Starc and Marsh lead Australia to rapid 10-wicket rout of India in second ODI

Mitchell Starc ripped through India’s lineup with five wickets to lay the platform for a crushing 10-wicket Australia win in the second one-day international in Visakhapatnam on Sunday.

Chasing 118 to win after Starc claimed 5 for 53 for his ninth five-wicket haul in ODIs in a fiery spell earlier in the day, Australia romped home in only 11 overs to level the three-match series at 1-1 and set up a thrilling finale in Chennai on Wednesday.

Mitchell Marsh cracked an unbeaten 66 in 36 balls – a knock that included six sixes – while Travis Head made 51 not out to get the tourists over the finish line without losing a wicket.

Australia put India in to bat and struck early as Starc had Shubman Gill caught at point for a duck with a wider ball in the first over. The left-armer then dismissed Rohit Sharma and Suryakumar Yadav off successive balls a little later.

The captain, Rohit, back after missing India’s five-wicket win in the series opener due to family commitments, was caught at slip for 13 while the explosive Suryakumar fell lbw off the next ball to leave India in big trouble at 32 for 3 inside five overs.

KL Rahul enjoyed a return to form in the previous match with an unbeaten 75, but he fell victim to a sharp inswinger from Starc and Hardik Pandya joined him in the pavilion shortly after thanks to a spectacular catch by Steve Smith.

The Australia captain flew to his right to pull off a one-handed blinder at slip in Sean Abbott’s second over as the hosts lost half their side for 49 on a track that offered the quick bowlers some early swing and bounce.

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