Another sublime Steve Smith century sets up Australia's ODI series win against India

Hosts record comprehensive 51-run win in Sydney

Australia's Josh Hazlewood, right, celebrates after dismissing India's captain Virat Kohli during the second ODI at the Sydney Cricket Ground on Sunday. AFP

Virat Kohli made 89 for India in the second ODI in Sydney on Sunday. Getty

Josh Hazlewood was the pick of the Australian bowlers during the second ODI against India in Sydney. Getty

Australia's David Warner leaves the field after he suffered an injury in Sydney on Sunday. AFP

Pat Cummins of Australia celebrates after taking the wicket of Mayank Agarwal. Getty

Australia's Steve Smith celebrates after reaching his second successive century against India in Sydney. AFP

Australia's Steve Smith made 104 off just 64 balls against India in Sydney on Sunday. AFP

Glenn Maxwell made 63 from just 29 balls on Sunday. Getty

Marnus Labuschagne of Australia celebrates reaching his fifty in Sydney. Getty

India's Ravindra Jadeja drops a catch at the Sydney Cricket Ground. AP

Steve Smith smashed a second successive century as Australia won the ODI series against India with a 51-run victory in Sydney on Sunday.

Smith followed up his 105 off 66 balls in Friday's first ODI victory with a cracking 104 off 64 balls as Australia amassed 389-4 batting first.

Despite skipper Virat Kohli's 89, the visitors could only manage 338-9 with Kohli falling to a magnificent Moises Henriques catch when the captain was closing in on a century.

"I felt good from ball one. Got myself in and went hard," Smith said.

"It was another great foundation set by Finchy and Davey [Warner]. That enabled myself and Maxi [Glenn Maxwell] to go hard at the back end."

It was India's fifth consecutive ODI defeat – for the first time since January 2016 – with the tourists now bidding to prevent a series whitewash in Wednesday's final game in Canberra.

"They have outplayed us. We were ineffective with the ball, and didn't hit the areas," Kohli said.

"They have a strong batting line-up, they know the conditions and the angles well. The chase felt steep. They took the chances that they created in the field, which was the difference."

Australia's win may have come at a cost, however, with David Warner injuring his groin in a fielding tumble and likely to be out for the next ODI, and possibly the following T20 series.

Australia's top order made India pay after skipper Aaron Finch won his second toss of the series to subject the tourists to another afternoon of toil under a hot sun.

Warner hit 83 off 77 balls, Finch 60 off 69, Marnus Labuschagne 70 off 60 and Glenn Maxwell cracked an unbeaten 63 from 29 balls.

Smith put on a batting clinic with a full array of quirky shot-making as he raced to triple figures, laced with 14 fours and two sixes.

He fell two balls later stretching for a wide slower delivery off Hardik Pandya and getting a thick edge to Mohammed Shami at third man.

Finch and Warner brought up their 12th century opening stand off 16 overs before Finch mistimed Shami and spooned a catch to Kohli via his pads.

Finch's 60 came off 69 balls with the first wicket falling at 142, following the pair's 156-run stand in the first ODI.

Warner chanced his luck on 83 but was run out by a brilliant direct throw from Shreyas Iyer at long-off.

In the chase, India lost Shikhar Dhawan in the eighth over of their innings when he miscued Josh Hazlewood and was caught by Mitchell Starc for 30 off 23 balls, and fellow opener Mayank Agarwal went in the next over.

Pat Cummins had Agarwal caught behind for 28 off 26 to leave India 60-2and a sensational catch by Smith at mid-wicket ended Iyer's knock of 38, giving Moises Henriques a wicket.

Henriques proved Australia's hero with his athletic horizontal catch to dismiss Kohli off Hazlewood for the prized wicket in the 35th over.

KL Rahul hit an enterprising 76 off 66 balls before he sliced leg-spinner Adam Zampa high to Hazlewood at short third man in the 44th over.