Adelaide | WebVarta
Australia secured a dramatic 2-wicket victory over India at the Adelaide Oval, chasing 265 in 46.2 overs to clinch the three-match ODI series 2-0 with one game to spare. Cooper Connolly’s composed 61 off 53 balls proved decisive in a tense chase, supported by Matthew Short’s aggressive 74 off 78 and Mitchell Owen’s quickfire 36 off 23. India’s Rohit Sharma (73) and Shreyas Iyer (61) fought hard, but Adam Zampa’s 4/60 and Xavier Bartlett’s 3/39 restricted them to 264/9.
Match Summary: Key Moments
- India’s Innings: Opting to bat, India lost Shubman Gill and Virat Kohli early in the powerplay (29/2). Rohit Sharma’s gritty 73, Iyer’s 61, and Axar Patel’s 44 lifted India to 264/9. Zampa’s four-wicket haul and Bartlett’s early strikes kept India in check.
- Australia’s Chase: Losing Mitch Marsh and Travis Head early, Australia were steadied by Short’s 74 and a 100-run stand with Matt Renshaw (30). Connolly and Owen’s late onslaught sealed the chase with 22 balls left.
- Bowling Highlights: India’s Arshdeep Singh (2/41) and Washington Sundar (2/37) took wickets but lacked consistency in the death overs.
Phase-wise Analysis
| Phase | India | Australia |
|---|---|---|
| Powerplay (1-10 overs) | 29/2 (2.9 rpo, 4×4) | 42/1 (4.2 rpo, 1×4, 2×6) |
| Middle Overs (11-30) | 108/1 (5.4 rpo, 9×4, 2×6) | 99/3 (4.95 rpo, 5×4, 1×6) |
| Death Overs (31-50) | 127/6 (6.35 rpo, 15×4) | 124/4 (7.24 rpo, 9×4, 5×6) |
| Total | 264/9 (5.28 rpo) | 265/8 (5.73 rpo) |
- India’s Struggle: Early wickets hurt, but Rohit and Iyer’s partnership provided stability. Late collapse in death overs (66/4) capped their total.
- Australia’s Depth: Short’s aggression and Connolly’s composure outshone India’s bowling in the final overs.
Player Quotes
- Adam Zampa (Player of the Match): “Beating India is always special. Mitch Marsh’s calm leadership and Starc’s early spells make my job easier. Our balanced environment helps us execute roles well.”
- Shubman Gill (India Captain): “We had enough runs, but dropped catches hurt us. The pitch improved later. Rohit’s return and fight were pleasing, but we need consistency.”
- Mitch Marsh (Australia Captain): “Big crowds make ODI cricket special. Josh’s bowling and our batting were outstanding. Connolly is the future—‘Chaos’ for a reason. We’ll celebrate but focus on Sydney.”
Impact and Context
Australia’s victory underlines their home dominance, with depth in batting proving crucial. India, despite Rohit’s return, struggled with death-over bowling and fielding lapses. The final ODI in Sydney looms as a chance for India to salvage pride.
