Sharma ton in vain again

Indian opener Rohit Sharma jumps for joy after scoring his second consecutive hundred PHOTO: AFP

Australia set a new record run chase at the Gabba in Sydney on Friday as they cruised to a seven wicket victory over India in the second one day international.

After Indian captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni won the toss and chose to bat, the visitors finished their 50 overs at 308-8, thanks largely to a second successive century from opener Rohit Sharma (124), following his 171 not out in the first ODI in Perth on Tuesday.

But the total always looked too small to defend on a flat Gabba wicket and once Australia's openers Aaron Finch and Shaun Marsh put on a 145-run stand, the result never looked in doubt.

Finch and Marsh both scored 71 while captain Steve Smith (46) and George Bailey (76 not out) continued their good form as they guided Australia towards the victory total.

India had some hope when Smith was bowled by Umesh Yadav going for an ugly heave with the score on 244, but Bailey and Maxwell put on 65 runs from only 49 balls to see Australia home with six balls to spare.

SCORES IN BRIEF
INDIA: 308 for 8 in 50 overs (Sharma 124, Kohli 59, Rahane 89; Faulkner 2-64)
AUSTRALIA: 309 for 3 in 49 overs (Finch 71, Marsh 71, Smith 46, Bailey 76 not out, Maxwell 26 not out; Jadeja 1-50)
Result: Australia won by seven wickets and lead 5-match series 2-0.
Player-of-the-match: Rohit Sharma.