Australia v India, second ODI: Marsh and Head perish as Australia stumble early in pursuit of 265
Watching on his couch at home in Geelong, Australia’s resting head coach Andrew McDonald could draw satisfaction from a two-wicket victory over India and the winning of an ODI series that serves as summer’s first aperitif before the Ashes.
Beyond the result itself, McDonald’s most useful information was derived from the fact that in a series-deciding chase, skipper Mitchell Marsh and Travis Head were both gone with more than 200 runs still to get.
Their quick exits appeared to grant India an opening – certainly the game predicting algorithms of CricViz and the like were forecasting as such – and there were more murmurs of opportunity when Alex Carey fell sweeping with 133 runs still required.
Instead of a 1-1 ledger, however, the series door was slammed shut by the ensemble efforts of Matt Short (74), Cooper Connolly (61 not out) and the burly Mitch Owen (36), who cuffed their way to another defeat over an Indian side still showing signs of cobwebs from the journey here.
There was also a busy cameo by Matt Renshaw (30), although his chances of making a statement towards Ashes inclusion were stunted by an ambitious dance down the wicket to Axar Patel, in front of an Adelaide Oval crowd that ultimately swelled to 38,440 spectators.
Short enjoyed some good fortune in making his highest ODI score on home soil, dropped on 23 and 55, but he provided enough of a platform from which Connolly and Owen could launch.
Cooper Connolly of Australia (right) celebrates reaching his half century alongside teammate Mitch Owen. Credit: Getty Images
All three players have had plenty of experience playing in front of big crowds on pressure occasions in the Big Bash League, and they were quick to seize the initiative against an Indian side that had set what seemed a competitive target.
Connolly was particularly impressive with a combination of composure and power well familiar to Perth Scorchers fans. This was summed up by one cover drive that hurtled to the rope despite the off side sweeper being posted no more than five or so metres to the right of where the shot finished.
“Good fun but I was really nervous,” Connolly said on Fox. “Super stoked for the boys to get the win.”
Owen cracked his runs from a mere 23 balls, turning a still poised contest into a scramble home for the lower order with 22 balls to spare.
Swing bowler Xavier Bartlett earned a mention alongside the young batters, for his excellent 3-39 had been vital to keeping the Indians from accelerating after Marsh sent them in.
After Josh Hazlewood (0-29) had kept the top order particularly quiet while beating the bat on multiple occasions, Bartlett came on as first change bowler and soon had Shubman Gill pouched at mid-off.
Bartlett followed up by swinging a couple of deliveries away from Virat Kohli then running a third towards the stump for an lbw. It was a clever bit of bowling, but also a reflection of how much Kohli’s powers have diminished.
Rohit Sharma fought the dying of his own light for 97 balls while compiling 73, a halting innings that showed plenty of determination. It was a surprise when, after a century stand with Shreyas Iyer (61), Rohit hooked Mitchell Starc straight to Hazlewood at fine leg.
That India could not quite double their total after 30 overs was largely down to Adam Zampa (4-60), who won a series of cat and mouse duels with the middle order before having his colours only slightly lowered by a final over that went for 17. He then walked gamely to the middle to help Connolly collect the winning runs.
Dual World Cup winners Zampa, Hazlewood and Starc had all played useful roles for Marsh. But it will be the aforementioned contributions from Bartlett, Connolly, Short and Owen that help assure McDonald the future of the white ball team is in good hands.
