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Kohli's century leads India to ODI series victory vs Windies

Last updated on: July 07, 2017 02:45 IST

Virat Kohli

IMAGE: Virat Kohli hits a boundary. Photograph: CricketWestIndies

Captain Virat Kohli smashed an unbeaten century while Mohammed Shami claimed four wickets as India crushed West Indies by eight wickets in the fifth and final match to win the ODI series 3-1, in Jamaica, on Thursday.

Chasing a modest 206 for victory, India cruised to victory in 36.5 overs with Kohli hitting an unbeaten 111, while Dinesh Karthik smashed a quickfire 50.

This was Kohli's 18th century in a run chase, the most by any batsman in the history of ODIs, going past Sachin Tendulkar, who had 17 centuries to his name while batting second.

India lost an early wicket when Shikhar Dhawan was dismissed for four by Azarri Joseph in the first over of the innings. But the in-form Ajinkya Rahane rallied the Indians in the company of captain Kohli before he was trapped leg before wicket by Devendra Bishoo for 39.

But his wicket didn't affect the Indians as Kohli and Karthik dominated in the middle overs, hitting a flurry of boundaries during their unbeaten stand of 122 runs from 108 deliveries for the third wicket.

The West Indies bowlers struggled to make a mark in the middle overs as India romped home to an emphatic victory with 13.1 overs to spare and seal the five-match ODI series 3-1.

Earlier, comeback man Mohammed Shami bagged four wickets as an under-fire India produced a disciplined bowling effort to restrict West Indies to a modest 205 for nine.

Playing only his second ODI after a long injury lay-off, Shami picked up four wickets giving 48 runs from his 10 overs to pull West Indies back.

Besides Shami, Umesh Yadav gave him ample support from the other end and returned with impressive figures of three for 53.

For West Indies, Shai Hope top-scored with a patient 51 off 98 balls during which he hit just five boundaries, while his brother Kyle made 46 off 50 deliveries with nine fours to his credit.

Opting to bat, West Indies made a decent start before the hosts lost their first wicket in the ninth over when Evin Lewis (9) was caught by India skipper Virat Kohli off Hardik Pandya's (1/27) second delivery of the innings.

FILE IMAGE: Mohammed Shami celebrates a wicket with his team mates. Photograph: BCCI

Hope brothers -- Kyle and Shai -- rallied the hosts as they put on 37 runs off 45 balls for the second wicket before Umesh struck twin blows off consecutive deliveries to peg West Indies back.

Kyle, who was looking good, struck Umesh for two boundaries in a row, in the 16th over but in search of one too many he perished, picking out Shikhar Dhawan at midwicket while trying to play the pull shot.

Umesh trapped Roston Chase leg before wicket for a duck with the very next delivery as West Indies slumped to 76 for three in the 16th over.

Shai and Jason Mohammed (16) stitched 39 for the fourth wicket before Kedar Jadhav (1/13) struck with his golden arm, dismissing the latter with a straight forward return catch.

Young Shai held one end up and and played with caution to notch up his second half-century of the series, in the 38th over.

Together with skipper Jason Holder, Shai added 48 runs for the fifth wicket as West Indies tried to resurrect their innings with the help of a few boundaries.

While Shai played with caution, Holder was aggressive from the onset and piled up his 36 runs off just 34 balls with the help of four boundaries and one six.

Umesh Yadav

FILE IMAGE: Umesh Yadav celebrates a wicket. Photograph: BCCI

But an irresponsible shot led to Holder's dismissal as he holed out to Dhawan at long-on to hand Shami his first wicket.

An over later Shami struck again when he dismissed Shai with the set batsman attempting an ambitious shot and Ajinkya Rahane did the rest by latching on to an outstanding running catch at midwicket.

Shami again struck in his next over removing Ashley Nurse, who chipped one straight to Kuldeep Yadav at short midwicket.

Shami also accounted for Devendra Bishoo, caugh by Dhoni behind the stumps.

Rovman Powell (31 off 32 balls) played a good hand towards the end to get West Indies past the 200-run mark.

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