Match report:
India lead the series two-nil with three to play.
Not a bad game of cricket, this. It won’t necessarily look like it with a raw scoreline of 252 to 202. But this was another reminder that there is something to be said about ODI cricket where bat and ball are more evenly balanced.
Firstly, for the defeated Australians, Stoinis was impressive with an unbeaten 62. The big man has skills. Smith had it all going on as well for 59, before holing out in his 100th ODI. But it was his wicket, reducing Australia to 135-5, that brought Kuldeep into the game.
The left-arm wrist spinner caught fire in the 33rd over, claiming a joyous hat-trick of Wade then Agar then Cummins. The final of those was one the best hat-trick balls I’ve ever seen, a picture-perfect wrong’un to win the edge, Dhoni doing the rest.
This isn’t to overlook the work of Bhuvneshwar earlier. He was outstanding hooping the ball both ways; through Cartwright’s gate then knicking off Warner. Swing bowling of the highest standard. Australia had no answer until his initial bust was done.
In the middle, it was Chahal - the second of India’s wrist-spinners - who did his bit, deceiving Maxwell and Head in quick succession, just at the time both men looked relatively set.
All told, Australia’s last seven wickets fell for 96. It may be white ball cricket, but they have a real knack of collapsing in this part of the world. They are now one loss away from losing the series in straight sets, with more questions than answers for the world champs. They have lost ten of their last 11 ODIs, would you believe.
Righto, that’ll do from me. On behalf of Sam Perry and myself, thanks for your company. We’ll do it all again on Sunday. Bye for now.
Updated
INDIA WIN BY 50 RUNS! Richardson lbw Bhuvneshwar 0. (Australia all-out 202)
Yep, that’s plum. Had to review, but crashing into leg stump. Only took Bhuvi one ball back into the attack to finish it off. Fine and powerful resistance from Stoinis, but ultimately had to be up the business end when the Indian talisman returned. He was too good for the number 11. India the winners. Some broader thoughts in a tic.
IS IT OVER? IS RICHARDSON LBW? Bhuvi has won the decision from the umpire. Going upstairs to find out.
43rd over: Australia 202-9 (Stoinis 62, Richardson 0)
Oh that’s so good from Stoinis! Brings up the 200 with the most gorgeous six over the square leg rope. So, three times in three overs he’s been happy to clear the rope when the time is right before chilling out. He’s on strike for the final ball. Needs to turn it over... but can’t. So, only the six from the over. Richarfson to face. 51 from 43 balls required.
42nd over: Australia 196-9 (Stoinis 56, Richardson 0)
Same model as the previous over: takes a look then wallops a six! Brings up his half-century with the long, straight blow over Hardik’s head. 58 balls to get there. He’s done plenty tonight to suggest he really he a must-select in this Australian best ODI XI for the time being. Extraordinary to think he was left out of the Champions Trophy side the more you think about it. Anyway. A single to point get their seventh of the over. Richardson finds one too, but declines it. Happens again with a lovely stweet to third man. Poor Richo. So, two runs knocked back in order to get Stoinis another go next over. On balance, fair enough. 57 off 48 needed. Surely not.
41st over: Australia 189-9 (Stoinis 49, Richardson 0)
Stonis waiting for his ball, not swinging from the outset. Does whack the third for six straight over Chahal’s head. Nice and clean. Lapping, he takes a single from the fourth ball. Boooooo! To 49 he moves. Richardson survives, a huge wrong’un to end it was so close to leg stump that the umpire didn’t signal a wide. Stoinis does keep the strike then, for what that is worth, after getting the seven he needed from the over. In theory, that’s fine. Right?
40th over: Australia 182-9 (Stoinis 42, Richardson 0)
Richardson has two balls to see off to give Stonis another go. Both are close run things, the first a drive landing a metre infront of the catcher at extra cover. The second, a conventional outside edge landing a foot infront of slip. Marcus, it’s all you now. No singles. Go LARGE.
WICKET! Coulter-Nile c&b Hardik Pandya 8 (Australia 182-9)
Hardik Pandya a second wicket through the short ball. This the quicker variety, tempting NCN to pull across the line. But doesn’t go far, straight in the air. The bowler strolls around and does the rest. Great comeback from him after a ropey first spell. In doing so, he’s taken India to within a wicket of a two-nil series lead.
39th over: Australia 181-8 (Stoinis 41, Coulter-Nile 8)
Stonis wasn’t out, but perhaps the close call prompted him to realise that he’s going to have to do a lot of this in boundaries. One comes straight away, with a hockey-style sweep, hit really well. Chahal misses down legside next. Seven from that. Seven an over to win now, too. 72 from 66. Bhuvi?
NOT OUT. Lucky though. The bat did bobble a bit on the slide.
HAS KOHLI RAN STONIS OUT? We will find out.
38th over: Australia 174-8 (Stoinis 37, Coulter-Nile 7)
Hardik for a third spell. Really good over, two from it. Using his changes of pace well, the short ball too.
37th over: Australia 172-8 (Stoinis 36, Coulter-Nile 6)
Okay, that rally I was talking about? A nice little lap from Stonis to the rope. Four. Next ball: a ripping drive through extra cover. Much like the shot he played before all the mayhem a quarter hour ago. A wide in there too, helping the cause. Ten from the over by the time it is done, leaving Australia 81 in 78 balls. I say it again: Stonis does have form. Remember this from January.
Also, who knew about this? Found when youtubing the other clip. Must be how he got into the national squad from nowhere later that winter, on reflection.
36th over: Australia 162-8 (Stoinis 27, Coulter-Nile 6)
Bumrah back for a bit of extra pace. Why not Bhuvi to hit some stumps? The pair score off four of the six balls. In my book, that constitutes a bit of a rally. Even if one of those, a Stonis hoick, nearly ends up in the lap of deep midwicket. Memo to Marc: don’t take on Jadeja in the deep. Anyone but him.
Raymond Reardon returning to a favourite topic from the Australia v Bangladesh OBO: Larry Agar. This is his batting hat, Ray believes. I still haven’t seen the show. I still prefer talking about “Paris” Hilton “Bec” Cartwright.
Updated
35th over: Australia 157-8 (Stoinis 23, Coulter-Nile 5)
If I say that Coulter-Nile can hold a bat does he fall next? Does it work that way if I call it beforehand? Do I have tickets to see Ink tonight and it wouldn’t be the worst thing in the world if this match finished vaguely on time rather than running the distance given the rain/heat delays of the first innings? Questions, questions. A big edge from NCN goes over the clips. Lucky he made contact when swinging, as I reckon that was going into his stumps otherwise. Stonis down the ground to the penultimate delivery, so he’ll get another go next over. Load up, Marcus. Do it the fun way.
Not the first hat-trick for Kuldeep Yadav, he took one during the 2014 U19 world Cup in Dubai #INDvAUS
— Gav Joshi (@Gampa_cricket) September 21, 2017
34th over: Australia 152-8 (Stoinis 22, Coulter-Nile 2)
Four singles to the sweepers off Chahal, who now takes a back seat to his wrist-spin twin. They all count, of course. But might require Stonis to pull off something like what he did in Auckland in January. Vinnie Schumacher on twitter chipping me for earlier saying Agar and Cummins are serious batsmen. Well, Cummins was done by a beauty, the perfect hat-trick ball. Agar just missed a straight one. Either way, golden ducks for both. Glad you enjoyed my standard mozz. It’s the reason Mitch Marsh’s batting average is about 20 below what it should be.
33rd over: Australia 148-8 (Stoinis 20, Coulter-Nile 0)
From 148-5 coming off an over of nine where they again took the upper hand and looked in decent enough shape, to 148-8 and all but game over. A triple-wicket maiden. You don’t see that every day. What an over by Kuldeep. A hat-trick at Eden Gardens. The game ground Harbhajan did the same against Australia in March 2001. All watched from the non-strikers’ end by Stonis. Not his fault, but all up to him now.
