ICC

England (310) grabbed their second win of the 2017 ICC Champions Trophy on Tuesday, cruising to a 87-run win against New Zealand (223).

The result sees England take the top spot in Group A and qualify for the knockout stages, with the match against Australia still to come.

Alex Hales, Joe Root and Jos Buttler all scored half-centuries, while Liam Plunkett stole the show with the ball, taking four wickets.

Adam Milne and Corey Anderson each finished with three wickets for the Black Caps, who couldn't limit boundaries during their innings and were unable to answer back when it was their turn to bat.

England patiently built a solid total, powered by half-centuries from Hales, Root and Buttler. The trio weren't overly explosive with the bat but steadily added to the score, as the Black Caps couldn't find the wickets they desperately needed.

New Zealand's bowlers finally found their groove in the final overs, but by that point, England had already put together a solid innings. Cricket writer Harsha Bhogle thought it was a good total, but the Black Caps had the batting prowess to have a chance in the chase:

Very nicely poised #ENGvNZ. England have nose ahead but New Zealand perfectly capable of chasing 310. Stokes/Buttler need a powerful finish

— Harsha Bhogle (@bhogleharsha) June 6, 2017

Luke Ronchi was dismissed on the first ball he faced, however, and while Kane Williamson (87 from 98) put together a fine knock, the Black Caps' run rate quickly dipped well below what was required.

England steadily worked through the middle of the order, led by Jake Ball, who bowled two maiden overs. The Black Caps never found a rhythm and ran out of wickets as the innings came to a close, not giving them the option to take a lot of risks.

The chase came to a premature end in the 45th over, as Plunkett took the wicket of Tim Southee.

With Australia and Bangladesh sharing the spoils in their draw on Monday, England now lead Group A with four points. New Zealand need to beat Bangladesh and see their rivals to lose their final match against England to have a chance of qualifying for the next round.

Australia saw their second ICC Champions Trophy game in succession end in a no-contest on Monday, as their match against Bangladesh was abandoned at The Oval in London due to rain.

Batting first, Bangladesh were able to muster a meagre total of 182 before being bowled out; Tamim Iqbal was the only man to provide any resistance with the bat, as he made a determined 95. Mitchell Starc was too hot to handle for the Tigers, as the Aussie picked up four wickets for 29 runs.

In response, Australia got off to a strong start before their chase was interrupted by showers. The umpires did seek to restart play, although Australia's run total of 83 for one wicket from 16 overs wasn't enough to warrant a result when the match was eventually called off.

Here are the matches to come and a reminder of how the action panned out on Monday.

Schedule

Tuesday, June 6: New Zealand vs. England (Group A)

Wednesday, June 7: South Africa vs. Pakistan (Group B)

Thursday, June 8: India vs. Sri Lanka (Group B)

Friday, June 9: New Zealand vs. Bangladesh (Group A)

Saturday, June 10: England vs. Australia (Group A)

Sunday, June 11: India vs. South Africa (Group B)

Monday, June 12: Sri Lanka vs. Pakistan (Group B)

For the full tables and schedule, visit the ICC website

    

Australia vs. Bangladesh

After winning the toss and deciding to bat, Bangladesh had the chance to apply some pressure to Australia. But the Tigers never really got going with the bat, Iqbal aside.

Indeed, of the top four batsman, only he made a double-figure score, with Soumya Sarkar (three), Imrul Kayes (six) and Mushfiqur Rahim (nine) all falling cheaply. It wasn't until Shakib Al Hasan arrived at the crease that Bangladesh were able to build some kind of partnership.

Iqbal was the bedrock of it. After a century in the previous match against England, he was full of poise again out in the middle, showing the patience and composure that was lacking in his team-mates. 

Commentator Sanjay Manjrekar was full of praise for the Bangladesh star as he moved his team towards a semi-decent score:

Tamim Iqbal has looked world class in England so far. 👏👏👏#CT17 #AUSvBAN

— Sanjay Manjrekar (@sanjaymanjrekar) June 5, 2017

The frequent loss of partners at the other end was what hampered Bangladesh, as Starc went about cleaning up the tail.

