Rain batters Kolkata ahead of crucial ODI, David Warner and James Faulkner go out for coffee
David Warner and James Faulkner took a tour of Kolkata after heavy rain cancelled Australia's scheduled practice session ahead of the second ODI against India on Thursday.
In Short
- India won the first ODI by 26 runs via DLS method.
- The second ODI in Kolkata in under rain threat.
- Australia have never lost at the Eden Gardens in ODIs.
The second one day international between India and Australia faces rain threat but star batsman David Warner is not bothered by persistent showers in Kolkata. Warner and his teammate James Faulkner enjoyed their time off after their scheduled practice session was called off due to heavy rain.
Australia suffered a 26-run DLS defeat against India in the first ODI of the five-match series despite dominating the first 22 overs of the match. India had their backs to the wall and were left reeling at 87/5 in 21.3 overs before MS Dhoni and Hardik Pandya stitched an all important 118-run sixth-wicket stand to help the hosts post a competitive 281/7 in 50 overs in Chennai.
Australia's reply had a delayed start due to heavy rain and it was reduced to 21 overs with a revised target of 164. Australia's innings never took off and regular wickets kept their scoring in check thanks to brilliant bowling effort from wrist spinners Yuzvendra Chahal and Kuldeep Yadav who combined to grab five wickets. Pandya, who had struck 83 off 66 balls, also chipped in with two wickets and was named man of the match for his all-round show.
The rain may again play spoilsport and this time in totality. Even as the city has been lashed by spells of heavy showers over the past few days, the Eden Gardens' curators are, however, hoping for at least a shortened game.
"We need at least two hours of sunshine to get the ground ready. We are well-equipped, we are keeping our fingers crossed," East Zone curator Ashish Bhowmick had said two days before the game.
Eden Gardens, Kolkata...the ground that has hosted most Tests (40) & ODIs (29) in India getting ready for Thursday's 2nd ODI game!#IndvAus pic.twitter.com/rKGS58qo58- Mohandas Menon (@mohanstatsman) September 20, 2017
Both Warner and Faulkner are well aware of the Indian conditions given their long experience of the Indian Premier League. Another player Australia would look up to to get the series back on track for them is Nathan Coulter-Nile, who is very familiar to the conditions at the Eden Gardens as he play for Kolkata Knight Riders in the IPL. Coulter-Nile was the wrecker-in-chief in the first ODI when his three wickets had reduced India to 11/3 at the MA Chidambaram Stadium.
Statistically, the Eden Gardens is a happy hunting ground for Australia as they have 100 per cent record at the venue. They have played two matches in Kolkata and have registered wins in both. In their first ODI, in 1987, Australia defeated arch-rivals England by seven runs and in their second, they got better of India by 37 runs.
The two fierce rivals met at this ground in November 2003. Australia went on to beat India in a low-scoring match. Batting first, Australia posted 235 for five and in reply, India were bundled out for 198 in 41.5 overs.
Today we did some sightseeing around Kolkata. First stop was the very beautiful Victoria Memorial. #india pic.twitter.com/XXlFakJ6ud- Candice Warner (@CandyFalzon) September 20, 2017
14 years later, the two cricketing giants will meet again on Thursday in the second of the five-match ODI series. While India look to maintain their winning run, Australia will be keen to repeat the 2003 result.
A victory in Kolkata will give India the upper hand and they will aim to wrap up the series in the third game at Indore for their sixth consecutive ODI series victory.