HAT-TRICK! Cummins c Dhoni b Kuldeep 0 (Austrlia 148-8)
What bowling! The wrong’un perfectly pitched, spins hard across Cummins, collects the edge and taken expertly by Dhoni. What a moment in this young man’s career! He’s spun his country to the cusp of victory as well. Brilliant delivery!
Updated
WICKET! Agar lbw b Kuldeep 0 (Australia 148-7)
First ball! Kuldeep throws it right up and Agar misses trying to whip into the onside. No review despite having it available. In the space of two balls, this is all of a sudden India’s to lose. Fantastic from Kuldeep. On a hat-trick!
WICKET! Wade b Kuldeep 2 (Australia 148-6)
Oh dear, that’s ugly. Wade deep in the crease, chopping back onto his stumps. He’s fought back into this tour so well with the gloves, but can’t buy a run. His international career hanging by the proverbial thread. Not that there is a bad time to get one, but the perfect moment for India to strike again following a good Australian over.
32nd over: Australia 148-5 (Stoinis 20, Wade 2)
Not for nothing that Agar and Cummins the next two in. Both are serious batsmen. Stonis takes a single from this new Hardik over to begin, out to cover. Wade does likewise, off the mark to third man. Need exactly a run a ball from here. Hardik hitting the bat hard, high on the edge of Stonis for one to third man as well. Singles off four consecutive balls now. Much better batting. A wide in there too now. This is the pressure they want back on India with 109 runs left to collect. Punch it into double digits before long, a couple of big overs and they’re flying. Oh, this is one of those big overs now: Stoinis smashing a slower bouncer through midwicket along the ground to the rope. Nine from it. Good one.
31st over: Australia 139-5 (Stoinis 14, Wade 0)
“In the 350 era we are getting a really good 250 game,” says Harsha Bhogle on the telly, and he’s right. “My batting versus your batting can be a bit one dimensional.” Michael Clarke also on the telly reflecting on Wade, the new man, and his two “tough hundreds” as a Test player. True. They were in 2012 and 2013 respectively though. He’s not been that player for some time. Did make a maiden ODI ton in January, mind. Only run here is Stonis down the ground. 1-for-18 over the last five overs. India right back on top as they grab a drink.
That Steve Smith wicket means that India are now favourites. pic.twitter.com/RRp1s1p3gk
— The Cricket Prof. (@CricProf) September 21, 2017
Updated
WICKET! Smith c Jadeja b Hardik 59 (Australia 138-5)
Smith knows what he’s done, his head thrown back as soon as he mishits a pull shot from a Hardik short ball. Top edge out to midwicket, taken by Jadeja (sub fielding) and that’s the captain done for the night. From what looked to be a chase in relative control about 45 minutes ago, now they need to find the better part of half these runs from the lower order with the captain watching on. Game on. Excellent bouncer too, on reflection. Took the pace off it nicely.
30th over: Australia 138-5 (Stoinis 13, Wade 0)
Updated
29th over: Australia 133-4 (Smith 55, Stoinis 12)
Chahal, the ever-reliable, back. And sure enough, conceding just the one. Stonis doesn’t look anywhere near as comfortable here. The only single from an edge. Seven overs he’s through now, the leggie, sporting the very handy figures of 2-for-16.
28th over: Australia 132-4 (Smith 55, Stoinis 11)
Oh yes, just like that big Marc. Couple of singles exchanged off Kuldeep, but forget about those, it is the cover drive I need to tell you about. It is full outside the off-stump, but Stoinis has to beat a ring better stacked than the Labor Party branches in my part of Melbourne. Finds a way through with a lavish stroke. Away.
Meanwhile, some information relevant to the Ashes from Lord’s.
Confirmed by Lancashire that Haseeb Hameed has fractured a finger on his right hand. #countycricketlive
— Vithushan (@Vitu_E) September 21, 2017
27th over: Australia 125-4 (Smith 54, Stoinis 5)
Not sure who the commentator on the TV is, but just said that Smith moves around a lot at the crease due to “something in his pants.” Sure. Couldn’t not reproduce that here. Smith cops a good one first up from Hardik, and a bit of variable bounce to contend with as well. Five dots mark a pretty slow period in this chase. But Smith doesn’t miss out when he gets one sprayed down leg, tickling with ease to the fine leg rope.
26th over: Australia 121-4 (Smith 50, Stoinis 5)
Smith moves to 50 with a push down the ground. Looked the goods from the moment he walked out in his 100th ODI. Plenty of tough moments early on with Bhuvi doing as he pleased with the new ball, but the captain persevered then prospered. Job far from done, mind. Only that single from this over.
Updated
25th over: Australia 120-4 (Smith 49, Stoinis 5)
Stonis’ turn to play himself in. Hardik the right man to allow for that, defending and leaving, before clipping a straight one to midwicket for four. Just under 5.5 an over needed, so he can take his time to feel his way through here. No rush at all.
24th over: Australia 116-4 (Smith 49, Stoinis 1)
Smith does exactly what is required after the wicket, ticking the board over early in the Kuldeep over before stroking a delightful cover drive through the gap to the boundary. Another couple next ball required a big dive, but he makes his ground, transferring a bit more pressure onto the hosts.
“These two spinners must surely be closing doors on Ravi Ashwin whose Test prowess has never really translated to wicket-taking ability in limited-overs cricket,” Devashish Fuloria emails in. “Ironic, because he came via good showing in the IPL.” To look at it another way: what depth!
WICKET! Maxwell st Dhoni b Chahal 14 (Australia 106-4)
Maxwell’s face says it all! Down the legside, it clips the pad on the way through, but he’s miles out of his ground when Dhoni does the rest. Set up expertly. Already beaten outside the off-stump, then kept honest with a couple of straighter deliveries. It’s the one that doesn’t spin doing the eventual damage as well, Maxwell playing for turn that never came when well down the wicket. Looked to see him coming. Big moment. Chahal just brilliant. The crowd love it too, due to Dhoni’s involvement. He’s treated like a God at every ground he visits.
Stonis beaten first ball too! Only had one to negotiate, straight past that outside edge. Wicket maiden. Has 2-for-15 from six so far, Chahal. Looking every bit a matchwinner, just as he was in Chennai.
23nd over: Australia 106-4 (Smith 40, Stoinis 0)
Updated
22nd over: Australia 105-3 (Smith 40, Maxwell 14)
Bumrah back for a second go, getting through four with the new ball earlier. Two of those were class; two poor. It’s enough to see him go through Maxwell second ball! Oh that was so close to off-stump. And then thump into the right-handers’s thigh pad. Surely Kohli vaguely familiar with his record against wrist-spin (see previous over) and the ease he did it with against these two on Sunday. When Bumrah gets a go at Smith he maintains a tight line and throws a slower one in there. Only one from it. That’ll do.
21st over: Australia 105-3 (Smith 40, Maxwell 13)
Real good from Chahal. Couldn’t care less that his teammate is going the distance up the other end, keeps throwing it up. Nearly strangles Smith off the glove down the legside to begin, but misses everything (and the umpire’s attention for a wide). Three singles all they get.
Glenn Maxwell vs Wrist Spinners
— The Cricket Prof. (@CricProf) September 21, 2017
- Average 48.50
- 8.02 RPO
- Dot% 42%
- Boundary % 15.8%#INDvsAUS
20th over: Australia 102-3 (Smith 39, Maxwell 12)
BIG SHOW! Third ball he has faced, not yet off the mark. Kuldeep has it turning square. No worries! SIX, SIX! Both over midwicket/square leg with the back leg down. Remember when it was a real novelty for a sweep to go the whole way? What a guy. Kuldeep fights back with a couple of googlies. 100 up, just like that.
