Australia demolished India by 10 wickets in Visakhapatnam, and Mitchell Starc tied the ODI bowling record for most five-wicket hauls.
The left-armed Starc helped skittle India for only 117 in 26 overs after they were sent to bat. He got 5-53, which was his ninth five-wicket haul in 50-over cricket and tied Brett Lee’s record.
Indian bowlers were destroyed by Australia’s opening pair of Mitchell Marsh and Travis Head as they cruised to victory in just 11 overs, handing the hosts their worst-ever defeat in one-day cricket by 234 deliveries.
Although Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli added 29, Shubman Gill’s dismissal for a duck in Starc’s first over proved to be the highest partnership of India’s innings as their collapse accelerated.
Axar Patel’s unbeaten 29 at a run-a-ball propelled India above the 100-run threshold, but Sean Abbott (3-23) and Nathan Ellis (2-13) offered strong assistance, with the latter dismissing Kohli for 31 off 35 deliveries.
But before Starc returned to finish his five-for by bowling Mohammed Siraj for a duck, Abbott assisted in removing the remaining batsmen by removing Kuldeep Yadav and Mohammad Shami in successive deliveries.
Marsh promptly put an end to any chances of a comeback by India. He had scored 81 in the series opener and continued in a similar vein by slamming an undefeated 66 from 36, which included six sixes and six fours.
The opener reached his half-century off just 28 balls, while Head’s journey was only somewhat more leisurely as he hit 51 not out off just 30 balls, including 10 fours.
The three-match series is now tied after Australia’s convincing victory; the decisive game will be played on Wednesday in Chennai.
