Post by : Maya Rahman

Australia clinched the one-day international (ODI) series against India with a nail-biting two-wicket victory at Adelaide Oval. The home team successfully chased down India’s score of 264 for nine, with 3.4 overs remaining, driven by solid performances from Matt Short and Cooper Connolly. This win gives Australia an unassailable 2–0 lead in the three-match series, with one match yet to play at the Sydney Cricket Ground.

Matt Short, batting at number three, led the charge with a courageous 74 runs, despite a finger injury sustained earlier in the match. His key partnership with newcomer Cooper Connolly, who notched his first international fifty, was the highlight of the game. Connolly's unbeaten 61 was pivotal as he steered the team through tense moments towards the end. “It was good fun. I was obviously really nervous,” Connolly commented post-match. “Super stoked for the boys to get the win.”

For India, the innings revolved around captain Rohit Sharma, who scored 73 runs off 97 balls, helping the team recover from early setbacks. However, his knock wasn't sufficient to halt Australia's momentum. With this match, Rohit surpassed Sourav Ganguly, moving to third place on India’s all-time ODI run-scorers chart. It was a disappointing outing for India, marred by several dropped catches and missed opportunities in the field.

Indian batting star Virat Kohli faced a challenging night, registering his second consecutive duck in ODIs—a first in his 300-match career. He fell lbw to young pacer Xavier Bartlett on just his fourth ball, reflecting his earlier failure in Perth. Kohli’s recent struggles added pressure on India’s top order, which buckled against Australia's fast bowlers.

The Australian bowlers capitalized on home conditions effectively. Xavier Bartlett secured 3 wickets for 39 runs, dismissing both Indian openers—Shubman Gill and Kohli—early. Spinner Adam Zampa rediscovered his form, clinching 4 wickets for 60 runs, earning him the man-of-the-match honors. His crucial over in the middle phase of the innings significantly slowed India’s run rate at a time when Rohit and Shreyas Iyer (61) appeared to be settling in.

Even as regular wickets fell, India’s lower order managed to contribute valuable runs. Harshit Rana (24 not out) and Arshdeep Singh (13) combined for a brisk 37 runs for the ninth wicket, helping India reach a total of 264—offering something to defend on a good batting surface.

In pursuit of 265, Australia’s openers, Mitchell Marsh (11) and Travis Head (28), struggled to form a solid start, though Matt Renshaw’s 30 helped stabilize the innings. Short and Connolly then took the initiative, with Short being aided by a dropped catch on 55. After Short was dismissed for 74, Connolly built a 59-run partnership with Mitchell Owen, who scored 36 off 37 balls, inching Australia closer to victory.

Just when Australia seemed to be in control, they suffered a sudden collapse, losing three wickets for just 14 runs. However, Connolly maintained his composure, dispatching a few boundaries. Ultimately, a wide delivery from Arshdeep Singh sealed the win for Australia, eliciting joy from the home crowd as Connolly’s unbeaten 61 secured the match and series.

In another development, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has approached the Supreme Court to classify match-fixing as a criminal offence. The board argues that such practices compromise the game’s integrity and should be addressed under India’s existing cheating laws. This comes in light of a case from Karnataka concerning alleged match-fixing in a state league during 2018–2019. The BCCI stated that match-fixing equates to “cheating by deception” and thus falls under Indian Penal Code. The cricket community now awaits the court’s ruling on the matter.

With their victory in Adelaide, Australia has already secured the series, but both teams will look to make an impact in the final ODI in Sydney. For India, it will be a chance to regain confidence ahead of their upcoming home matches, while Australia aims to continue their winning streak and assess their bench strength before the international season concludes.

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