19th over: Australia 89-3 (Smith 38, Maxwell 0)
Chahal throwing it waaaay up at Smith. It’s beautiful legspin bowling. The captain then has to contend with a quicker one, but he’s well forward. Lots going on here. His wrists flicked to get one out to midwicket in order to retain the strike. But that’s the only run from it.
Looking forward to having a listen to this. With Anth Condon, who is a ripper.
The History of Women's Test Cricket. Quite the chin stroker this one, for the postmodernist fans out there.https://t.co/WYAogcm2e1
— White Line Wireless (@WhiteLineWire) September 21, 2017
18th over: Australia 88-3 (Smith 37, Maxwell 0)
Righto, Big Show. Your turn. Not yet though, Smith to face. Oh and nearly gone to! Big inside edge saves him. Kuldeep generating massive turn here to Smith from over the wicket. Huge fan of this tandem wrist-spinner thing. Can’t recall a time in ODI cricket where it has been a regular (or even one-off?) occurance. Warne and Bevo, sure. But two specialists?
WICKET! Head c Pandey b Chahal 39 (Australia 85-3)
Caught at midwicket! Catching practice after misjudging what looks to be an attempted topspinner. Completely against the flow of play. Chahal has got his side right back in this with something altogether unremarkable. Should clarify: it didn’t pitch. Head just misread the full toss.
17th over: Australia 85-3 (Smith 34, Maxwell 0)
16th over: Australia 80-2 (Smith 32, Head 36)
Yep, it is Kuldeep. Glad to see. Starts with a cracking wrong’un, that beats Head and brings an appeal. Well outside the line, mind. TV confirms they were right not to review the appeal in the previous over too - umpires call. Just. Smith batting in the Aussie baseball cap now. I know we’ve done this a bit on the OBO before, but this times like these we need to campaign hard for them to bring back the baggy gold. Four singles for the pair from the over, happy to keep going with their risk-free approach for now. Rightly so with this stand now worth 71 in 67 balls.
15th over: Australia 76-2 (Smith 29, Head 35)
Game of two ends here. Chahal, and earlier Bhuvi, Australia cannot score - 15 runs from eight overs in that direction. Huge LBW shout from the spinner’s penultimate ball, pushing a quicker one through at Head. But outside the line? Seems the consensus from Kohli and Dhoni behind the stumps, deciding against sending it upstairs. That’s drinks for the lads. Nicely poised, as we say.
“I fancy the aussies to pull this off,” writes Stuie Neale to me on the tweet. I tend to agree, because it is never wise to punt against Australia when Steve Smith is in. At any time. Head looking the goods too. But let’s see how Kuldeep goes. Spin to win, and all that.
14th over: Australia 73-2 (Smith 28, Head 33)
Blimey, Travis Head is good at cricket, ay? Pandya slips onto middle stump and he clips him through midwicket with all the grace and timing of Mark Waugh. Was dropped at first slip while still in single digits. That Rohit mistake could very well end up the defining moment of this match. Nine more from it. Hardik has leaked 24 in three. Time for wrist spin at both ends?
Finny going nuts at Lord’s. Has seven. Lancs look shot. See it through with Will. Speaking of, got to watch Sanga bring up his 64th First Class ton yesterday. Get in.
13th over: Australia 64-2 (Smith 26, Head 26)
Chahal with his cagey leggies for the first time tonight. He was outstanding on Sunday at Chennai; mixed up his speed so well. And just the three singles from his first over here, out to the sweepers. Nothing silly required, only need five an over. Have consolidated well after the testing time early on. Time to capitalise.
12th over: Australia 61-2 (Smith 25, Head 24)
Pandya back. TV has popped up the Dan Brettig stat on Smith, going 38 ODIs before reaching a half-century in the format. They claim he was a leggie through all of that stretch. He wasn’t. But let’s not let the truth get in the way of a lovely myth. What is true: the timing on a cover drive here, on the up and everything. That’s just lovely, Skip. Australia’s 50 up in the process. Oh, even better with an on-drive. That’s shot the day-night.
I’m obviously covering this from London (the couch) and not the press box. But to give some insight to my colleagues who are. Being a day-night fixture they will be hanging for an obvious theme to emerge in this second innings so they can start writing well before the end of the game. A Steve Smith ton in his 100th ODI is absolutely perfect for that. Narrrrrrative. He gets four more to end the expensive over, worth 12. Leg byes actually, off the front pad rather than the inside edge according to the official.
Meanwhile over at Lord’s... ADAM VOGES!
SIX FOR FINN: @finnysteve gets his sixth wicket of the innings as Jarvis edges one to @acvoges 🙏 pic.twitter.com/rJ8EsGXyib
— Middlesex Cricket (@Middlesex_CCC) September 21, 2017
11th over: Australia 49-2 (Smith 17, Head 24)
Bhuvi, Bhuvi, Bhuvi! Great man goes again. At Head initially, who steers behind point to give Smith a go. Leaving, pushing, stroking to cover. Finds a gap to keep the strike, square driving nicely. Looks set for this.
10th over: Australia 47-2 (Smith 16, Head 23)
There is a change, Bumrah replaced by Hardik with his medium-fast (as opposed to fast-medium). Hits the bat hard to begin, but Head rocks back and crunches through midwicket. Field still up, only needs to pick the gap, does it with ease. Classy shot from the younger of the two Australians out there. Hardik does as all good bowlers must and pretends he dropped short due to slipping in his delivery stride. Pull the other one, mate. For full effect, he gets the BAIL OFF to scrape something from his boots. Matey. We get it. Back to your mark already. Head gets onto another, this time when Hardik overpitches. Your spikes again? Smith gets involved, sending him back to his mark when nearly at the delivery stride. Unclear why. Scrappy over.
Next will be the sweaty hands for a full bunger. And then ‘didn’t pick it up’ after a drop...#cricketisms
— Tim Cutler (@timcutler) September 21, 2017
9th over: Australia 40-2 (Smith 16, Head 16)
Bhuvi beats Head again! Into his fifth over here. Gee, must be a temptation to keep him going? One for the ODI lovers of old: chuck on your most probing seamer and let him bowl his full set from the top of the innings. Good evening if you’re reading on, Adam Dale. Hi there, Terry Alderman. How’s it going, Mike Whitney? Conservatively played by both through the rest of the over. Wonderful analysis: 5-2-7-2.
8th over: Australia 39-2 (Smith 16, Head 15)
Smith, in his 100th ODI, moving up the gears now. Bumrah let’s himself down twice in a row, too full on leg stump then too short way outside off stump. The captain doesn’t miss out on either occasion. But a great comeback too, landing a yorker. Oh, scrap that... four more! Byes this time? Smith shuffling waaaay across. Thought he might have got some of his bum on it? 12 from the over all the same.
Those 2 early wickets have increased India's chances of winning the game. Australia still favourites though. pic.twitter.com/tPaUdyFnPj
— The Cricket Prof. (@CricProf) September 21, 2017
7th over: Australia 27-2 (Smith 8, Head 15)
Is that a dropped catch to end the over? I think it might be. Bhuvi has won the edge and yes, Rohit has put Head down. That’s a bad one too. About shin-height. Has to take that. Oh dear. Comes after the left-hander flicks with ease through midwicket to collect a second boundary. Can’t take your eyes off this at the moment. When will the ball stop swinging?
Earlier in the set, Smith deployed the aggressive bat-waving leave we saw so much in his trio of Border-Gavaskar tons earlier in the year. Prompts the commentary team to talk about Glenn Maxwell’s genius video from the other. Say what you will about the Victorian, he’s the funniest cricketer we have. And so bloody clever. The Lara? The Langer? Trust me - watch this.
