<p>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-dayer and take a 2-0 series lead here on Friday.<br /><br /></p>.<p>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 308/8, a score that could easily have been more if not for late collapse.<br /><br />With 11 fours and three sixes, Rohit was the outstanding performer — Ajinkya Rahane (89) and vice-captain Virat Kohli (59) being the other notable contributors. This was Rohit’s 10th ODI hundred.<br /><br />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.<br /><br />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.<br /><br />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.<br /><br />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.<br /><br />En route the victory, Australia completed the highest- ever run-chase in Brisbane, beating their own previous record of 301/9 achieved against England in January 2014.<br /><br />This was after Indian skipper MS Dhoni once again won the toss and elected to bat. The visitors made a solitary change to their eleven, bringing in Ishant for Bhuvneshwar Kumar.<br /><br />Australia made three changes to their line-up from the opening ODI in Perth-- Shaun Marsh came in for David Warner, while John Hastings and Kane Richardson came in for the rested Mitchell Marsh and Josh Hazlewood.<br /><br />The two teams will now travel to Melbourne for the crucial third match to be held on Sunday.<br /><br />Handling pressure<br /><br />The ease with which the Aussies chased a huge target was once again a masterclass in handling pressure.<br /><br />Marsh (71, 84b, 5x4) and Finch (71, 81b, 7x4, 1x6) started cautiously, but the run-rate was helped by a number of extra deliveries bowled by the Indian pacers.<br /><br />Spin was introduced as early as the 11th over, and both R Ashwin (0/60) and Ravindra Jadeja (1/50) came in to bowl in tandem.<br /><br />They seemed to get some purchase off the pitch, putting a squeeze on the run flow. It prompted Marsh to go for a big shot in the 13th over, off Jadeja, but Ishant dropped a sitter at long on. Marsh was on 19 at that time and would go on to enjoy three more botched attempts in the field.<br /><br />He finally departed in the 30th over, miscuing one off Ishant, giving some hope to the Indian cause. But Smith and Bailey put on a 78-run stand for the third wicket to dash any hopes for the visitors.<br /><br />Earlier, Rohit was aided well by Kohli and Rahane even as the batting order once again stuttered in the death overs.<br /><br />Sharma started the proceedings with Shikhar Dhawan (6) as usual, but the latter fell early once again. The left-hander was out caught behind in the third over, slashing off Joel Paris (1-40).<br /><br />It brought Kohli to the crease and along with Sharma, he tried to raise a stand similar to the 200-plus one they had put up in Perth.<br /><br />The ingredients were just right once again, as they started off well and the 50-mark came up in the 11th over. Glenn Maxwell (0-33) was introduced early into the attack here, but he didn’t have the requisite effect as the two batsmen put on their 50-run stand in just 57 balls.<br /><br />score board<br /><br />INDIA<br />Rohit (run out) 124<br />S Dhawan c Wade b Paris 6<br />Kohli (run out) 59<br />Rahane c Smith b Faulkner 89<br />Dhoni c Maxwell b Boland 11<br />Pandey c Paris b Faulkner 6<br />Jadeja (run out) 5<br />Ashwin c Boland b Hastings 1<br />Yadav (not out) 0<br />Extras (W-7) 7<br />Total (for 8 wkts, 50 overs) 308<br />Fall of wickets: 1-9, 2-134, 3-255, 4-276, 5-298, 6-302, 7-306, 8-308.<br />Bowling: Paris 8-0-40-1, Richardson 8-1-61-0, Hastings 8-0-46-1, Boland 10-0-64-1, Maxwell 6-0-33-0, Faulkner 10-0-64-2.<br />AUSTRALIA<br />Finch c Rahane b Jadeja 71<br />S Marsh c Kohli b Ishant 71<br />Smith b Yadav 46<br />Bailey (not out) 76<br />Maxwell (not out) 26<br />Extras (LB-7, WD-11, NB-1) 19<br />Total (For 3 wkts, 49 overs) 309<br />Fall of wickets: 1-145, 2-166, 3-244.<br />Bowling: Sran 9-1-51-0, Ishant 10-0-60-1, Yadav 10-0-74-1, Jadeja 9-0-50-1, Ashwin 10-0-60-0, Kohli 1-0-7-0.<br /></p>
