IND vs AUS, 2nd ODI: Smith's Blazing Ton Propels Australia To Tectonic 389-Run Total At SCG

Australia set a tectonic 390-run target on the back of a power-packed all-round batting performance which saw all their frontline batsman scoring half tons. The hero for 'Aussies' with the willow was middle order work-horse Steve Smith, who notched up his second straight ton against India in ODIs.

Steve Smith hitting a shot enroute his ton against India in 2nd ODI at Sydney (Image: ICC Twitter)

Australia posted a mammoth 389-run total against India, batting first in the 2nd One Day International being played at the Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG) in Sydney. Australia set a tectonic 390-run target on the back of a power-packed all-round batting performance which saw all their frontline batsman scoring half tons. The hero for 'Aussies' with the willow was Steve Smith, who notched up his second straight ton against India in ODIs. Openers Warner and Finch Laid Down Strong Platform With Another Century Plus Stand Batting first for a second straight time after skipper Aaron Finch won the toss, Australian openers Warner and Finch once again laid down a strong platform by getting the hosts to a breezy start in the powerplays. While they were watchful in the first 2-3 openers, they began to cut loose hitting speedster Navdeep Saini for a flurry of boundaries. While Warner looked in sublime form and found the boundaries at will, last game centurion Finch was rock steady at the other end. The Aussies opening pair registered their second successive ton partnership by posting the hundred for the host in the seventeenth over.

258* 124 156 142 (today)

David Warner and Aaron Finch have four century partnerships in ODIs in 2020, the most by any pair ????#AUSvIND pic.twitter.com/OzOPTtmBnN — ICC (@ICC) November 29, 2020

With skipper Kohli's desperate attempt to make a breakthrough, he introduced spin but it did not yield any dividends as the openers kept ticking along the scoreboard by milking the singles. Mohammed Shami eventually broke the century stand by dismissing skipper Aaron Finch for a well made 60. David Warner was also sent back to the pavilion courtesy a brilliant direct hit by Shreyas Iyer from the deep from which had the Australian opener well short of his crease. Smith and Labuchagne Press On Acceleration Button In Middle Order Once Warner departed, Steve Smith was the aggressor in the middle order for a second straight game, hitting the timely boundaries along with running hard between wickets to apply pressure on the Indian bowlers and keep the scoring rate healthy. Coming on the back of a stellar ton in the last game, Smith stroked his way to yet another ODI fifty. Smith and Labuchagne went on a rampage by tonking the Indian bowlers to all corners of the park. Smith Scores Second Successive ODI Ton Against India Smith strokes his way to a second straight ton against India and took the same number of deliveries (62) to repeat his stellar feat from the opening ODI encounter. Against the run of play, Hardik Pandya dismissed Smith and brought an end to his wonderful innings.

Back-to-back hundreds for Steve Smith!

UNSTOPPABLE ????#AUSvIND pic.twitter.com/cVYTmdtijJ — ICC (@ICC) November 29, 2020

Glen Maxwell and Marcus Labuchagne Provide Late Flourish Down The Order Hard hitting all-rounder Glen Maxwell joined  Marcus Labuchagne to provide the much required late impetus down the order with his trademark crisp ball striking. The duo were in punishing mode against the Indian bowlers at the death, propelling Australia's total to mammoth 389-run total at SCG.