6th over: Australia 22-2 (Smith 7, Head 11)
Head cut in half by Bumrah! What a clinic these two are putting on. Deserves to have his name in the book. But he won’t by changing the script, punished by Head when dropping short. Three more come from a push past forward square leg. Nice timing from the South Australian. But he plays and misses as well to end the over. What a great little session this is.
The ball is wobbling and the batsmen don't like it. Cricket at its best when the bowlers are in the picture.
— Harsha Bhogle (@bhogleharsha) September 21, 2017
WICKET! Warner c Rahane b Bhuvneshwar 1 (Australia 9-2)
You will rarely see better swing bowling than this in the modern game. Another magnificent over from Bhuvi rewarded with another wicket. He beat Warner to begin, then later got another to move so beautifully through the air to win the edge, landing safely in the hands of second slip. Gorgeous cricket.
5th over: Australia 10-2 (Smith 6, Head 0)
4th over: Australia 9-1 (Warner 1, Smith 6)
Smith walking out for his 100th ODI. Dan Brettig crunched the numbers for Cricinfo on his ODI career to date. Didn’t pass 50 in his first 39 matches, has eight tons since, going at 54. Have that. Might need one tonight. Oh! Nearly edges behind in this first over at the crease, playing at missing after getting all the way across his stumps to Bumrah. Both these quicks making it dart around both ways. A joy to watch. He does find the edge of the Aussie captain, but it is wide of second slip and quickly down to the rope. Another penetrative over.
Ground staff spraying chemical on the Eden Gardens outfield to ensure there is no dew in the 2nd innings #indvaus pic.twitter.com/oW2HMqJlA0
— Gav Joshi (@Gampa_cricket) September 21, 2017
WICKET! Cartwright b Bhuvneshwar 1. (Australia 2-1)
Magnficent fast bowling! Through the gate with ample hoop, wide of the crease, crashing into the top of off-stump. There’s one for the Bhuvi highlight reel. Cartwright, who faced 15 balls for his one, never looked like it against a ball going both ways. End of a wicket maiden as well.
3rd over: Australia 2-1 (Warner 0, Smith 0)
2nd over: Australia 2-0 (Cartwright 1, Warner 0)
Bumrah following Bhuvi’s lead. Cartwright really scrapping around here, leaving a ball that nearly clips his off-stump then wafting at the change-up, moving away. Just misses the edge. Kicks away a legbye then Warner gets a beauty, pushing and beaten outside the off-stump as well. Fantastic start to the Indian defence.
Big finish coming up down the road at Lord’s. Finny on fire. Lancs need 71 with four wickets in hand. Middlesex need to win to makes sure they stay in the top flight. Join Will Macpherson on the other side to see how that finishes.
1st over: Australia 1-0 (Cartwright 1, Warner 0)
Cartwright hurried up from the get-go by the Indian attack-leader. Moves the ball away from the right-hander and then back in. On the money, as always. A quick single taken behind square to get off the mark. Warner safe even if it hit, by the looks of the replay. Warner happy to watch one dart away from his IPL teammate, then defend solidly the delivery back into his pads. That’s a quality over to begin.
We’re away! Bhuvi has the ball, Cartwright on strike. Australia need 253. GO!
Allo!
Thank you to Sam Perry for steering the OBO for the better part of four and a half hours. Really great when ODIs drag on an hour longer than they should do, isn’t it? Anyway, let’s not get too down in the dumps. As long as we’re together, right?
You can probably tell from the choice of song it’s Adam Collins here for the Australian chase. Pretty nicely set up, actually. Hot and wet (nurse!), track holding up enough to keep things interesting for the bowlers. Bit of pressure on Australia having won just once in their last ten ODI starts. Yeah. This’ll be good! Right on!
Updated
Australia requires 253 runs to win
Advantage Australia, but it’s probably not a significant one. From a start that saw India in control and players gasping and grimacing under the Kolkata humidity, to a chase that asks for five an over, this was a great fightback from Steve Smith’s side.
India started the brighter, as Rahane and Kohli combined for a hundred-plus partnership that set the foundation and opened expectations for something over 300. The wicket seemed to support that thesis, for while the Australians extracted some bounce early, all swing was essentially negated after six or so overs, the batsmen leant on their drives easily, and India had themselves 180 runs and seven wickets in hand heading into the final 90 balls.
But from there they lost seven wickets and made only seventy runs, both a tribute to tight Australian bowling and the emergence of a two-paced pitch that may not be as much of a paradise as was originally suggested. Each bowler hit their areas as India laboured its way to 252. Cummins was probably the pick, though Coulter-Nile and Richardson collected the lion’s share of the wickets with three apiece.
A mention to Kohli, who oozed class on an increasingly tough wicket. He looked a little rusty early in his dig, as someone with 46 runs from his previous 6 outings against Australia might. But he felt his way into it, and left us with some excellent strokeplay. I haven’t seen a fuller bat face since the days of Tendulkar.
A very intriguing chase awaits Australia. They start well, but can they handle India’s middle overs? The wrist spin that proved their undoing in Chennai is there waiting for them again. In the same way they corrected their bowling here in Kolkata, can they do the same with the bat?
It will be Adam Collins to take you through it. For all those who stopped by, cheers, and enjoy the second innings.
50th over: India 252 all out (Bumrah 10 not out)
Another good over from Richardson, only one boundary from it, and India are all out. Richardson finishes with 3-55, an excellent finish after an ominous start. A few thoughts to follow...
WICKET! Chahal run out Wade 1 (1) India all out 252
Chahal swings clumsily, misses, takes off, gets sent back, but Wade’s already rolled the ball in and hit the stumps.
The hat-trick ball comes to nothing...
Sorry to embolden that when the news was minimal. He goes with one from the back of the hand. It’s a full toss, and batted away easily by Chahal.
WICKET! Pandya c Warner b Richardson 20 (26) - India 246/9
Full toss to Pandya and he hits it straight down Warner’s throat! Hard not to think these little moments might eventually hand Australia the key advantage. Richardson’s on a hat-trick!
49th over: India 246-8 (Bumrah 5, Pandya 19)
After the Cummins wicket, Bumrah comes out and swings wildly from another Cummins thunderbolt. The cleared front leg and big arc was always going to produce a dramatic result, and this time it’s in favour of the batsman. He gets a thick, thick edge and four runs. Pandya eventually comes on strike and finds a single to start himself on strike for the final six balls.
WICKET! Kuldeep c Wade b Cummins 0 (2) - India 239/8
What a catch by Wade! Cummins is full, wideish, and Kuldeep tries to steer him through the offside. It’s too quick, gets the edge, and Wade is full, full, stretch to his left, and takes it with the outstretched left hand. Great piece of skill.
48th over: India 239-7 (Kuldeep 0, Pandya 19)
Crazy over from Richardson really. Double plays, umpire interventions, rain, a Smith dropped catch, then a wicket. Two overs to go, India slowing down.
WICKET! Bhuvneshwar c Maxwell b Richardson 20 (33) - India 239/7
After being dropped by Smith the ball previous, Bhuvneshwar skies another high - but this time straight - and Maxwell makes so mistake. Another wicket for Richardson, and well deserved too.
The covers are off...
We can’t be too far away.
Love when cricket throws up those little technicalities of law - so technical as to confound seasoned international players. Smith wanted the coveted pseudo double-play of a no-ball-catch-then-run-out, and thought he had it, until the umpires intervened. And they were completely correct, too, in a decision I’d imagine they express private pride in back in their dressing room. In the pantheon of umpire plays, overruling the Australian captain and being proved correct on a technicality would be cause for a dignified fist pump, in this correspondent’s view.
