Virat Kohli led from the front with a fine century, his 42nd of the career, to guide India to 279/7 against the West Indies in the second ODI of the three-match series against the West Indies on Sunday.
Coming on to bat in the fourth ball of the innings, Kohli played aggressively and scored 120 off 125 balls to guide India's innings. He hit 14 boundaries and one six during his elegant knock.
Besides Kohli, Shreyas Iyer (71 off 68) struck third half-century of his career and together with his skipper shared 125 runs for the fourth wicket to take India to a comfortable position.
Earlier, India captain Virat Kohli won the toss and opted to bat first. As the Men in Blue fielded the same eleven as the previous match, that was abandoned after just 13 overs, Kohli backed youngster Rishabh Pant for the No 4 spot.
“We are backing Rishabh to still bat at four and Shreyas Iyer will bat at five. Four and five are more like floating batting position for us, according to the situation of the game anyone can bat anywhere. For me, top 3 and probably 6 and 7 are specialist positions than four and five. I think it has become a topic of debate for a long time. In ODI's and T20s, four and five are your flexible guys,” said Kohli.
West Indies made one change, bringing in Oshane Thomas in place of Fabian Allen, who is unfit.
The first ODI was washed out by rain on 8 August after only 13 overs had been bowled. The West Indies were 54-1 when the umpires decided the match, which had been shortened to 34 overs per side, could not continue.
West Indies have won seven and lost six of the 14 ODIs they’ve played against India at Port of Spain, with one being a No Result.
India vs West Indies 2nd ODI Playing XI
West Indies: Chris Gayle, Evin Lewis, Shai Hope (w), Nicholas Pooran, Shimron Hetmyer, Roston Chase, Jason Holder (c), Carlos Brathwaite, Kemar Roach, Sheldon Cottrell, Oshane Thomas
India: Rohit Sharma, Shikhar Dhawan, Virat Kohli (c), Shreyas Iyer, Rishabh Pant (w), Kedar Jadhav, Ravindra Jadeja, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Shami, K Khaleel Ahmed
India vs West Indies 2nd ODI: Dhawan Falls for 2
West Indies’ Sheldon Cottrell removed opener Shikhar Dhawan for 2 to reduce India to 2/1 on the third ball of the second ODI.
Captain Jason Holder decided to go for the review at the very last moment after the on-field umpire turned down Cottrell’s appeal for lbw. The replay, however, showed the impact was on the middle stump. Indian skipper Virat Kohli replaced Dhawan at the crease.
India Post 55/1 in 10 Overs
After the early wicket of opener Dhawan, skipper Virat Kohli and opener Rohit Sharma helped India post 55/1 in 10 overs. The Indian captain looked in good touch from word go, hitting a 38-ball 38, including four boundaries. Rohit Sharma, on the other hand, had reached 9 off 20 deliveries.
West Indies yet to introduce spin to their bowling attack.
Virat Scores 50
India captain Virat Kohli scored his 55th ODI half-century off 57 balls that included seven boundaries.
India were at 76/1 in 15 overs with Rohit Sharma (18* off 31 balls) at the other end of the crease.
Earlier, Kohli surpassed Pakistan great Javed Miandad to become the highest run-scorer against the West Indies in ODI cricket. He needed 19 runs before the start of the second ODI against the West Indies to surpass Miandad's tally of 1,930 runs against the two-time World Cup winners.
Rohit Sharma Falls for 18
After struggling with the bat, opener Rohit Sharma was caught out by Nicholas Pooran off a delivery by Roston Chase in the 16th over.
The 32-year-old had managed to add just 18 runs off the 34 deliveries he faced.
India were reduced to 76/2 in 15.3 overs as Rishabh Pant joined captain Virat Kohli at the crease.
Brathwaite Removes Pant
Even as Virat Kohli powered on, Carlos Brathwaite removed Rishabh Pant to claim India’s third wicket of the day.
The 21-year-old was bowled out for 20 off a length delivery as he tried to play a pull shot.
India were reduced to 101/3 in 22.2 overs as Shreyas Iyer walked in to bat at no 4.
India Post 163/3 in 33
India captain Virat Kohli neared his 42nd ODI century as India posted 163/3 in 33 overs against West Indies in the second ODI at Port of Spain.
After the dismissal of Pant, Kohli along with Shreyas Iyer stitched a 50-run stand – the second of the innings after Kohli-Rohit Sharma’s partnership of 74 runs. Iyer had posted 34 of 29 balls.
Century for Virat Kohli!
Virat Kohli scored his 42nd ODI century off 112 balls in their second One Day International against West Indies at Port of Spain. The Indian captain’s knock included 10 boundaries and a six.
Kohli got to the three-figure mark with India at 191/3 in 37.1 overs. The other batsman at the crease, Shreyas Iyer (42*) also neared his 50-run mark.
Shreyas Iyer Scores Fifty
Shreyas Iyer got to fifty runs off 49 deliveries. Coming in to bat at the number four spot, this was the 24-year-old’s third ODI fifty in 6 innings. India had posted 206/3 in 39.2 overs.
Virat Kohli Falls for 120
India captain Virat Kohli’s innings came to an end as he was caught out by Kemar Roach off a delivery by Brathwaite after hitting a big shot.
Kohli walked back to the hut after scoring 120 (off 125 balls) with a big round of applause from the crowds at Port of Spain. With India at 226/4 in 41.3 overs, Iyer was joined by Kedar Jadhav at the crease.
Rain Stops Play
Rain stopped play with India at 233/4 in 42.2 overs against West Indies at Port of Spain.
Shreyas Iyer was batting at 58 while Kedar Jadhav had added 6 runs when the teams had to run back to the dressing room.
3 Wickets in 14 Balls
Soon after play resumed post a 25-minute halt due to rain, India lost three wickets in a gap of 14 balls. First up, well-set Shreyas Iyer became victim to Windies captain Jason Holder, walking back to the hut for 71 in the 46th over.
Kedar Jadhav was then run out for 16 and Bhuvneshwar Kumar caught in the deep for 1, reducing India to 262/7 in 47.4 overs.
All-rounder Ravindra Jadeja and pacer Mohd Shami then batted till the end to help India post 279/7.
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