Virat Kohli's ton, MS Dhoni's 50 help India beat Australia by six wickets in 2nd ODI

India defeated Australia by six wickets in the second ODI at Adelaide Oval on Tuesday.

MS Dhoni, who was criticised for his slow-run rate in the first ODI, hit a crucial half-century, which includes the winning runs, to level the three-match series.  

The former Indian skipper along with Dinesh Karthik at the other end remained unbeaten as Indian registered their victory. While Dhoni made 55 runs off 54 balls, Karthik contributed  25 in 14 balls. 

Indian skipper Virat Kohli also converted his fifty into his 39th ODI hundred while chasing a target of 299 runs set by the hosts Australia.

Kohli, with MS Dhoni at the other end, played a patient inning to lift his side back into the game, especially after India lost both its openers.  

His 104 runs inning included five boundaries and two sixes. He lost his wicket while trying to hit a big shot off Jhye Richardson.

The 'Men in Blue' lost both its openers - Rohit Sharma and Shikhar Dhawan - after the two gave India the required start. The two established a partnership of 47 runs before Dhawan fell off Jhye Richardson while trying to hit a big shot.  

Dhawan made 32 runs, which included five boundaries. While Rohit, who slammed a brilliant century in the first ODI, lost his wicket at 43.

For Australia, Shaun Marsh slammed a patient century to lift Australia while wickets kept falling at the other hand in the second ODI against India on Tuesday. 

Playing at an economy of 106.5, Marsh hit 131 runs in123 balls to set India a target of 299 runs. The 35-year-old, however, lost his wicket by giving an easy catch to Ravindra Jadeja while trying to hit a six off Bhuneshwar Kumar.  

Marsh found an ally in Glenn Maxwell, who got lucky twice but was finally dismissed for 48 runs off Bhuneshwar. Australia, who stood at 218 for the loss of five wickets at 42 overs, lost four more wickets in the following eight overs. 

In bowling, Indian pacers Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Mohammed Shami shared a total of seven wickets between them. 

Bhuvneshwar drew the first blood for his side as he bowled skipper Aaron Finch for just 6 runs. In the next over of Shami, wicketkeeper-batsman Alex Carey was sent back to the pavilion for 18 runs.

Bhuvneshwar, who is a death-over specialist, ended his 10 overs with four wickets and giving away 45 runs. Mohammed Shami too clinched three wickets and gave away 58 runs in his 10 overs. 

For Australia, Jason Behrendorff, Jhye Richardson, Marcus Stoinis and Glenn Maxwell took one wicket apiece. 

The two teams will next face each other on Friday to decide the winner of the ODI series.