The left-armer was causing so many problems to the less accomplished batsmen, and of his four wickets, three came in a brutal 43rd over, with Iqbal (95), Mashrafe Mortaza (zero) and Rubel Hossain (zero) all dismissed.

Per AllOutCricket, it was some pretty ruthless bowling from the Aussie, as he consigned Bangladesh to a meagre 182:

W0WW00. Mitchell Starc, destroyer of tailenders, misses the hattrick and has to settle for a triple-wicket maiden. #CT17 #AUSvBAN

— Wisden (@WisdenCricket) June 5, 2017

At this stage, the only thing that looked capable of preventing a win for the men in green and gold was the weather. And after a solid start that saw David Warner pass 4,000 ODI runs, the heavens opened in south London with Australia well set on 83 for one.

After a lengthy delay and some improved conditions, a restart time was set for 8:30 p.m. BST. But as we can see courtesy of Sky Sports Cricket, the elements continued to frustrate:

Scratch that. The rain has returned. Updates as we get them on SS2 & on our blog: https://t.co/CVmTrs6w4X pic.twitter.com/cSCZ1aF0YM

— Sky Sports Cricket (@SkyCricket) June 5, 2017

As the rain got heavier again, the decision was made to call off the match.

While Australia were fortunate their game with New Zealand ended in a draw, they will no doubt feel points have slipped by here. It makes the upcoming match with England a must-win contest for the men from down under.

India (319/3) dominated rivals Pakistan (164 all out) during a rain-interrupted 2017 ICC Champions Trophy match on Sunday, winning their first match of the tournament by 124 runs and taking a big step toward the knockout stages in the process.

The Men in Blue cruised to a total of 319 thanks to great knocks from Rohit Sharma (91 from 119 balls) and Virat Kohli (unbeaten 81), before their bowlers took over and obliterated Pakistan's lineup.

Umesh Yadav was the star man with the ball, taking three wickets in 7.4 overs. His dismissal of Hasan Ali brought a premature end to the contest in the 34th of 41 overs. Pakistan had been chasing a revised target of 289.

Cricketer Mohammad Kaif was impressed:

That was too easy for India. Pakistan played like a No.8 side. Congratulations India, superb victory.#INDvPAK

— Mohammad Kaif (@MohammadKaif) June 4, 2017

India very much looked like a side ready to defend their title in their innings, as Sharma, Kohli and Shikhar Dhawan found the boundary with ease and had little trouble figuring out the Pakistan spinners.

Yuvraj Singh added to the damage with some superb hitting in the death overs, scoring 53 from 32. To make matters worse for Pakistan, Hardik Pandya added a quick unbeaten 20 from just six deliveries.

ESPNcricinfo's Ahmer Naqvi thought the Men in Blue could have scored even more:

Dropped catches, lazy fielding, unfit players and some of the worst tactics seen in a while. India have arguably underperformed with 319.

— Ahmer Naqvi (@karachikhatmal) June 4, 2017

Faced with such a daunting total, as well as a rain delay, Pakistan had to take risks to have any chance of winning. The result was a bowling onslaught, as all of India's bowlers found success. Only Jasprit Bumrah finished the match without a wicket, giving up 23 runs in five overs.

The win takes India to the top of their group, tied with South Africa, who beat Sri Lanka on Saturday. The Proteas and Men in Blue are expected to advance to the knockout stages, and based on their first outings, neither Pakistan or Sri Lanka seem capable of stopping them.

South Africa kicked off their ICC Champions Trophy 2017 campaign with an impressive 96-run victory over Sri Lanka at the Oval, London.

Opener Hashim Amla notched up his 25th ODI century in a stunning innings for the Proteas, slogging 103 from 115 deliveries to put his side well on their way to their 299 for six total after 50 overs.

Sri Lanka responded well and had South Africa shaking at times, but they could only muster 203 for nine as their challenge faded, with quick-fire wickets early on  halting momentum.