Still waiting on word as to the rain situation here (Sky are playing ads so I’m presuming it’s still coming down).
One of the all time great caught off a no ball dead ball run out rain delay moments in ODI history there. #INDvAUS
— Dan Liebke (@LiebCricket) September 21, 2017
Adam Collins with some precedent...
Come on, everyone. Deano 1991. Bobby Simpson with the rule book. https://t.co/J0qxfK9gfX #INDvAUS
— Adam Collins (@collinsadam) September 21, 2017
We’re off for rain here...
It starts drizzling, but there’s chaos here in the preceding ball. Richardson delivers a waist-high full toss to Pandya, who skies it high on the off-side. Smith gets under it, takes it, and Pandya has begun to walk. Smith lobs the ball back to Stoinis, who takes the stumps. It then starts pelting down with rain.
The umpire meanwhile has signalled no-ball, which in-turn prompts Smith to appeal for the run-out. The umpire, it seems, explains to Smith that when a batsman leaves the crease under the misapprehension that he’s dismissed, then the umpire shall call a dead ball.
Smith, Warner and Handscomb (probably doesn’t need to be there) appear to argue the toss, but not overly vehemently.
Apparently Law 27.7 proves the umpire correct. Strange stuff.
Anyway, it was a passing shower. The covers are back off, and I think we’re starting soon.
Anyone see this differently?
47th over: India 233-6 (Bhuvneshwar 15, Pandya 19)
And now the batsmen swing a little. Fortune favours it, as they say, and Bhuvneshwar swings bravely, and lustily; the ball collects a thick outside edge and flies away for four, fine of third man. The next one’s a slower ball bouncer, and Bhuvneshwar is beaten by it - he gets bat to it and lobs it directly above him in the air. No one is in within cooee to catch it, somewhat comically. Next, Bhuvneshwar smashes one straight but it hits the non-striker Pandya in the helmet, leaving him rattled, but okay, on the deck for a while. Coulter-Nile is seen saying ‘oooh!’ in slow motion as it played out. Nasty stuff, but Pandya carries on. Another is smashed and fielded at long on, so there’s only one.
46th over: India 226-6 (Bhuvneshwar 10, Pandya 18)
And only four from this one. Let’s call it for what it is: not so much a strategy from India as excellent bowling from Australia. Shorter length from Stoinis pays dividends for the former Victorian player. Nearly a mix-up midway through it too, a ‘yes-no’ giving Warner a chance to shy at the stumps.
45th over: India 222-6 (Bhuvneshwar 8, Pandya 16)
dot, dot, one, dot, dot, one. Curious from both batsmen here. They’re scoring slowly, and not really attempting much either. Maybe it’s coming. Excellent yorkers from Coulter-Nile, and everything else is either glided or mis-timed.
44th over: India 220-6 (Bhuvneshwar 7, Pandya 15)
Stoinis follows up the miserly theme with an economic offering of his own, this time only two from it. 30 balls remain, so 300 is largely out of the reckoning barring some burst of madness from Pandya, who’s moved to 15. He’d need to create a House of Fun, if you will.
43rd over: India 218-6 (Bhuvneshwar 5, Pandya 15)
Pandya does have an answer for the short one. He menaces a forehand from Cummins through extra cover for four from his first delivery, and grabs the good batting single immediately afterward. The single is always more respected than the boundary, despite being a quarter of its value. There’s three more runs in the rest of the over; a better one for India.
Updated
42nd over: India 210-6 (Bhuvneshwar 4, Pandya 8)
Match has swung hugely in Australia’s favour. Now only two from Richardson’s over, whose own figures are starting to gain their own respect (8-0-43-1). He’s hitting that back of a length region, and India are preserving wickets. Can Pandya counterpunch? Not too long to go now.
Unlucky to miss out on a hundred, but that was another Masterclass from Virat. Stage set for Dhoni and Hardik for last 12 overs.#INDvAUS
— VVS Laxman (@VVSLaxman281) September 21, 2017
41st over: India 208-6 (Bhuvneshwar 3, Pandya 7)
And only one from this over! Cummins has 0-19 from 8 overs, that is remarkable in the context of this match. I can’t remember a bowler being so effective yet so unrewarded in recent history. From the Indian test series, to Bangladesh, to now, the respect shown to him is worth noting. So, does Smith try to bowl India out here, or contain? Clarke says go for the jugular. Easy to say, I suppose, but he’s probably right. There are two slips to start Richardson’s next over, which demonstrates Smith’s thinking.
40th over: India 207-6 (Bhuvneshwar 2, Pandya 7)
Richardson gets the wicket from the first ball, and Pandya edges desperately close to wide slip later on. The latter man becomes crucial in these final ten overs. Get him and Australia would be well on their way. Don’t, and 300 is still well and truly on. Because everything is binary like that. There’s no middle ground.
WICKET! Dhoni c Smith b Richardson 5 (10) - India 6/204
Dhoni scoops Richardson to Smith at shortish cover and he takes it low to make it six down! Another hush around the crowd as another hero departs. Dhoni just reached for it fractionally and was too early on it. Smith’s hands safer than chances the Australian will commission another op-ed from Tony Abbott. What?
39th over: India 204-5 (Dhoni 5, Pandya 6)
Only three from Cummins’ over here, memorable for Agar’s calf cramping mid-over and Pandya stealing two from Cummins’ final ball due to some sleepy Australian fielding. Another mini-resurgence from the visitors.
38th over: India 201-5 (Dhoni 4, Pandya 4)
So Coulter-Nile gets the wicket and India now find themselves with two new batsmen at the crease. Pandya almost goes first ball, as Coulter-Nile finds another inside edge, but this one misses the stumps and careers away for four. These two took the game away from Australia in Chennai - can they do it again?
WICKET! Kohli b Coulter-Nile 92 (107) - India 197/5
Kohli chops on! Huge sigh from the crowd as Coulter-Nile gets one to just tail in a fraction, cramping Kohli’s attempted glide to third man, taking his inside edge and cannoning into the stumps. Thought Kohli was about to bash his stumps down afterwards, such was his annoyance. Excellent innings from the skipper, and he’s given a reception befitting of it.
37th over: India 195-4 (Dhoni 4, Kohli 90)
Kohli into the nineties now, via another crisply timed off drive early on. Saw the bat makers name and all. He seemed a little out of touch at the beginning of his innings, but now he’s all bat angles and nips and tucks. He’s milking the strike and coming up with the big shot when he needs to. I think he’s got another level to go to here too. Still nearly 80 balls to go.
36th over: India 190-4 (Dhoni 4, Kohli 85)
India’s two modern day legends at the crease now, and Dhoni whips up the crowd with a precision pull into the deep square boundary. He got inside the line of it very quickly and helped it on its way. Not the worst guy to come in right now, I’d venture.
WICKET! Jadhav c Maxwell b Coulter-Nile 24 (24) - India 186/4
Similar to Jadhav’s six, but Coulter-Nile was a little tighter into Jadhav and he slapped it straight to Maxwell at point. He didn’t connect well with it at all, and Maxwell took it easily. The crowd goes nuts for Dhoni, who’s in next.
35th over: India 185-3 (Jadhav 24, Kohli 84)
Stoinis drops short and wide early, and it allows Jadhav to prop, balance himself, and throw his hands at it. It sails over backward point all the way for six, the first of the match, and the crowd rises to a roar. The rest is fairly quiet but India have upped things here. I think they can go at close to ten an over.
Updated
34th over: India 176-3 (Jadhav 17, Kohli 82)
Big over for India; I think there’ll be more of these. Early in the over Kohli squeezes Agar fine for four, but Agar’s towel fell out from his pants, so the umpire calls dead ball. Kohli’s not happy, Agar is laughing. Jadhav gets him back though, late in the over he goes inside out over cover for four, and follows up with a fine paddle for four to finish the over.
