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India vs Australia, 2nd ODI - Live Cricket Score, Commentary

Series: Australia tour of India, 2017 Venue: Eden Gardens, Kolkata Date & Time: Sep 21, 01:30 PM LOCAL
Virat Kohli fell 8 short of his 31st ODI century
Virat Kohli fell 8 short of his 31st ODI century © BCCI

All over! India go up 2-0 with a convincing 50-run victory in Kolkata!

Marcus Stoinis attempted a fight after Steve Smith's exit and the hat-trick that followed, but it was not to be. He tried but couldn't convert Eden Gardens into his Eden Park. Excellent stuff from the hosts. It was the sort of a day when they needed a batsman or two to stand up and fight the conditions. Virat Kohli put his hand up and so did Ajinkya Rahane. Their 101 stand defined this game to a big extent. The end to India's innings wasn't like they would've wished by 20s from Hardik and Bhuvneshwar Kumar was enough to take the team just past 250 which proved to be too much in the end. Bhuvneshwar Kumar bowled a special first spell and needed just one ball in the second to complete India's win. With that India go up 2-0 and give Australia very little turnaround time before the Indore ODI on Sunday.

FIFTY for Marcus Stoinis

Just like that the all-rounder is keeping Australia alive here. That's his first ODI fifty and it has come in exceptional time. He almost took his team out of similar trouble with a century before (against New Zealand in Eden Park). Can he do it here today? A lot would also depend on how long Kane Richardson can hold on. Australia 196/9 in 42 overs, need 57 off 48 balls.

Have you read about the Eden Gardens Press Conference room table yet? The one that today's hat-trick boy had a tryst with yesterday? If your answer is No, worry not! Now would be a good time to dive in.
















batsman @virendersehwag and @BCCIWomen all-rounder @Jhulan_Goswami ring the bell at Eden Gardens…
INDIA win toss, opt to bat first again. India field the same XI.The visitors bring in Kane Richardson and Ashton Agar for James Faulkner and Adam Zampa

It's quite intriguing that India continue with their two wrist spinners combination, while Australia drop their only one.

Smith the milestone man

The Aussie captain is set for his 100th ODI. Here's Deepu Narayana digging some numbers.

The buzzwords so far...

WRIST SPIN...have you heard of it? If you haven't, you're living under a rock! Both camps (and journalists) have gone on and on about how teams are picking wrist over fingers as far as spinners are concerned and their impact is being overstated. Sure, Kuldeep Yadav and Yuzvendra Chahal were both very good in the first game, but there was a bit of hand-holding from behind the stumps. Here's what Dhoni did in Chennai.

What Dhoni also did is made his way back to a stadium that loves him like thier own. Here's the tale of his homecoming.

Prelude - Australia seek parity

They say there's no better time to be in Kolkata than during Pujo. The lights, the colour, the festivities - it's quite an experience to soak in. Amidst the fervour of the occasion, there's an ODI that's about to get underway in less than an hour, if rain gods permit. India arrive in the Eastern city in quite the festive mood, having taken a 1-0 lead in Chennai. Australia have much to worry about, and no we aren't just talking about the overheated grilled chicken.

If you believe Steve Smith's assessment of the game, Australia were hard done by the rain that arrived at the stroke of the mid-innings break and didn't go away for the next two hours. But let bygones, be bygones. It's a fresh start today, and if a 50-over game goes on, India may not find doubling their series lead all that straightforward. Australia were exceptional in patches in Chennai, particularly Nathan Coulter-Nile who, according to our man at the Eden Kaushik Rangarajan, is humming a new tune. Go on, give it a read.

As we await the toss, you might also want to read what Kaushik had to write about the transformative table at the press conference room in Eden Gardens. Yes, you read that right.

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