Australia win 2nd ODI, seal series as missed chances peg back India

Australia No.3 Short top scores with 74 and receives a big helping hand from Connolly as hosts take 2-0 lead in series

- Somshuvra Laha

Matthew Short made India pay for two dropped catches before Cooper Connolly scored an unbeaten fifty to guide Australia to a two-wicket win in the second ODI at Adelaide Oval and take an unassailable 2-0 lead in the three-match series.

For the first time in his ODI career did Virat Kohli fall for consecutive ducks before Rohit Sharma survived a tumultuous start to score his 59th ODI fifty. He added 118 runs with Shreyas Iyer but in the absence of anyone batting for large swathes of the innings, India could only finish with 264 after Adam Zampa stalled the scoring with four vital wickets.

Chasing under lights proved to be difficult, with Mitchell Marsh and Travis Head sent back within 13 overs, but Australia grafted small partnerships to chip away at the total. Matt Renshaw and Short added 55, before Carey helped stitch another 55-run stand with Short.

By then India were guilty of giving Short two lives - Axar Patel dropping him on 23 at point before Mohammad Siraj spilled a dolly in the 29th over with the batter on 55. Siraj finally redeemed himself by holding on to Short's attempted six in the deep but Connolly and Mitchell Owen then added 59 runs for the sixth wicket to deflate India's hopes of a comeback.