Updated
33rd over: India 165-3 (Jadhav 9, Kohli 79)
Stoinis takes up the mantle now, as the crowd builds nicely. He starts with dots before an off-side wide spoils his start. Then a strange moment. Jadhav is beaten by a Stoinis slower ball, and the ensuing bounce hits the strained, kneeling Wade on the wrist, before settling on the turf. Wade grimaces, drops his head, and Kohli takes off from the non-strikers end to get a single. Stoinis and Wade aren’t happy, believing that the ball was dead. It technically wasn’t. Smith looks fairly unperturbed by it all. Was cheeky from Kohli, personally thought Wade’s dropped head to tend to his pain signalled dead ball enough, but Kohli’s position was arguable, so it will stand. Of course, it brought him on strike and he smashed the next ball for four - a brutal square drive. There’ll be verbal handbags in between overs, no doubt.
Updated
32nd over: India 158-3 (Jadhav 9, Kohli 74)
Tidy again from Agar. Only three from it. India remaining patient. Post drinks normally heralds the final sprint, but taking them at 31 overs means there’s many, many balls to go. 114, in fact. I think India can score well over 150 from those. PredictViz, below, disagrees.
PredictViz suggests India will end up with 298 runs on the board. #INDvsAUS pic.twitter.com/gDI9kky1tm
— The Cricket Prof. (@CricProf) September 21, 2017
Updated
31st over: India 154-3 (Jhadav 7, Kohli 72)
Still just ticking over here, as the camera pans to a muscular Dhoni waiting to come in. The crowd roars. Lots more coming through the on-side now, as Kohli flicks, pulls, and pushes his way to five of his own runs from the over, while Jhadav grabs one. We’ll have another drink.
30th over: India 148-3 (Jhadav 6, Kohli 68)
Both batsmen work Agar to the on-side now, just allowing the ball to slide into their pads - waiting on it well. One of these results in a wild shy at the stumps that results in not only an overthrow, but a Border-esque teapot stance and grumpy head shake from Smith. Huge candidate to get grumpy as his career goes on. Should make for some good viewing. It goes 1,1,1,2,1,1.
29th over: India 141-3 (Jadhav 2, Kohli 65)
Early boundary from Kohli’s bat gets him off to a winning start here, as he shuffles across the stumps to whip Richardson through the on-side for four. ‘Practice wickets!’ shouts commentator Harsha Bhogle, referring to the tendency for the ball to speed into the ropes once they hit those wickets, like a moving walkway at the airport. Richardson contains him thereafter.
Updated
28th over: India 134-3 (Jadhav 1, Kohli 59)
Another breakthrough for Australia; it brings Kedar Jadhav to the crease. Only three from Agar’s over too, giving him figures of 1-32 from his 6 overs. Kohli looms as the threat now, though if I were India I wouldn’t be too concerned. They bat very deep, and if they can get to the final ten or so overs with enough wickets in hand, they can go big, as they say.
Vision here of the run out earlier:
Doesn't get much closer than that! #INDvAUS pic.twitter.com/vJDFyjl8Fd
— cricket.com.au (@CricketAus) September 21, 2017
Updated
WICKET! Pandey b Agar 3 (13) - India 131/3
Bowled! Agar beats Pandey with a quickish, flatter one that slides past Pandey’s chopped attempt at a cut. It actually went outside his bat, when normally those one’s beat the bat on the inside. He gave himself too much room. It’s another sad end to a stuttering innings, and gives Australia a brief sniff at holding India back a fraction longer.
27th over: India 131-2 (Pandey 3, Kohli 58)
Wide slip back in for Coulter-Nile, is Smith still trying to find his edge? I think they’re three or four overs away from launching again. At one point Kohli effectively flicks a straight drive past Coulter-Nile but it hammers into the non-striker’s stumps, preventing a run. Coulter-Nile is otherwise tight. Only two from it. Mini-fightback from Australia here, it should be said.
Don't worry about the temperature gauge. If you want to know how hot it is in Kolkata, have a look at this. #INDvAUS https://t.co/qr6ILEGJMM pic.twitter.com/4y9tM2z4zx
— cricket.com.au (@CricketAus) September 21, 2017
25th over: India 129-2 (Pandey 2, Kohli 57)
A one, a two, a wide, a one. Head, even when delivering extra balls in the over, takes about 53 seconds to get it done. India will rebuild here, before launching again. 300+ still very much in the offing, probably more.
24th over: India 124-2 (Pandey 1, Kohli 54)
Coulter-Nile comes back into the attack. Interesting, given ex-captain Clarke lightly criticised Smith’s decision to go with his middle-over bowlers in Chennai when wickets were possibly on offer. Alternatively, maybe it’s so hot Smith’s simply rotating. He finds some bounce immediately, clocking in at late 130s. He’s tight too, as Australia’s off side ring all of a sudden finds themselves magnetised to the ball. There’s a wide late due to a misdirected bouncer, but he doesn’t pay for it. Only three from it.
On the run out...
Kohli wanted two, Rahane wanted one. Kohli was going to the danger end, and by rights had the call. Rahane suffered for his initially slow first run. As judge, I blame Rahane. When it comes to run-outs, someone needs blaming. It’s part of cricket’s unofficial Dismissal Grieving Process.
WICKET! Rahane run out (Cartwright/Wade) 55 (64b) - India 121/2
Nice piece of fielding from Hilton Cartwright to effect the run out there. It brings Pandey to the crease, and momentarily breaks India’s gradual momentum.
Review! Possible run-out
Rahane could be in trouble here. Great throw from the boundary by Cartwright. Wade took the bails. Looks close...
23rd over: India 115-1 (Rahane 50, Kohli 52)
Cummins seems to be mixing slower balls with back of a length bowling. From his second ball he nearly has Kohli run out. They sprinted side by side toward the striker end, and Cummins’ side-footed attempt (on his left) would have had the India captain if better directed. Brett Lee goes on to say that Australia’s Ashley Noffke snapped his angle in an Australian practice match playing soccer, thus ending his career. Very grim thought. In keeping with the world game, football does seem to be the warm-up game of choice among international teams. Does that ring true at the lower levels?
In other news, Rahane brings up his own fifty (x62 balls) via a single. The partnership’s nearly at 100 and it could start getting fairly damaging soon.
22nd over: India 111-1 (Rahane 48, Kohli 50)
We’re well and truly on the singles carousel now. It continues predictably with batsmen hitting the square sweeper, long off and long on, before an Agar wide combined with sloppiness from Wade brings some bonus runs for the home side. Kohli then brings up his fifty (x60 balls) with another single to long on, to the great joy of the Kolkata crowd. Brett Lee seizes the moment by saying “And there it is!” It’s a phrase I would have thought reserved for a hundred, though such milestones are celebrated as feverishly in India, so it’s fair enough.
21st over: India 104-1 (Rahane 46, Kohli 47)
Is Cummins Australia’s talisman now? It’s been a meteoric rise if so. He returns to the attack, and concedes three. As I type, Sky have packaged up a montage of Australian players sweating, panting, keeling over, set to dramatic orchestral music. Matt Wade’s spitting in slow motion. Fantastic stuff.
Some correspondence.
“Dear Sam,” writes Anod. “So Ajinkya plays well today. Dhawan returns. In keeping with the policy of this India team, Ajinkya sits out. Any vacancies in the English middle order, eh? Ha Ha.”
England’s top order, certainly.
20th over: India 101-1 (Rahane 45, Kohli 45)
India moving into singles-with-well-timed-boundary mode now. They milk Agar before Kohli pounces on a fractionally short Agar delivery, late-cutting him deftly fine of the man protecting that area for four. India ready to kick on, I feel. Both batsmen now 45 from 53 balls.
