Australia have sealed the ODI series with a thrilling two-wicket win over India at Adelaide Oval, with the young Australian pair, Cooper Connolly and Xavier Bartlett staring for the home side.
The sun broke through for a growing crowd at Adelaide Oval as Australia won the toss and elected to bowl first in the second BKT Tyre One-Day International.
South Australian stars Alex Carey and Travis Head featured prominently in the Australian XI, much to the delight of the local fans. Adelaide Strikers captain Matt Short also retained his spot, batting at number three.
Anticipation was high with Indian legend Virat Kohli returning to Adelaide Oval for what was his final international appearance at the venue. With five centuries across formats here, it remains his most successful ground.
But the fairytale finish wasn’t to be. Kohli (0) fell for a duck, trapped LBW by Xavier Bartlett (3-39), who had just dismissed Shubman Gill (9) caught at mid-off, giving Australia the perfect start.
India found themselves in early trouble before Rohit Sharma (73) and Shreyas Iyer (61) steadied the innings with a 118-run partnership. Their milestones sparked celebrations among the strong Indian contingent in the stands.
Sharma’s hopes of a century fell short, with the famed opener caught in the deep off Mitchell Starc. From there, Adam Zampa (4-60) tore through the middle order, leaving India unable to form a steady partnership. Late resistance from Harshit Rana and Arshdeep Singh helped push India to a competitive 9-264.
India started strongly with the ball, building pressure through tight lines and dot balls. Their early efforts were rewarded with the wickets of Mitchell Marsh (11) and Travis Head (28) before the first drinks break.
Despite the early setbacks, Australia’s chase was anchored by a series of steady partnerships. Matt Short (74), Matthew Renshaw (30), Cooper Connolly (61*), and Mitchell Owen (36) all contributed crucial runs to keep the innings on track.
Adelaide Strikers captain Short led the way with his highest score in international cricket, finishing as the top scorer of the match. His dismissal, caught in the deep, briefly tilted the match back in India’s favour.
However, powerful late-innings striking from Mitchell Owen and Cooper Connolly reignited Australia’s chase. Despite a few late wickets, Australia regained control, eventually chasing down the target and securing a two-wicket victory in the 47th over.
For the first time, SACA Members benefited from exclusive access to Adelaide Oval via the Members-only South Gate located in the Riverbank Stand. This enhancement removed the crossover point between the Riverbank and Western Stands, significantly easing congestion and improving mobility for Members throughout the venue.
Members can look forward to enjoying this benefit once again during the upcoming Ashes Test Match in December!