Rohit Sharma waged a lone battle.
Credit: X/@BCCI
Rohit Sharma's brilliant 73 went in vain as Australia beat India by two wickets in the second One-day International (ODI) at Adelaide to take an unassailable 2-0 lead in the three-match series on Thursday (October 23).
Under pressure, Rohit mixed grit with grace in a 97-ball knock on a spicy track that formed the cornerstone of India's total of 264 for nine.
In reply, Australia struggled against Indian spinners, before Cooper Connolly (61 not out off 53 balls) and Mitchell Owen (36 off 23 balls) flayed the Indian bowlers as the hosts survived a late collapse to overhaul the target in 46.2 overs to clinch the series.
The duo added 59 in just 6.3 overs to end Australia's three-series losing sequence in the format.
The absence of Kuldeep Yadav was felt more than ever when the Australian batters struggled against the two finger spinners.
Axar Patel (1/52 in 10 overs) just slowed the pace and shortened the length as Matt Renshaw (30) gave the charge to be bowled.
At the other end, Washington Sundar (2/37) had an impatient Alex Carey (9) trying to sweep and getting bowled in the process.
However, once Owen came into the scene, he smashed the daylights out of Harshit Rana (2/59 in 8 overs) to tilt the game decisively in favour of Australia.
Earlier, the Indian innings was about Rohit's determination and he had to survive a lot of anxious moments in the Powerplay when Josh Hazlewood (0/29 in 10 overs, including two maidens) made the ball talk.
There was a point when Rohit had played 17 consecutive dot balls off Hazlewood and both him and Shreyas Iyer (61) looked overtly cautious due to the underlying moisture and lateral movement.
While Rohit fought hard, Virat Kohli was dismissed without scoring for a second consecutive game.
The third match of the series, which is inconsequential now, will be played on Saturday (October 25) at Sydney Cricket Ground.
That will be followed by a five-match T20 series. Both Rohit and Kohli have already called it quits from the shortest format of the game.
(with inputs from agencies)