Aussies crushed by heat, Kohli and a hat-trick

Struggling in the extreme humidity and mid 30-degree heat – before a late, brief rain delay cooled things down – Australia looked little hope of stopping a monster Indian target after Virat Kohli roared back to form.

The sapping heat appeared to have defeated Australia, with wicketkeeper Matthew Wade showing signs of heat stress and causing a brief delay in the 13th over as the ice packs and fluids were brought out for the wilting visitors.

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Off-spinning all-rounder Ashton Agar left the field with severe cramp after bowling nine overs, taking the wicket of Manish Pandey for figures of 1-54.

Australia needed a hero, and the found one in Nathan Coulter-Nile.

The tireless quick produced a crucial spell to swing the match back in favour of the tourists, triggering a mini collapse that denied Kohli a 31st ODI century.

Coulter-Nile finished with figures of 3-51 – including the early wicket of Rohit Sharma (7) and the dangerous Kedar Yadav (24 from 24) – and bowled superbly in tandem with fellow opening paceman Pat Cummins.

Cummins finished with 1-34, comfortably the most economical bowler of the innings.

After Coulter-Nile took the early wicket of Sharma, Australia had few answers as Kohli and Ajinkya Rahane (55) who added 102 for the second wicket.

From there, India looked to build around Kohli who looked untouchable as he charged into the 90s with a majestic innings – having found his touch through off side with a series of exquisite cover drives.

But a lapse in concentration cost the Indian skipper dearly when he chopped on off the bowling of Coulter-Nile, giving Australia the impetus in the final overs to fight their way back into the contest.

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