19th over: India 91-1 (Rahane 41, Kohli 39)
The Agar-Stoinis axis is serving Australia well enough, though Stoinis is pulled for four from his first ball. It caught high on Kohli’s bat - he was beaten for pace - but the ball found the practice wickets and skipped into the rope. Travis Head slid in vain, and I wondered whether his spikes would puncture the covers sitting on the perimeter of the boundary. A run-out attempt from a quick single mid on results in a misfield from the man attempting to back up the throw, and there’s an overthrow: the natural result of a hot day, poor decisions, and being in the field. Cummins does well to stop the overthrows going for four.
18th over: India 83-1 (Rahane 41, Kohli 31)
Only one from Agar’s over here, and early on he’s diving full stretch to cut off a Kohli single to long-off - fully airborne and all. Finds some spin later too. He’s settled into his spell well.
Really like this from Nagarjun, in response to Phil’s tweet earlier;
Certainly beats spending 10% of your life *following* cricket, which is surely the case for me.
— Nagarjun Kandukuru (@knagarjun) September 21, 2017
17th over: India 82-1 (Rahane 41, Kohli 30)
Close-ups of Wade spitting now. Not pretty. Who’d keep if he had to go? Handscomb’s not playing. Could be some novelty to be had here.
Stoinis has returned and, early wide aside, is bowling excellently. He targets a few well-directed yorkers into Kohli and broadly keeps both batsmen quiet. Maxwell dives vigorously at point to save some runs from the last ball as Australia fight grimly.
I’d like to keep talking about who’s spent the most minutes, hours, days, years, playing international cricket.
16th over: India 77-1 (Rahane 38, Kohli 29)
Five from Agar’s over. He looks like he belongs here. Just singles and two’s.
Most people seem concerned about the heat. Kohli and Rahane on their knees at drinks getting checked by ex-Aussie physio, now India’s physio, Pat Farhart. Wade’s hunched over his knees.
While player’s barely cope with the humidity, there’s also this to ponder.
@sjjperry By my, very rough, calculations M S Dohni has spent a little over 2% of his life playing 1 day internationals. What a life.
— phil withall (@phil_withall) September 21, 2017
I really like this conversation. Often think about players who’ve played over 100 Tests. It’s at least a year of your life playing Test cricket.
15th over: India 72-1 (Rahane 34, Kohli 28)
Richardson is bowling almost exclusively cross-seam now, and he’s found his range. He’s cramping both Kohli and Rahane, who are content to pick up a single each. That’s drinks.
14th over: India 70-1 (Rahane 33, Kohli 27)
Agar’s into the attack now, spearing the ball in. The over feels quiet because there are no boundaries, just consistent singles and a two. Long on coming into play now. Six from it, India starting to cruise.
Bit of a delay here..
Play comes to a halt as about half the team seem to simultaneously succumb to the aching humidity of Kolkata. There’s about a five minute delay as each of Wade, Richardson, Cartwright and others are tended to with wet towels, water, and whatever else. The next 36 overs might be painful.
Updated
13th over: India 63-1 (Rahane 30, Kohli 23)
Richardson in a bit of trouble here. He labours back to his mark, head bowed, and in the background you can see Wade standing with his hands on his knees. He concedes a few singles before the full face of Kohli’s bat consumes the entire wide-screen I’m watching on, driving fiercely through the off-side for four. The crowd scream ‘Kohli! Kohli! Kohli!’ in unison. Seven from the over.
12th over: India 56-1 (Rahane 29, Kohli 17)
Richardson being looked at by the physio on the boundary; Clarke suggesting that his last-ball bouncer might have caused it. Meanwhile, one’s and two’s from this Stoinis over. It’s Australia’s bowling powerplay so sweepers abound, and they’re found at cover chiefly, where the majority of runs seem to be coming from today.
11th over: India 50-1 (Rahane 28, Kohli 12)
A better over for Richardson, until Kohli pulls one from his head for a boundary from the concluding ball of the over. How many times do we see that? Interestingly, Kohli was 8 from 22 heading into that ball, and there’s some fevered talk from Michael Clarke on TV about commonly-understood plans for getting Kohli out. It involves cutting his runs down on the off-side and bouncing him, essentially. Kohli’s warming into it.
How good have the cover-drives been today! One of the great shots to watch and we've seen a few already.
— Harsha Bhogle (@bhogleharsha) September 21, 2017
Updated
10th over: India 44-1 (Rahane 27, Kohli 7)
Stoinis replaces Coulter-Nile and puts the handbrake on proceedings. Smith has removed a slip and packed the off-side, and the fielding change saves a boundary straight away. Commentators are talking about “a glint in Kohli’s eye” today. I guess he’s due runs, so it’s a fair bet. Stoinis’ medium pace has the desired effect - it’s harder to climb into him and he leaves the over with only one run to his, and Australia’s name.
9th over: India 43-1 (Rahane 27, Kohli 6)
Kane Richardson comes on for Cummins, and Smith retains two slips. He has very snappy arms and legs on release, and his front leg splays out to point on delivery. ‘Okay, Brett Lee,’ I can hear you saying. Anyway, Kohli fairly walks into Richardson’s second offering, punching him through the covers for four. Richardson finds some bounce later on, and Kohli sort of windscreen wipes it - a half-leave, half-cut - down to third one. It brings Rahane back on strike and he shows us how to do it: a sumptuous, technically perfect cut shot for four that races to the boundary. The runs starting to pile on now. Looks about 35 degrees out there too.
Surprised to discover that Aus has only 2 prev ODIs at Kolkata, both finals & both won! WC in 1987 & TVS Cup in 2003. No Aussie played both.
— Ric Finlay (@RicFinlay) September 21, 2017
8th over: India 34-1 (Rahane 23, Kohli 1)
Another boundary to start Coulter-Nile’s over. Australia’s ‘number 6’ (also worn by ME Waugh) is too full and Rahane is elegant again, this time driving a little straighter between mid-off and cover. The timing is exquisite. He has a curious delivery stride, Coulter-Nile. In an age where players think of everything in straight lines - ‘when bowling, imagine running in a narrow corridor of wet paint’ - Coulter-Nile seems to jump out towards third man before delivering. At release, he’s effectively wide of the crease. Everything works for him this over, until Rahane duplicates the over’s beginning. It’s another gloriously stroked (not ‘struck’) off drive. It means 8 from the over. Coulter-Nile looks very tired.
7th over: India 26-1 (Rahane 15, Kohli 1)
A maiden from Cummins here, keeping India shackled-enough. It allows Kohli a good look at six balls, all directed at fourth or fifth stump, around 150km/hr. Cummins leaves the field afterwards. Will follow that one.
6th over: India 26-1 (Rahane 15, Kohli 1)
So the wicket came, bringing captain Kohli to the crease. Coulter-Nile almost has him two balls in, too - he delivers a wide one that the skipper chases. It finds a thickish edge that flies wide of second slip and to rolls to the relative safety of third man. It brings Rahane back on strike, and the Indian opener finishes the over with a caressed cover drive for four. This one wasn’t as brutal as his earlier iteration, but the result is four.
- Steve Smith plays his 100th ODI for AUS; 27th Australian to do so
— Fox Sports Lab (@FoxSportsLab) September 21, 2017
- MS Dhoni play his 300th ODI for IND; 6th Indian to do so #INDvAUS
WICKET! Sharma c&b Coulter-Nile 7 (14)
Gone! From almost nowhere, Sharma scoops a full ball from Coulter-Nile straight back to the bowler, and the big quick is able to snaffle it. His catch wasn’t of the straight reflex variety, but he was sufficiently off-balance to make it a good piece of skill. Sharma ‘toed’ it, and Coulter-Nile was aware enough to pop it up with his right hand before grabbing it with both. Australia are away.