South Africa now sit top of Group B ahead of Sunday's clash between India and Pakistan. Here's a look at the remaining group fixtures from across the competition:

      

Sunday, June 4: India vs. Pakistan (Group B)

Monday, June 5: Australia vs. Bangladesh (Group A)

Tuesday, June 6: New Zealand vs. England (Group A)

Wednesday, June 7: South Africa vs. Pakistan (Group B)

Thursday, June 8: India vs. Sri Lanka (Group B)

Friday, June 9: New Zealand vs. Bangladesh (Group A)

Saturday, June 10: England vs. Australia (Group A)

Sunday, June 11: India vs. South Africa (Group B)

Monday, June 12: Sri Lanka vs. Pakistan (Group B)

For the full tables and schedule visit the ICC website

            

South Africa Too Strong for Sri Lanka

Saturday's clash of two ODI giants was always going to be a tense and close battle, but when South Africa came in to bat at the start of the match, they showed they meant business.

Amla was handling everything the Sri Lankan order could throw at him, and although Quinton de Kock fell for just 23, captain Faf du Plessis stepped in and steadied the ship in expert fashion.

Du Plessis managed 75 runs from his 70 balls on the innings, but it was Amla who did the real damage. With five fours and two sixes, the former skipper put together a match-winning display.

His 25th career ODI century also put him into the top five for ODI 100s, level with Kumar Sangakkara in fifth, as per ESPNcricinfo:

Most hundreds in ODIs:

Tendulkar: 49
Ponting: 30
Jayasuriya: 28
Kohli: 27
Sangakkara: 25
AMLA: 25https://t.co/5WUrLdY5Jr #CT17

— ESPNcricinfo (@ESPNcricinfo) June 3, 2017

Amla's wicket eventually fell with South Africa on 232 for five, but J.P Duminy was there to pick up from where his opener left off by smashing 38 off 20 deliveries with five fours and a six to bring up the 299 for six total.

When Sri Lanka came in to bat, they absolutely had to get off to a fast start if they were to stand any chance of chasing South Africa down, and openers Niroshan Dickwella and Upul Tharanga duly obliged by bringing up 50 in double-quick time.

Dickwella eventually fell with Sri Lanka on 69, but Tharanga was still going strong and soon posted his half century.

However, around the 100 mark, the Sri Lankans started to get the jitters. After sitting pretty on 94 for one, they were soon a little hot under the collar as it became 117 for four in the blink of an eye, and South Africa looked to put the match to bed early.

A strong performance from Kusal Perera kept Sri Lanka pushing towards their target, but the South African bowlers were just too hot to handle. They lost three quick wickets as they approached the 200 mark to effectively end their challenge.

Imram Tahir picked off four for 27 with the ball and continued his impressive form, setting himself up nicely for the remaining group fixtures.

South Africa have only failed to progress from the group stage twice in ICC Champions Trophy history, and they laid the foundations for yet more success with an impressive opening performance in London.

Should they find a way past Pakistan on Wednesday, they'll be in great shape to go through once again, with only reigning champions India in their way of a perfect record.

Sri Lanka face India next time out needing a win to stand any chance of emerging from the group.   

Rivals Australia and New Zealand shared the spoils after their 2017 ICC Champions Trophy match was abandoned due to persistent rain in Birmingham, England, on Friday.

The Black Caps scored 291 in their innings, with their knock coming to an end after 45 overs. The first spell of rain at Edgbaston Stadium shortened the innings to 46 overs. Australia's chase got off to a poor start and New Zealand seemed primed for their first win of the tournament, but two periods of heavy rain forced an early end to the match.

Per cricket writer Prabhu Damodharan, New Zealand very much lost a point due to the decision:

Officially Called off. Tough on @BLACKCAPS , NZ will regret missing out on a Point which could be decisive for making it to Semis. #CT17

— Prabhu (@Cricprabhu) June 2, 2017

Here's a look at the final scorecard:

https://twitter.com/ICC_CTLive/status/870699201885122560

The result leaves England in the lead of Group A with two points, one more than New Zealand and Australia. Bangladesh sit last.

