Picture Courtesy : Hindustan Times
Left-arm spinner Kuldeep Yadav became only the third Indian to take a hat-trick as the hosts demolished Australia by 50 runs in the second ODI at Eden Gardens Kolkata, continuing their dominating run over the listless visitors and taking a 2-0 series lead .
According to report by PTI, Earlier, chasing 253 on a tricky surface, Australia once again had no answer to the guile of wrist spinners Yuzvendra Chahal (2/34) and chinaman Yadav (3/54), who struck at crucial junctures to bundle out the opposition for 202 in 43.1 overs.
Earlier, Indian skipper Virat Kohli and Ajinkya Rahane struck sublime knocks before Australia made a strong fightback to bowl India out for 252.
Coming on to bat after the early dismissal of Rohit Sharma, Kohli looked in great touch and along with Rahane shared 102 runs off just 111 deliveries for the second wicket to set the base for the total and giving something for the bowlers to bowl at.
With today’s memorable feat, Yadav joined Kapil Dev (1991) and Chetan Sharma (1987) in a select club of Indians who have picked up a hat-trick. The victory was also India’s eighth in a row in ODIs.
India’s sensational bowling performance came after captain Virat Kohli made a fluent 92 to take the hosts to 252 with opener Ajinkya Rahane scoring 55 at the top of the order.
Australia, who surrendered to the Indian spinners in Chennai, seemed equally helpless here with seven batsmen recording single digit scores.
Everytime Australia tried to make their way back into the game, Indian spinners responded with a breakthrough, carrying on from the good work done by pacer Bhuvneshwar Kumar (3/9) in the early overs.
Kumar made the ball talk in his opening spell, removing the dangerous David Warner and Hilton Cartwright to leave the Australians at nine for two.
Steven Smith (59) and Travis Head (39) got together to resurrect the innings, ending up with a 76-run stand. However, the left-hander flicked a full toss straight to mid-wicket to become Chahal’s first scalp and Australia found themselves under pressure again.
Glenn Maxwell (14) came out to support his captain and looked ominous straightaway, sweeping Yadav for two sixes in an over. But he too did not last long when his team needed another solid partnership.
All Australian hopes disappeared with the fall of Smith, who was holedout by deep square leg fielder off a Pandya bouncer.
Then Yadav joined the party by sending back Matthew Wade, Ashton Agar and Pat Cummins in as many balls to send the Eden crowd into a frenzy.
His best ball without a doubt was the hat-trick ball. The young spinners showed remarkable calm to bowl the wrong one that took a thick edge of Cummins’ bat before landing into the hands of MS Dhoni.
Yadav got through Wade’s stumps before trapping Agar infront of the stumps to be on a hat-trick. Marcus Stoinis waged a lone battle for Australia towards the end with an unbeaten 62 of 65 balls.
