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VK Squads Aussie Lesson

Saleque Sufi | banglanews24.com
Update: 2020-11-29 19:37:09
VK Squads Aussie Lesson [Photo collected]

ODI Series. India VS Australia 
2nd Match Played at SCG on 29 November 2020 
Australia 389/4 (SPD Smith 104, DA Warner 83, Marnus Labuschagne 70, HJ Maxwell 63*, AJ Flinch 60) beat India 338/9 (Virat Kohli 89, KL Rahul 76, SS Iyer 38, S Dhawan 30, PJ Cummins 3/67, Josh Hazlewood 2/59, A Zampa 2/62) by 51 Runs
Player Of The Match: Steve Smith. 

It was run feast at easy paced SCG wicket in the second ODI match of Australia India series. Winning the toss yet again Australia made run feast. 

Brilliant back to back century by amazing Smith (104), punishing unbeaten 63 by finisher Maxwell, Smart 70 by new champions Labuschagne, business as usual 83 by Warner and 60 by Captain Flinch led Australia post high above the sky 389/4. India chased bravely. Vintage Virat led the charge scoring 89, he was ably supported by his deputy producing bright 76. But with the quality bowling even on flat wicket restricted India to 338/9 winning the match by huge 51 runs. Winning two matches Australia wrapped up the series 2-0. The third match at Manuka Oval, Canberra will be of academic interest only. 

India would soon realize that their cash cow IPL 2020 was perhaps not the right platform preparing their players to very demand Australia tour. During ongoing COVID pandemic Australia played more international matches. India did none. Moreover, IPL 2020 at UAE provide Australian players a good look at Indian resources. Australia studied India bowling tramp cards Bumra and Sami. Also practiced against leg spinner Zampa a lot to neutralize Chahal. Luck also favored the home side as they won toss in both the match. That could help them batting first on flat wickets and batting India out of the matches. Flinch, Smith and Maxwell looked pretty ordinary at IPL 2020. All three batted like Champions. Smith scored two punishing centuries. Add to that flamboyant David Warner. India need to regroup soon or they may get comprehensive Aussie Wash in all three formats. 

On the day yet again winning the toss Flinch opted to bat. Warner and Flinch once again gave rollicking start posting 142 in the first wicket partnership when Flinch got out scoring 60. Warner soon got run out scoring 83. Perhaps he stressed him hamstring as well. Smith was looking great once again. He and Labuschagne kept the momentum going adding 136 in the 3rd wicket partnership. Smith got out scoring yet another century (104) in 64 deliveries. Maxwell joined Labuschagne. These two toyed with helpless Indian bowling. Labuschagne scored 70 off 61 deliveries. X-factor Mad Max raced to 63 not out in 29 deliveries batting India out of the match. All knows Australia rarely loses an ODI after scoring 389.

True on the flat pitch India did not give up. But again, possibly India realized leaving Rollicking Rohit Sharma at home was perhaps not a smart decision. On such a flat wicket him and Kohli batting together could even overhaul the Australian huge total. Yet Indians chased at till 46 over was in the hunt. Virat played a characteristic flamboyant innings of 89, Rahul produced 76. But apart from Iyer 38 India also missed a finisher like Dhoni. The best of India could let them reaching 338/9 in-allotted overs. Australia won by 51 runs and wrapped up the series 2-0. 

India has to worry that Australian batsmen possibly work out their X-Factor Jasprit Bumrah. They lack a quality third pacer. Australian cricket is a class above Indians. 

BDST: 1937 HRS, NOV 29, 2020
SMS

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