For a look at the upcoming schedule, visit ESPNcricinfo. Sri Lanka and South Africa will play their first match of the tournament at the Oval in London on Saturday.

     

Recap

Kane Williamson (100 from 148) led New Zealand to a relatively low total of 291 all out, as the Australian bowlers dominated during the first innings. Josh Hazlewood stole the show, taking six wickets in nine overs and giving up 52 runs.

Per the ICC's official Twitter account, he made history in the process:

Only Fareez Maharoof (6/14 v WI in 2006) has better figures in a Champions Trophy innings than Josh Hazlewood's 6/52 #NZvAUS #CT17 #howzstat pic.twitter.com/znNYeZNxdq

— ICC (@ICC) June 2, 2017

The target of 292 seemed manageable for Australia, but the Black Caps bowled very well to start the second innings. David Warner and Moises Henriques both finished the day with just 18 runs, while Aaron Finch and Steven Smith managed just eight.

The rain didn't help matters, with the target changed to 231 from 33 overs after another spell of bad weather. Australia's knock didn't catch any steam, but at the start of the ninth over, clouds once again gathered above Birmingham. A light drizzle turned into heavy rain just as Henriques was caught, leading to another stoppage, and this time the teams wouldn't return to the pitch.

It was a tough break for New Zealand, who have still never beaten Australia in the ICC Champions Trophy. The result gives England a major advantage in the race for the semi-finals, while Bangladesh have renewed hope as well.

Joe Root hit a century, despite suffering an apparent ankle injury, to inspire England to beat Bangladesh in their first match of the 2017 ICC Champions Trophy at the Oval in London on Thursday.

England won by eight wickets after Root, who finished on 133, Alex Hales and captain Eoin Morgan helped them to 308 for two, after Bangladesh had set a daunting target to chase by posting 305 for six.

In the process, England made history in the Champions Trophy, per ESPNcricinfo:

England break the record for the highest successful chase in Champions Trophy historyhttps://t.co/YFSeH7v7mu pic.twitter.com/bQqPyVEGp1

— ESPNcricinfo (@ESPNcricinfo) June 1, 2017

The Bangladesh score was built on some fine performances at the wicket, most notably from Tamim Iqbal, who hit 128. Progress stalled when Liam Plunkett took two wickets from consecutive balls. It proved to a turning point in the Bangladesh innings.

England set about their chase with gusto, despite an early setback for Jason Roy. He was dismissed on one when he was caught by Mustafizur Rahman off a delivery from Mashrafe Mortaza.

Fortunately, England could rely on a terrific partnership between Root and Hales. The latter was the first to 50, but Root, undoubtedly the star attraction of the day, soon followed, encouraging the crowd in the process, per Test Match Special:

The first cry of Roooooooooot of #CT17.

50 for @root66 @englandcricket 129/1 in 23rd. https://t.co/wO02LtlpRv pic.twitter.com/Y6vYcDeNmC

— Test Match Special (@bbctms) June 1, 2017

While the crowd was buzzing, Sky Sports Cricket noted how Root's progress to the half-century had actually been quite steady:

Root follows Hales to fifty, reaching his off 59 balls with just four fours. Eng 126-1 need 180 off 28 overs on SS2: https://t.co/GE8EOofG75 pic.twitter.com/0t2z6uLcSS

— Sky Sports Cricket (@SkyCricket) June 1, 2017

Root and Hales weren't just scoring in bunches; they also used strong and smart running to turn one run into two more than once. However, the pair could still find the boundary when needed, as Hales demonstrated when he smashed a six off Sabbir Rahman.

Joy turned to despair one ball later, though, when a crafty leg-spin delivery from Sabbir forced another bold swing from Hales. He was caught by Sunzamul Islam and left the field on a respectable 95.

There was also a scare for Root when he appeared to turn his ankle when setting off for a quick single. The Yorkshireman briefly required treatment on the field but was able to continue.

England escaped another scare when Morgan, Hales' replacement, looked to have been caught by Iqbal. Yet a video review appeared to show the ball hitting the ground first.