Updated
5th over: India 19-0 (Rahane 11, Sharma 7)
Cummins strikes Rahane on the pad early in the over - it brings a sizeable shout from the cordon, but it’s turned down. Smith thinks about reviewing but indicates that it was missing leg. Replays confirm that. Next ball, Cummins flies in then all of a sudden the ball flies out the back of his hand, lobbing itself to mid on. It slipped from the back of his hand, Cummins tumbled, leaving everyone flummoxed, then laughing. The Penrith clubman responds by delivering a ripsnorting bouncer that whistles past Rahane nose; it seamed from the wicket and was zeroing in on the batsman before he swayed out of the way. Rahane predictably prods one and takes off next ball, but Sharma sends him back. Impressive stuff again from Cummins.
Updated
4th over: India 18-0 (Rahane 11, Sharma 6)
Another cover-drive for four, this time from Rahane, from Coulter-Nile’s first ball. He follows with a wide, and then Rahane leans on a checked-square drive, just steering it between backward and cover point. Nine from (effectively) two balls. Smith has two slips - understandable this early on, because wickets are very helpful. I think he’ll remove one soon though. Rahane slashes late in the over but Coulter-Nile’s bounce is too much. It’s a play-and-miss and Coulter-Nile throws his head back, but really Rahane just missed out on a boundary.
Australia won its only ODI against India at Eden Gardens, Kolkata by 37 runs in 2003 #INDvAUS pic.twitter.com/AuB8U0m4tr
— Fox Sports Lab (@FoxSportsLab) September 21, 2017
3rd over: India 9-0 (Rahane 3, Sharma 6)
A quiet start to the over before Rohit Sharma absolutely laces a cover drive for four. It hurtled at warp speed to the boundary; an absolutely copybook execution of the shot too. The sort of shot that makes you think ‘hmm, this is a good wicket.’ Calling 300+ already. Courageous, isn’t it. No other runs from the over
Meanwhile, Brett Lee argues on TV that it was unfair to label Pat Cummins as “injury prone”... I’d respectfully disagree.
The Australian players are wearing black armbands today to honour former Test spinner Bob Holland #INDvAUS pic.twitter.com/OI2ERN3cfj
— cricket.com.au (@CricketAus) September 21, 2017
2nd over: India 5-0 (Rahane 3, Sharma 2)
It’s Coulter-Nile from the other end, and he’s sporting a shaved head; very much in keeping with the late-90s, early 2000s style in these Asian parts. Whereas Cummins is whippy and all fast-arm action, Coulter-Nile bustles and muscles in, using girthy shoulders to propel a heavy ball down the wicket. On Sunday he bowled very full and searched for swing. Here he hits the wicket hard, back of a length, and tight enough to restrict Rahane and Sharma to a single each via glides to third man.
I totally love that Pat Cummins is now Australia’s fittest and most reliable fast bowler. #INDvAUS
— Dan Liebke (@LiebCricket) September 21, 2017
Updated
1st over: India 3-0 (Rahane 2, Sharma 1)
Cummins needs no loosener, the ball carrying through to Wade’s head from the off. Rahane brings the first roar of the day, moving onto his tippy toes to glide Cummins down to third man to bring the first run of the day. “He just wants to get to the other end,” says Brett Lee. Sharma finds a quick single to the on-side, before Cummins nearly beats the inside of Rahane’s bat - an inside edge coupled with rooted feet giving Cummins cause to throw his hands up in the air in exasperation. Rahane gets one for it all the same. Cummins always seems to start well.
Anthems are done
The crowd is fairly sparse, apparently a function of the local Pujo festival. Thought they’re expected to flock in later. In less culturally sophisticated news, Nathan Coulter-Nile is wearing the gold floppy. He joins Pat Cummins, who’ll start things off.
A look at the wicket
There was some suggestion that the rain might leave a green tinge on the wicket. Admittedly, I’m red-green colour blind so I’d struggle to see it anyway, but this looks especially hard and decidedly not-green.
The covers are off. First look at the pitch for the 2nd ODI at Eden Gardens. Win the toss and? #INDvAUS pic.twitter.com/a7AX5cWPd6
— BCCI (@BCCI) September 21, 2017
Teams:
Australia (Playing XI): David Warner, Hilton Cartwright, Steven Smith(c), Travis Head, Glenn Maxwell, Marcus Stoinis, Matthew Wade(w), Ashton Agar, Kane Richardson, Pat Cummins, Nathan Coulter-Nile
India (Playing XI): Rohit Sharma, Ajinkya Rahane, Virat Kohli(c), Manish Pandey, Kedar Jadhav, MS Dhoni(w), Hardik Pandya, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Kuldeep Yadav, Yuzvendra Chahal, Jasprit Bumrah
For Australia, that’s Zampa and Faulkner out - they’re replaced by Agar and Richardson respectively.
India are unchanged
Smith on his 100th ODI
“Taken me 7 years to get there, excited to play my 100th at Eden. Would have batted first too. Hopefully we can bowl well early and put the pressure on. Two changes; Richardson in for Faulkner, and Agar in for Zampa.”
Nice piece from Dan Brettig on Smith’s century of matches if you follow the tweet here:
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Steve Smith
— Daniel Brettig (@danbrettig) September 20, 2017
First 38 ODIs, 477 runs at 20.73, no 50s or 100s.
Next 61 ODIs, 2711 runs at 54.22, 8 100s#INDvAUS https://t.co/CA7nsSCmW3
India has won the toss and will bat
Forget Brett Lee’s comments, Kohli wants to set a total.
“We’re going to bat. Looks a nice and hard wicket, doesn’t have a lot of moisture in it. Tends to do a lot more in the night than the day and we have two wrist-spinners too. Was a lot of talk in last few months about the top order but middle and lower order have done the job for us in the last few games. Last game gave us confidence as a side and lifted us.”
India have won the toss and they will bat first #INDvAUS pic.twitter.com/Y1pX33Ddoe
— cricket.com.au (@CricketAus) September 21, 2017
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Welcome all!
Good morning, afternoon and evening to you all, and welcome to our OBO coverage of this, the second ODI between India and Australia being played at Eden Gardens, Kolkata.
The home side have a one-nil lead, courtesy of a comfortable-enough win in Chennai at the weekend, but whether that provides the riveting context you crave, or not, is really up to you. In an age of isolated contest after isolated contest, it may surprise you to learn that India have one seven ODIs on the bounce, and that the World Champions, Australia, have won just one from their last ten. All roads point towards advantage India.
But does that matter anyway? Ed Cowan, speaking on Fox Sports this week, posed that question in a roundabout way. He pondered whether this Australian side resembled a ‘development squad’ rather than a Best XI, pointing to the inclusion of Hilton Cartwright as an opener. Cartwright averages 16 in domestic fifty-over cricket. Cowan may have a point.
I’m told there’s been a fair bit of rain around Kolkata, so much so that a delayed start was predicted as late as this morning. However it seems to have abated, and moreover had little impact on the wicket.
Says Brett Lee: “It looks like a very good pitch. Last season, the pitch had a two-pace quality to it. This one may not have that. Last few games over here have produced more than 300 runs. With the rains around, teams might want to field. Absolute beautiful pitch here at Eden Gardens.”
Great pitch. May want to field. That confuses me. Then again, many things do.
Next I’ll bring you reports from the toss, and the respective playing XIs of both teams.
As ever, it would be great to hear from you. I’m at @sjjperry on Twitter or sam.perry.freelance@guardian.co.uk
Sam will be here shortly. In the meantime, here’s a reminder of what happened in game one:
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