Australia take unbeatable 2-0 lead with 2-wicket win over India in tense Adelaide run-chase

It was a match that swung both ways before Cooper Connolly’s composed 61 off 53 balls* guided the hosts home in a nervy finish.

Opting to field first, Australia’s bowlers struck early as Xavier Bartlett (3/39) and Adam Zampa (4/60) dismantled India’s middle order.

Despite losing Gill and Kohli cheaply within the powerplay, Rohit Sharma (73) anchored the innings with a measured knock, while Shreyas Iyer (61) and Axar Patel (44) provided stability.

India reached a competitive 264/9, but late wickets and tight bowling kept them below the 280-mark they seemed destined for.

In reply, Australia’s top order stuttered, losing Marsh and Head early, but Matthew Short (74 off 78) steadied the chase with aggressive stroke play. His 100-run partnership with Matt Renshaw (30) set the base before Connolly and Mitchell Owen (36 off 23) shifted momentum decisively with a flurry of boundaries.

For India, Arshdeep Singh (2/41) and Washington Sundar (2/37) picked up crucial wickets, but couldn’t apply sustained pressure in the final overs.

In the end, Australia’s depth and calm under pressure prevailed as they chased down 265 in 46.2 overs, sealing the series and underlining their dominance at home. India, despite moments of fight, were left searching for consistency ahead of the final game in Sydney.

Adam Zampa, Player of the Match, said, "Always nice to beat India, it’s always a great battle against them in ODIs. Both teams adapt really well to different conditions, so it’s always a good challenge to test ourselves.

"I’m grateful to come on and bowl after Starc; he makes my job easier. Mitch Marsh has been brilliant as captain as he is calm, relaxed, and never emotional. We senior guys know our roles and handle things our own way, which keeps the environment really balanced."

(With inputs from BCCI website)