However, it was a close call, as Sky Sports Cricket showed:

Big moment as Tamim thinks he's taken a catch diving forward. It goes upstairs... NOT OUT! Morgan survives: https://t.co/8MfLnT2R8T #CT17 pic.twitter.com/4k0ATzWKjc

— Sky Sports Cricket (@SkyCricket) June 1, 2017

Consecutive fours took Morgan past his 50, as a clearly hobbled Root inched toward his century. A smart shot behind gave Root enough time to snatch two and claim his 100.

He soon added a pair of fours to give England the win and cap a fine Man of the Match display.

England kicked off the 2017 ICC Champions Trophy with an eight-wicket win over Bangladesh on Thursday at the Oval in London.

After being put in to bat, Bangladesh amassed an impressive total of 305 for six, with captain Tamim Iqbal making a brilliant 128. Liam Plunkett was England's star man with the ball, taking four wickets for 59 runs.

The hosts' response was a controlled one, with Joe Root's unbeaten 133 and Alex Hales' 95 the bedrock of the chase. The result rarely looked in danger, as England reached their target with 16 balls remaining.

The tournament continues on Friday, when rivals New Zealand and Australia face off in what should be an absorbing clash.

Below are the matches to come and a recap of how a fascinating opening fixture played out on Thursday.

      

Group Stage Matches

Friday, June 2 - Australia vs. New Zealand (Group A)

Saturday, June 3 - Sri Lanka vs. South Africa (Group B)

Sunday, June 4 - India vs. Pakistan (Group B)

Monday, June 5 - Australian vs. Bangladesh (Group A)

Tuesday, June 6 - New Zealand vs. England (Group A)

Wednesday, June 7 - South Africa vs. Pakistan (Group B)

Thursday, June 8 - India vs. Sri Lanka (Group B)

Friday, June 9 - New Zealand vs. Bangladesh (Group A)

Saturday, June 10 - England vs. Australia (Group A)

Sunday, June 11 - India vs. South Africa (Group B)

Monday, June 12 - Sri Lanka vs. Pakistan (Group B)

For the full tables and schedule visit the ICC website

       

Thursday Recap

England won the toss and opted to field first, although captain Eoin Morgan may have liked to have reversed that decision pretty early on in the day.

Not only were there doubts over the fitness of Ben Stokes, but after just two overs, star seamer Chris Woakes left the field with an injury. Suddenly England's bowling attack was looking a little dull.

Bangladesh capitalised to great effect. Although they lost Soumya Sarkar (28) and Imrul Kayes (19), Iqbal and Mushfiqur Rahim piled on the runs for much of the innings, with Iqbal solid as a rock at the crease.

As noted by former Australian skipper Michael Clarke, the Tigers were on for a big total thanks to the duo:

Brilliant batting from both Tamim & Mushfiqur @BCBtigers looking at a great total with 12 overs remaining 🏏

— Michael Clarke (@MClarke23) June 1, 2017

Iqbal reached his hundred, and although it wasn't the briskest knock, it gave Bangladesh a platform. And when he fell for 128, the opener would have been hoping to see the rest of the team push on from 261 for three.

However, England found some momentum, as Mushfiqur fell to Liam Plunkett off the next ball for 79, leaving two fresh players out in the middle. Eventually, Bangladesh crept past a run-a-ball for their 50 overs, posting a total of 305 for six.

While it looked to be a testing target for England, commentator Harsha Bhogle suggested Bangladesh may have ultimately been disappointed with the way they surrendered the initiative late on:

Funny to say when a side gets 300 but Bangladesh will think they missed out on the finish & are 15-20 short of where they might have been

— Harsha Bhogle (@bhogleharsha) June 1, 2017

England's response didn't get off to the best start, as under-pressure opener Jason Roy was out for just one. But Hales and Root were able to steady the England ship.

The duo played sensibly, as they sought to establish themselves at the crease. Eventually, 159 runs later, Hales departed just five runs short of what would have been a brilliant century.

