India 354 for 7 (Dhoni 124, Gambhir 76, Raina 62) beat Australia 255 (Hussey 53, Jadeja 3-35) by 99 runs.

An avalanche of Indian Batting Machine driven by dynamic Dhoni lifted Indian score to Mount Everest of 354/7 in the second ODI at beautiful Nagpur stadium. Australians did not have Edmund Hillary or Sherpa Tenzing to win that Everest. Their efforts got buried under the skyscrapers to capably built by Shewag, Gambhir Raina and off course by Dhoni. India crushed Australia by 99 runs and there by level the 7 match Hero Honda Cup ODI series one all.

It was vintage Indian batting followed by intelligent bowling against a injury hit depleted Australian team. Bret Lee and James Hopes two inform Ausssie leading players missed out. The newly laid pitch appeared pacey and bouncy. Bowl was coming at even height. Indian top order has some of the best natural stroke makers in contemporary cricket. . Sachin Shewag, Gambhir, Yuvaraj, Dhoni, Raina all love bowling coming easily at the bat to execute their strokes. In this situation Ponting with limited bowling resources must not have put India to bat. Against a huge score dew factors could make little difference. Calculated risk of Ponting did not work. Against India in India chasing 354 is extremely difficult when 30,000 home fans cheer for their team full throat. It was definitely strategic aberration by Ponting.

The only success was successfully netting Master Tendulkar .Australians purposefully kept on bowling consistently a little wide of off stump. After spending some uneasy time at the wicket he nibbled an outswinger to white at second slip as early as fourth over. On the other end dashing Shewag appeared in electrifying form. In his 31 ball 40 he did not defend even a single delivery. All were punched, driven and cut with silky precision or brute force. Gambhir had scope to set his root stroking the balls and rotating the strikes. Australians were lucky in a sense that dangerous looking Shewag could be sent back by Johnson. If he stayed a few more overs Indians could have cause more profuse bleeding in Aussie camp. Out went Shewag and in came Yuvraj. One champion replaced by another. He too appeared in cavalier mood. Before he could make major damage Hilfenhaus picked him up 23 scored in 24 deliveries. A perfect platform for onslaught was laid by that time. Dhoni joined inform Gambhir. Score at that stage was 97/3 in 15.1 over. Hilfenhaus greeted Dhoni with a vicious bouncer which hit him at the back of his helmet. Aussie pacers were finding pace and bounce much to their likings. But Dholni and Gambhir were in a mission. After carefully setting eyes in Dhoni further consolidated the innings with Gautam Gambhir. Then, in tandem with Suresh Raina, he ripped the bowling to shreds.

Dhoni's superb 107-ball 124 was the foundation for India's highest-ever total against Australia, a mammoth 354 for 7. Dhoni – Gambhir added 119 in 19 overs. It could proceed much longer if Gambhir did not run himself out after scoring 76 in 80 deliveries. Young Raina joined his captain Dhoni. These two talented stroke makers virtually toyed with Australian attacking .Balls started striking boundary board like rocket shells. 136 runs were added in 15.3 overs. Dhoni alone scored 124 in 107 balls with 9 fours and 3 sixes. Matching strokes for strokes with his captain Raina blazed helpless Aussie attack scoring 62 in 50 deliveries. All aussie bowlers were effectively collared. Main strike bowlers Hilfenhaus, Johnson and Watson and were taken to cleaners. The bowling figures will evidence how Indians exploited the toothless Aussie attack. Hilfenhaus 1/83, Johnson 3/75, Siddle 1/55, Hauritz 0/54, Watson 0/47 in 5 overs caused serious headache for Ponting for future matches.

Chasing 354 in 50 overs against any team on any wicket is always a very steep task. The present Australian team do not have Hayden, Symonds, Gilchrist, Bevan or even Michael Clark. The middle order is nothing above average. On the same wicket where Aussie pacers were so ruthlessly collared Indian pacers consistently harassed Aussie batsmen and once Praveen Kumar and Ishant Sharma winkled out Australia's top three for just 45, the match was effectively over. Michael Hussey's 53 provided a lone note of defiance as India romped home by 99 runs, to leave the series all square as the teams packed their bags and headed to Delhi.

Australian innings never got any momentum. A long attacking innings by Ponting could create any challenge. But once Watson, Pains and Ponting went back to pavilion at 45 in 10 overs it was all left to Hussey to shoulder the team. White (23), Voges (36), Marsh (21), Johnson (21), Hauritz (30*) all contributed as much as they could. None of them were expected to play a Bevan or Symonds special .A patient 53 by Hussey could only help reduce the margin to two figures but only just.

Indian pacers Nehra (1/40), Praveen (2/37) and Ishant (2/34) used the condition much better. Harbhajan struggle a little bit .Young Jadeja bowled probing spell bagging 3/35 in 6 overs and a bit.

Unlike first match which India lost narrowly due to late surge by Indian tailenders The second ODI I saw comprehensive Indian victory. It exposed the weakness of Australian attack. Indians are strongly back in the series. It will require serious rethinking and special strategy by Aussie think tank to challenge resurging Indians. A major onslaught by Champion Sachin, and dashing Yuvaraj and full throttle of Jaguar Shewag are still pending.
Injury to Pains added woos to Australian problems. Too much cricket is taking its toll. Players appear to be burnt out. While an all fit Australians may find it extremely challenging to confront Indians in India this depleted Australian team may struggle further. Attack looks very ordinary. Australians can not complain about the wicket .It looked more Australian brand than Indian. Yey they faltered with bat or ball.