<p>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-dayer and take a 2-0 series lead here on Friday.<br /><br /></p>.<p>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 308/8, a score that could easily have been more if not for late collapse.<br /><br />With 11 fours and three sixes, Rohit was the outstanding performer — Ajinkya Rahane (89) and vice-captain Virat Kohli (59) being the other notable contributors. This was Rohit’s 10th ODI hundred.<br /><br />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.<br /><br />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.<br /><br />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.<br /><br />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.<br /><br />En route the victory, Australia completed the highest- ever run-chase in Brisbane, beating their own previous record of 301/9 achieved against England in January 2014.<br /><br />This was after Indian skipper MS Dhoni once again won the toss and elected to bat. The visitors made a solitary change to their eleven, bringing in Ishant for Bhuvneshwar Kumar.<br /><br />Australia made three changes to their line-up from the opening ODI in Perth-- Shaun Marsh came in for David Warner, while John Hastings and Kane Richardson came in for the rested Mitchell Marsh and Josh Hazlewood.<br /><br />The two teams will now travel to Melbourne for the crucial third match to be held on Sunday.<br /><br />Handling pressure<br /><br />The ease with which the Aussies chased a huge target was once again a masterclass in handling pressure.<br /><br />Marsh (71, 84b, 5x4) and Finch (71, 81b, 7x4, 1x6) started cautiously, but the run-rate was helped by a number of extra deliveries bowled by the Indian pacers.<br /><br />Spin was introduced as early as the 11th over, and both R Ashwin (0/60) and Ravindra Jadeja (1/50) came in to bowl in tandem.<br /><br />They seemed to get some purchase off the pitch, putting a squeeze on the run flow. It prompted Marsh to go for a big shot in the 13th over, off Jadeja, but Ishant dropped a sitter at long on. Marsh was on 19 at that time and would go on to enjoy three more botched attempts in the field.<br /><br />He finally departed in the 30th over, miscuing one off Ishant, giving some hope to the Indian cause. But Smith and Bailey put on a 78-run stand for the third wicket to dash any hopes for the visitors.<br /><br />Earlier, Rohit was aided well by Kohli and Rahane even as the batting order once again stuttered in the death overs.<br /><br />Sharma started the proceedings with Shikhar Dhawan (6) as usual, but the latter fell early once again. The left-hander was out caught behind in the third over, slashing off Joel Paris (1-40).<br /><br />It brought Kohli to the crease and along with Sharma, he tried to raise a stand similar to the 200-plus one they had put up in Perth.<br /><br />The ingredients were just right once again, as they started off well and the 50-mark came up in the 11th over. Glenn Maxwell (0-33) was introduced early into the attack here, but he didn’t have the requisite effect as the two batsmen put on their 50-run stand in just 57 balls.<br /><br />score board<br /><br />INDIA<br />Rohit (run out) 124<br />S Dhawan c Wade b Paris 6<br />Kohli (run out) 59<br />Rahane c Smith b Faulkner 89<br />Dhoni c Maxwell b Boland 11<br />Pandey c Paris b Faulkner 6<br />Jadeja (run out) 5<br />Ashwin c Boland b Hastings 1<br />Yadav (not out) 0<br />Extras (W-7) 7<br />Total (for 8 wkts, 50 overs) 308<br />Fall of wickets: 1-9, 2-134, 3-255, 4-276, 5-298, 6-302, 7-306, 8-308.<br />Bowling: Paris 8-0-40-1, Richardson 8-1-61-0, Hastings 8-0-46-1, Boland 10-0-64-1, Maxwell 6-0-33-0, Faulkner 10-0-64-2.<br />AUSTRALIA<br />Finch c Rahane b Jadeja 71<br />S Marsh c Kohli b Ishant 71<br />Smith b Yadav 46<br />Bailey (not out) 76<br />Maxwell (not out) 26<br />Extras (LB-7, WD-11, NB-1) 19<br />Total (For 3 wkts, 49 overs) 309<br />Fall of wickets: 1-145, 2-166, 3-244.<br />Bowling: Sran 9-1-51-0, Ishant 10-0-60-1, Yadav 10-0-74-1, Jadeja 9-0-50-1, Ashwin 10-0-60-0, Kohli 1-0-7-0.<br /></p>