Aussies fall just short in final-over thriller

A gutsy knock from allrounder Marcus Stoinis was in vain as India edged out Australia by just eight runs to take out the second ODI in Nagpur and a 2-0 series lead.

Chasing 251 to win after India captain Virat Kohli posted his 40th ODI century, Stoinis was out in the last over for 52 having guided Australia within two huge blows of an upset win.

But Kohli (116) and India's spin trio Kuldeep Yadav (3-54), Kedar Jadhav (1-33) and Ravindra Jadeja (1-48) proved the difference to help the hosts take a commanding lead in the five-match series.

Paceman Pat Cummins collected 4-29 while Stoinis and Peter Handscomb (48) were the pick of the batsmen, who had their chances to level the series in front of more than 38,000 raucous fans at VCA Stadium.

Australia were well on top an hour into the run chase at 0-83 before a collapse of 4-49, all wickets falling to spin, had India back in the ascendency.

Handscomb and Stoinis steadied with 39 for the fifth wicket until a direct hit from Jadeja fielding at backward point caught the Victorian short of his ground.

Image Id: 23958F1720A5400F8D602BF8432D130F Image Caption: Handscomb is caught short by Jadeja // Getty

Stoinis and gloveman Alex Carey (22) then put on 47 to again swing the momentum of the match before another collapse, this time 3-5 in seven balls, had the hosts in front.

But with Stoinis at the crease, Australia were still in the hunt.

He calmly saw off India's strike bowlers in the closing stages to set-up a final-over showdown with rookie allrounder Vijay Shankar, with 11 runs required for victory.

But the right-hander’s dismissal from the first ball of the over – out LBW attempting a lusty shot – brought an end to Australia’s chances, the tourists eventually all out for 242 with three balls remaining.

Both sides now head to Ranchi for Friday's third ODI, which Australia must win – along with the subsequent matches in Mohali and Delhi – to claim the series.

India’s victory was built around the innings of Kohli, a masterclass in assessing the conditions and adapting accordingly, the kind of skills his rivals have been desperate to attain away from home.

There isn't much more to say about Kohli that hasn't already been said, but his knock on Tuesday evening was an exhibition in patience, composure, discipline and determination in scoring close to half his team's runs on a pitch that spun and offered plenty of uneven bounce.

He now has the equal-second most ODI centuries against Australia, tied at seven with teammate Rohit Sharma, and at just 30 years old looks set to eclipse the record of nine held by India legend Sachin Tendulkar.

Along with every other ODI batting record standing in his way.

His lone hand was the difference between the sides, as Australia, like they did in Hyderabad on Saturday, had multiple top-order batsmen makes starts without capitalising and posting a big score.

Image Id: 26AC3562334A4094B698BD8361DDFA94 Image Caption: Kohli was the difference in the match // Getty

Skipper Aaron Finch (37), who showed signs of a form reversal, and Usman Khawaja (38) were scratchy to start with but found their groove quickly to score at better than a run a ball in the opening overs.

But when Finch was trapped lbw by Kuldeep and Khawaja's leading edge off Jadhav was caught by Kohli at cover, the wheels of the pursuit started to wobble.

Returning senior batsman Shaun Marsh (16) was caught down the leg side off Jadeja and when Glenn Maxwell (four) was bowled by Kuldeep to a ball that kept low, Australia had slumped to 4-132.

The chase was back on when Handscomb and Stoinis came together, but the sublime piece of fielding by Jadeja sucked the life out of the chase.

But even when Carey fell in the 45th over, Australia were in a strong position needing 33 from as many balls with Stoinis and Nathan Coulter-Nile at the crease and Cummins in the dugout.

However, Jasprit Bumrah's double strike an over later removed both fast bowlers to leave Stoinis to do the bulk of the heavy lifting.

Image Id: FBA4A97F502F4655B0C6DD1D647DB72C Image Caption: Shankar was India's bowling hero // Getty

It was too much even for the broad-shouldered 29-year-old, but the narrow loss showed how close the two teams are despite their four-place gap in the ICC ODI rankings.

Earlier, Cummins was given the new ball for the first time in 16 matches across all formats for Australia, dating back to the Australia Day ODI against England last year.

He started with a wicket maiden in an opening spell of 1-9 from three overs and was used in short bursts by Finch before returning at the back end of the innings to pick up three wickets, including Kohli in the 48th over.

Thirty overs were bowled by spin, 10 overs each from leg-spinner Adam Zampa (2-62), allrounder Maxwell (1-45) and recalled veteran Nathan Lyon (1-42).

India: Rohit Sharma, Shikhar Dhawan, Virat Kohli (c), Ambati Rayudu, MS Dhoni, Kedar Jadhav, Vijay Shankar, Ravi Jadeja, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Shami, Jasprit Bumrah

Australia: Usman Khawaja, Aaron Finch (c), Shaun Marsh, Peter Handscomb, Glenn Maxwell, Marcus Stoinis,  Alex Carey, Nathan Coulter-Nile, Pat Cummins, Adam Zampa, Nathan Lyon

Qantas Tour of India

First T20: Australia won by three wickets

Second T20: Australia won by seven wickets

First ODI: India won by six wickets

Second ODI: India won by eight runs

Third ODI: March 8, Ranchi

Fourth ODI: March 10, Mohali

Fifth ODI: March 13, Delhi