AllOutCricket praised the manner of the opener's knock nonetheless:

Hales out, trying to get to his hundred with a six. Top knock though, and in a way better for his lack of care for the milestone. #ENGvBAN

— Wisden (@WisdenCricket) June 1, 2017

After all, Hales had left England in a strong position, as Morgan joined Root to edge the team along towards the target. 

Root was hobbling between the wickets at this stage, although it didn't halt him in getting to three figures, the 10th time he has done so in one-day internationals. Morgan, meanwhile, raced to a classy 50, as England strolled towards victory.

Indeed, the pair accelerated their scoring and started to pick out the boundary with ease. Root wrapped up the win with back-to-back fours in the 48th over, moving him on to 133 from 129 balls; skipper Morgan ended up with a 61-ball 75.    

The 2017 ICC Champions Trophy will kick off on Thursday as the eight best ODI teams in the world battle it out in England and Wales.

The final will take place on June 18 at the iconic Oval in London, and South Africa enter the tournament as the top-ranked nation and among the favourites to win the title. Defending champions India are ranked third, with Australia in second place.

The full schedule for the tournament can be found here. Every match of the group stages will be broadcast on Sky Sports 2, with the knockout round shown on Sky Sports 1. For live-stream options, click here.

      

Preview

Both India and Australia have impressed in their warm-up matches, with the Aussies beating Sri Lanka before their match against Pakistan was rained out, and the Indians earning wins over Bangladesh and New Zealand.

Led by Virat Kohli, India will relish the opportunity to defend their title, but with the Indian Premier League season having finished less than two weeks ago, fatigue is a major factor. They can't afford a slow start, as their first match will be against bitter rivals Pakistan.

As shared by the ICC, Kohli looked as fresh as ever in the win over the Black Caps, however:

🎥 Relive @imVkohli's stylish 50 in India's #CT17 warm-up win! 🇮🇳 #IndvNZ pic.twitter.com/Z0NYq72xQb

— ICC (@ICC) May 29, 2017

South Africa are the favourites to advance from Group B with India and start their campaign against Sri Lanka. The Proteas haven't won an ICC tournament since the first iteration of the Champions Trophy in 1998, but based on their talent level alone, it's easy to see why they're expected to buck that trend.

Between AB de Villiers, Hashim Amla, Quinton de Kock, Faf du Plessis, David Miller and a host of others, South Africa boast an embarrassment of riches.

The team struggled against England in their recent series, however, underlining how far England have come in one-day cricket. The hosts have long lagged behind in the shorter formats, but since the 2016 Twenty20 World Cup, there has been an air of positivity surrounding the side.

Joe Root, Jos Buttler and Ben Stokes have to be considered world-class players at this point, and the advantage of playing at home cannot be underestimated. Per Umang Pabari of Firstpost.com, they've done well in the tournament when hosting:

England in ICC CT:

Hosted in 2004, reached in finals (runner-up)
Hosted in 2013, reached in finals (runner-up)
Hosting in 2017, ?@bbctms

— Umang Pabari (@UPStatsman) May 30, 2017

They'll be joined by Australia, New Zealand and Bangladesh in Group A. The Aussies have an impressive group of pace bowlers and have excellent balance with the bat, thanks to the likes of Steven Smith, David Warner, Glenn Maxwell and Moises Henriques.

The Black Caps boast as explosive a batting lineup as anyone, providing they get their order right. The likes of Martin Guptill and Kane Williamson don't need an introduction, but finding a reliable opener for the former could mean the difference between an early exit or an appearance in the final.

The India-Australia Test series may be only halfway through, but already it's being proclaimed one of the great series of the modern era.

The score is 1-1 ahead of the crucial third Test at the JSCA International Stadium Complex in Ranchi, a venue that has never hosted Test cricket before.

We can expect a dusty pitch which will greatly suit the spinners, who have taken the lion's share of the wickets so far in the series. Aussie spinners Steve O'Keefe and Nathan Lyon have 28 of the 40 Indian wickets to fall, while Ravichandran Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja have 27 opposition scalps between them.

