ICC Cricket World Cup 2019: Virat Kohli hits half-century of fifties in clash vs Australia

After Rohit Sharma's attacking fifty and a brilliant century from Shikhar Dhawan, India cricket team skipper Virat Kohli joined in the fun as he blasted his 50th fifty in ODIs. The Indian cricket team skipper notched up his landmark by working offspinner Glenn Maxwell to the deep midwicket fence for a single. Kohli built upon the efforts of Dhawan and Rohit as India aimed for a total close to 325 against an Australian side that struggled on the flat deck at the Kennington Oval in London after India had won the toss and chose to bat. Kohli became the seventh Indian player to hit 50 or more fifties in ODIs. Sachin Tendulkar heads the list with 96 fifties

Both Dhawan and Rohit started slowly and it was the left-hander who smashed the first boundary of the match when he caressed a full ball from Pat Cummins to the deep extra cover fence. The pressure of the early overs was released when Dhawan slammed three boundaries off Nathan Coulter-Nile in the eighth over. The first boundary was a drive straight down the ground, the second was a cut shot to the deep cover fence while the third was a late-cut to the third man fence.

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After going past the landmark, Dhawan pounced on Stoinis by smashing two consecutive boundaries and despite losing Rohit for 57, Dhawan continued his aggression. He blasted two fours off legspinner Adam Zampa and got near to his century by getting an under-edge to a short ball from Pat Cummins as he attempted the upper-cut again. The left-hander raced through the 90s by pulling Zampa to the deep square leg fence and he reached the landmark in dramatic fashion.

The left-hander pushed a full ball from Marcus Stoinis to the mid-off region and looked for a single but sent Virat Kohli back half-way down the pitch. The fielder scored a direct hit and the ricochet resulted in a single.

Rohit Sharma has always had memorable moments against Australia when it comes to his cricketing career. His first double century came against Australia in 2013 and he has the most centuries in his ODI career against Australia. Rohit has also amassed other records in his career and in the ICC Cricket World Cup 2019 clash against Australia at the Kennington Oval, the Mumbai right-hander notched up yet another milestone.

Rohit became the fourth player to score 2000 runs in ODIs against Australia. Sachin Tendulkar is the leading run-getter with 3077 runs at an average of 44.57 with nine centuries. With Shikhar Dhawan batting aggressively, Rohit was content on playing second fiddle. The batsman pushed legspinner Adam Zampa to long off for a single and he became the fastest to 2000 runs against Australia, achieving the feat in just his 37th game.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Virat Kohli hit his 50th fifty in ODIs.
• Kohli is the seventh Indian to reach 50 ODI fifties.
• India last won against Australia in the 2011 World Cup.