. Starc, C. McKay.
Fall of wickets: 1-11 2-16 3-160
Bowling: P. Kumar 9-1-51-0, Nehra 10-1-57-2, V. Kumar 9-1-71-0, Ashwin 9-0-34-1, Singh 10-0-48-0 (w-1), Raina 3-0-18-0.
India innings
S. Dhawan b McKay 0
M. Vijay c Paine b McKay 15
V. Kohli c Hopes b Hastings 118
Y. Singh b McKay 58
S. Raina not out 71
M.S. Dhoni b Hastings 0
S. Tiwary not out 12
Extras (b-8 lb-1 w-9) 18
Total (five wickets; 48.5 overs) 292
Did not bat: R. Ashwin, P. Kumar, V. Kumar, A. Nehra
Fall of wickets: 1-0 2-35 3-172 4-256 5-257
Bowling: McKay 10-0-55-3 (w-1), Starc 8.5-0-51-0 (w-4), Hastings 10-1-44-2 (w-3), Hopes 7-0-56-0, Hauritz 10-0-54-0 (w-1), Smith 3-0-23-0
