Kohli, Dhoni force ODI series Down Under into decider

Virat Kohli struck his 39th ODI century while MS Dhoni showed that he still had his finishing qualities as India beat Australia by six wickets in the second ODI in Adelaide to level the three-match series at 1-1.
Chasing a target of 299, Kohli was at his imperious best as a hit 104 off 112 balls after openers Rohit Sharma (43) and Shikhar Dhawan (32) had given the India a solid start with 47 within the first eight overs.
Kohli added 59 for the third wicket with Ambati Rayudu (24) but the vital partnership came with Dhoni for the fourth wicket as the experienced pair put on 82.
When the India captain fell after chipping fast bowler Jhye Richardson to mid-wicket, India still needed 57 from the remaining seven overs.
Dinesh Karthik came in and played an important innings of 25 not out off 14 balls and together with the 2011 World Cup winning skipper made sure India suffered no hiccups.
The 37-year-old Dhoni brought all his experience of 333 ODIs to the fore as he scored an unbeaten 55 off 54 balls to guide the tourists over the line with four deliveries still to spare.
Earlier, Shaun Marsh hit his seventh ODI hundred as Australia scored 298/9 in their 50 overs after Aaron Finch had won the toss and chose to bat first at the Adelaide Oval.
Marsh hit 139 while the other major contributor with the willow for the hosts came from Glenn Maxwell, who hit 48 off 37 balls.
India’s new-ball duo of Bhuvneshwar Kumar (4-45) and Mohammed Shami (3-58) made vital breakthroughs throughout the innings.
The third and deciding game of the series takes place in Melbourne on Friday.
Latest
-
News
George Scrimshaw holds final-over nerves to guide Derbyshire past Lancashire
Scrimshaw successfully defended the 10 runs in the final over.
-
England
Jonny Bairstow and England looking to ‘take the game forward’
Bairstow hit a run-a-ball hundred for the second Test in succession as England fought back spectacularly against New Zealand.
-
England
Jonny Bairstow century leads thrilling England fightback at Headingley
The Yorkshireman made 130 not out and put on 209 with debutant Jamie Overton to rescue his side from 55 for six against New Zealand.
-
England
England top order left in tatters as New Zealand gain upper hand at Headingley
The hosts were 93 for six in reply to New Zealand’s 329 all out.
-
New Zealand
Daryl Mitchell breaks record with another century against England
Mitchell broke Martin Donnelly’s New Zealand tally of 492 runs in a series in England, set back in 1949.
-
England
Superb James Vince ton leads Hampshire to shock win over Somerset
Sussex’s five-match losing streak came to an end with a 17-run win over Surrey.
-
England
Adil Rashid to miss England’s India white-ball series to make Mecca pilgrimage
Rashid has found it difficult to make the pilgrimage due to timings and commitments.
-
England
Jack Leach pleased with good luck but admits freak dismissal no collector’s item
New Zealand closed the opening day of the final Test against England on 225 for five after Henry Nicholls was dismissed in bizarre fashion.
-
England
Stuart Broad stars on day one for England but error of judgement proves costly
Broad kept a week of celebrations going strong by striking before a run had been added and followed with the key scalp of Kane Williamson.
-
England
Matthew Mott expects England whitewash to ‘light fire’ under captain Eoin Morgan
Mott made an ideal start in his new role with a 3-0 one-day clean sweep of the Netherlands.