The ball has dominated at every turn, pun intended, with just one session in the series so far where no wickets have fallen.

India go into this match as $1.61 AUD betting favorites, according to AustralianGambling.com.au, with the draw at $4.40 and an Australia win at $4.75. That draw option would need a substantial intervention from the weather, something the forecasters can't see coming.

In terms of the series, India are $1.57, with Australia at $6 and a drawn series at $3.75.

Australia have endured the hindrance of needing to make two changes with Mitchell Starc and Mitchell Marsh both sent home injured. Marsh has a shoulder injury and could be out for months, while a foot problem has ended Starc's series.

Pat Cummins, who has not played a Test since 2011, will likely come in for Starc, while it's a three-way battle for Marsh's spot between Glenn Maxwell, Marcus Stoinis and Ashton Agar. Finger spinner Maxwell looks to be the front-runner there.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uzN3TA7zzAE

India may make one change with Murali Vijay likely to return, but their concerns are mainly with form, not injury.

Captain Virat Kohli entered the series averaging over 80 in the past 12 months but has come back down to earth with a thud, with just 40 runs in four knocks. Oddsmakers believe the old maxim about form being temporary and class being permanent, and they have installed him as a $3 favorite to top score for India in the first innings.

The honor of favoritism in the Australian lineup belongs to their skipper Steve Smith ($3.50), who has more runs than any other tourist in the series due mainly to his first Test hundred in Pune. Smith's ability to play the Indian spinners will be crucial to Australia's hopes of victory.

He needs more from vice-skipper David Warner, who has been dismissed by Ashwin nine times in 12 Tests including three times in this series.

The pressure is also on Nathan Lyon, who was unplayable with eight wickets in the Indian first innings in Bangalore, but could not get one in the second innings. He, O'Keefe and Maxwell—if he plays—will also be vital to the Australian hopes of victory.

But momentum is a powerful thing in Test cricket, and the Aussies face the likelihood of being 2-1 down unless they can find another heroic effort like that of O'Keefe in Pune. Whatever the result, it will be great to watch.

Australia head into the second Test against India in Bangalore on Saturday knowing a victory would see them retain the Border-Gavaskar Trophy and put them on the precipice of one of the great cricketing upsets of this century.

It's been well-documented that Australia have won just one Test series on Indian soil in 48 years. That was in 2004, but the oddsmakers have shortened the visitors' odds of winning the series from $12 to just $2.75, according to AustralianGambling.com.au.

India remain series favorites at $2.25 despite facing that 1-0 deficit, and they are $1.88 to win the Bangalore Test and square the series.

Australia haven't won back-to-back Tests in the same series in India since that 1969 tour, and they are $4.25 to break that drought here. The draw is priced at $3.40, with rain interruptions a strong possibility.

The most recent Test played at this venue in late 2015 saw the final four days of play washed out, so the weather could play a significant role with the pitch expected to be more suitable for batting earlier in the match.

India will be looking to a stronger contribution from their captain Virat Kohli, who managed just 13 runs in his two innings in Pune, including his first Test duck in two-and-a-half years.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3Sk2BGxw-lw

Kohli tops the market to be India's leading first-innings run scorer at $3, having scored 150 or more in four of his past eight first-innings knocks. Cheteshwar Pujara, who top-scored with just 31 in the second innings in Pune, is next pick at $4.33, while Lokesh Rahul, the only Indian to make a half century in the first Test, is at $5.50.

Steve Smith was the shining light for the Aussies with the bat in that match with a crucial second-innings century. He is $3.50 to top score in the first innings for Australia with David Warner, who made just 38 and 10, next at $4. The tourists' top scorer in the first dig in Pune was Matt Renshaw, who made 68. He's $5.50 to repeat the dose here.

Man-of-the-match honors went to Steve O'Keefe, who produced two remarkable six-wicket hauls. He is the $3.50 favorite to have a major influence again in Bangalore and take the most Indian wickets in the first innings, with a refreshed Mitchell Starc—who bowled just 11 overs in the opener—at $3.75.