Symonds, Haddin lift Australia to 306

A 108-run partnership between Andrew Symonds and Brad Haddin propelled Australia to an imposing 306 for six after being put in to bat by Indian skipper MS Dhoni in the second one-dayer at Kochi on Tuesday.

Like in Bangalore the world champions recovered after a shaky start. From 8 for 2, Symonds and Matthew Hayden propped them up before Haddin provided the finishing touches with a valuable 87.

Earlier, Dhoni wanted his seamers to make use of the moisture in the pitch and they did not let him down.

Zaheer Khan struck first up to dismiss the dangerous Australian opener Adam Gilchrist for a duck to India an early breakthrough.

Soon after, Sreesanth bowled a superb delivery to induce Brad Hodge to go for the front-foot drive and Dhoni took a low catch to send him back for three runs.

Matthew Hayden and Stuart Clarke then steadied the Australian innings and led the recovery with a 58-run partnership for the third wicket before a brilliant peice of stumping by Dhoni brought about Clarke's dismissal for 27 runs.

Clarke's exit brought the mighty Andrew Symonds to the crease. After facing a few deliveries, Symonds launched the assault on the Indian bowlers. He smashed three boundaries in an Irfan Pathan over to break the shackles.

After Hayden's departure, Symonds and Brad Haddin kept the momentum going with a 108-run partnership. They scored at a brisk pace to put the pressure back on India.

Harbhajan Singh and the red goggled Ramesh Powar were his other victims as he clobbered them for sixes.

Hayden struck his 31st ODI fifty and his fourth against India and along with Symonds consolidated the innings with a 94-run partnership, which threatened to take the edge away from India.

But a masterstoke from Pathan split the two Aussie batsmen as Hayden walked back after being bowled out for 75 off 89 deliveries which included five boundaries and three sixes.

After Hayden's departure, Symonds and Brad Haddin kept the momentum going with a 108-run partnership. They scored at a brisk pace to put the pressure back on India.

India have made a couple of changes, bringing in Harbhajan Singh for RP Singh. Robin Uthappa comes in for Sourav Ganguly, sitting out of the match because of a hamstring injury.

Australia are unchanged from the first game.

The start of play was delayed due to a wet pitch.

The first one-dayer at Bangalore was washed out due to rain.

Teams

India: Gautam Gambhir, Sachin Tendulkar, Irfan Pathan, Robin Uthappa, Rahul Dravid, Yuvraj Singh, MS Dhoni, Harbhajan Singh, Sreesanth, Ramesh Powar, Zaheer Khan.

Australia: Adam Gilchrist (C), Staurt Clark, Michael Clarke, Brad Haddin, Mathew Hayden, Brad Hodge, Mitchel Johnson, Brett Lee, Andrew Symonds, Brad Hogg, James Hopes.

Source: www.ndtv.com