- Gill and Shreyes hit tons to see off Aussies
- India claim series win
- Jacks and Hain impress for England
ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup favourites India took victory in the second ODI against Australia to claim the series win with one match to spare. Second favourites and holders England fielded an experimental team against Ireland. With four uncapped players in the line-up England took a 48 run victory.
Centuries for Gill and Shreyes see off Aussies
Shubman Gill and Shreyas Iyer each delivered aggressive centuries, propelling India to a commanding 99-run victory over Australia in the second ODI under the DLS method. With this win, India secured an unassailable 2-0 lead in the three-match series on Sunday.
Gill showcased his skill with an impressive 104 runs off 97 balls, while Iyer, making a strong return to form, notched up a brilliant 105 off 90 deliveries. India, batting first, posted a formidable total of 399-5 in 50 overs – their highest-ever ODI score against Australia and the fourth-highest total against Australia by any team in ODI history.
Suryakumar Yadav played a blistering cameo, contributing an unbeaten 72 off just 37 balls, featuring six towering sixes.
India lost opener Ruturaj Gaikwad for a mere eight runs on a batting-friendly wicket. However, Gill and Iyer took full advantage of the favourable conditions, amassing an impressive 200-run partnership for the second wicket in just 27 overs. Together, they hammered 17 boundaries and seven maximums.
Making a comeback from injury, Iyer achieved his third ODI hundred in a brisk 86-ball innings. Gill, on the other hand, secured his sixth ODI century off 92 deliveries, marking his fifth hundred in 2023.
Soon after notching his century, Iyer was caught off Sean Abbott, who claimed 1-91 in his 10 overs. Gill was eventually caught off Cameron Green, who had a challenging day with the ball, conceding 103 runs in his 10 overs, ranking as the third most expensive spell for Australia in one-day internationals.
Stand-in skipper Lokesh Rahul contributed a crucial 52 off 38, forging quick partnerships of 59 with Ishan Kishan (scoring 31 off 18 balls) and then 53 off 34 balls with Yadav. Yadav’s scintillating half-century off just 24 balls delighted the Sunday crowd at the Holkar Stadium.
Australia’s pursuit of a revised target was further hampered by Prasidh Krishna, who claimed two wickets in the second over. David Warner and Marnus Labuschagne tried to stabilise the innings before rain intervened, resulting in an hour-long delay and a reduction of the match to 33 overs.
Ravichandran Ashwin turned the tide decisively, taking three wickets in quick succession. He dismissed Labuschagne with a clean bowled, trapped Warner leg-before-wicket, and later sent Josh Inglis back to the pavilion. Ashwin’s performance pushed his claims for a late World Cup call up.
Ravindra Jadeja also made significant contributions, taking three wickets for 42 runs. He bowled out Alex Carey and Adam Zampa before India’s victory march faced a brief delay.
Sean Abbott’s resilient 54 off 36, including four fours and five sixes, provided some resistance. He paired up with Josh Hazlewood (scoring 23 off 20) to put up a commendable 77-run stand for the ninth wicket.
Despite Abbott’s valiant effort, Australia fell short, handing India a well-deserved victory. Stand-in skipper Steve Smith commended India’s exceptional batting display and acknowledged the challenge of chasing a 400-plus target.
With this triumph, Australia suffered their fifth consecutive ODI defeat, while India clinched the series with a 2-0 lead following their previous win in Mohali.
The third and final ODI is scheduled to be held in Rajkot on Wednesday.
Jacks and Hain stand out as England see off Ireland
In the second one-day international clash at Trent Bridge, an experimental England squad emerged victorious against Ireland. Will Jacks showcased his prowess with a fluent 94, while Sam Hain, one of the four uncapped players in the home team, delivered a commendable 89, propelling England to a total of 334-8.
Debutant pace bowler George Scrimshaw faced a challenging initiation, committing four no-balls in his opening over and conceding 35 runs from his first 11 legal deliveries. Nevertheless, the Derbyshire cricketer displayed remarkable resilience, securing the dismissal of Andy Balbirnie with the final ball of his second over.
This marked the beginning of England’s gradual dismantling of the Irish batting lineup. Leg-spinner Rehan Ahmed further tilted the scales with a captivating spell, clinching four wickets for 54 runs.
With Ireland at a precarious 188-8, the game appeared poised for a swift conclusion. However, the visitors mounted a determined resistance, exploiting England’s momentary lapse in discipline. Barry McCarthy’s 41, complemented by a resilient partnership of 55 runs between Craig Young and Josh Little for the final wicket, prolonged the contest. Ultimately, Ireland were bowled out for 286, resulting in a 48-run victory for England.
Following a rain-induced washout in the first match at Headingley, the series will culminate in Bristol next Tuesday. England has yet to finalise their roster of reserve players for the World Cup, and the standout performances of Jacks and Hain make a compelling case for their inclusion.
Surrey’s Jacks, who previously showcased his off-spin prowess with a six-wicket haul on his Test debut against Pakistan, exhibited exceptional timing and aggression in his batting. His opening partnership with Salt, followed by a 102-run stand with Ben Duckett, provided a strong foundation for England’s innings. Jacks was on the cusp of securing his maiden ODI century, but was caught at deep mid-wicket off the bowling of George Dockrell.
Meanwhile, at 28 years of age, Warwickshire’s Hain has long been earmarked as a potential England prospect. Despite a tentative start – with only a solitary run from his initial 11 balls – he went on to register the third-highest score by an England batsman on ODI debut. Employing a blend of steady accumulation and occasional inventive strokes, Hain came close to notching a century, only to miscue McCarthy to mid-off in the final over of the innings. His List A batting average of 57.96, the second highest in history, further underlines his credentials.
Betting Implications
India are favourites to win the World Cup ahead of holders England. Australia may be struggling for form but they are rated as the third most likely to triumph.
England have not named any of their final squad for the ODI series against Ireland, though good performances from those involved could lead to them being named as reserves.
At the time of writing Betway are offering the following prices for the Cricket World Cup winner: India 11/5, England 3/1, Australia 4/1, Pakistan 6/1.
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