Men In Blue Hold Their Nerve To Clinch A Nail-Biting Thriller

Century No. 40 for Kohli and 500th victory for India in ODIs; Bumrah and Vijay Shankar deliver at the death after Kuldeep’s three-wicket haul.

- G. Viswanath

After a long-drawn tussle, India prevailed over Australia by eight runs in the second ODI at the Jamtha Stadium here on Tuesday to take a 2-0 lead in the five-match series. In the process, India became the second country to notch up 500 wins in one-dayers after Australia.

Timely strikes by unorthodox left-arm spinner Kuldeep Yadav and a stunning direct hit run out effected by Ravindra Jadeja saw the home team compete hard and remain in contention to win the match that was sealed by Jasprit Bumrah’s superb second spell and telling blows in the 46th over.

Later, Vijay Shankar accounted for the crucial wicket of Marcus Stoinis in the first ball of the 50th over. The allrounder completed an exacting task, with Australia needing 11 runs off the final over, by castling Adam Zampa.

Solid start