 | « Back to article | Print this article |
Images from the second One-Day International between West Indies and India, in Port of Spain, on Sunday
Axar Patel smashed a whirlwind unbeaten 35-ball 64, his maiden ODI fifty, as India scripted a sensational series-clinching two-wicket victory over the West Indies in the second game, at Queen’s Park Oval in Port of Spain, on Sunday.
Set a stiff target of 312, the visitors were down to 205 for 5 in 38.4 overs, but Patel revived India's chase with a barrage of sixes to take the visitors home with two balls to spare.
Patel smashed five sixes and three fours in his unconquered innings and added 51 off 33 balls with Deepak Hooda (33) to keep India in the hunt.
Needing six off last three balls, he clobbered Kyle Mayers straight over the bowler’s head for a six as India took an unassailable 2-0 lead in the three-match series.
This was after Shreyas Iyer (63) and Sanju Samson (54) tried to take the chase deep with well-paced fifties.
Earlier, opting to bat, Shai Hope produced a masterclass 135-ball 117, while skipper Nicholas Pooran showed his big-hitting prowess with six maximums and one four during his 74 off 77 balls as the West Indies posted an impressive 311 for 6.
In reply, Shubman Gill (43) looked in good touch as he hit five boundaries during his 49-ball innings to give India a decent start, but captain Shikhar Dhawan (13) found the going tough at the other end.
The India skipper was the first to depart with Mayers producing a stunning catch at third man off the bowling of Romario Shepherd.
Mayers then pegged India back with two quick wickets, first getting rid of a well-set Gill and then removing Suryakumar Yadav (9), who once again dragged one to his stumps.
Iyer and Samson tried to take the chase deep with a 99-run partnership off 94 balls but once both departed India still needed 105 runs from 11 overs.
It was a Patel show after that as he kept fighting despite losing Hooda and Shardul Thakur.
Opener Shai Hope showed his class with a magnificent century while skipper Nicholas Pooran went on a six-hitting spree as the West Indies produced a solid batting display to post 311 for six.
Hope, who was dismissed cheaply in first ODI, played the role of the anchor to perfection as he added 65 runs off 55 balls for the opening wicket with Kyle Mayers (39), before forging another 62 with Shamarh Brooks (35).
While Mayers and Brooks showed promise, Hope found his perfect ally in skipper Pooran, who showed his big-hitting prowess during his 74 off 77 balls with the help of six maximums and one four. The two shared a 117-run stand off 126 balls.
Hope constructed his 115-run innings well, focusing on building partnership and exploded in the end. His 135-ball knock comprised eight fours and three maximums.
The spin duo of Axar Patel (1/40) and Deepak Hooda (1/42) were the best Indians bowlers while Yuzvendra Chahal (1/69) too scalped one but was expensive.
Mohammed Siraj (0/47) was decent but Avesh Khan had a forgettable ODI debut, while Shardul Thakur (3/54) made amends in the back end with three wickets after conceding 13 in the first over.
Hope looked in full flow as he played some exquisite shots on the off side before reaching the three figures in his 100th ODI game with a six in the 45th over.
Opting to bat, Mayers and Hopes gave West Indies a good start with the former taking the attack to the opposition.
Mayers tore into debutant Avesh, slamming him for successive boundaries in the fourth and sixth overs as the Indian pacer, guilty of bowling too full and short, ended up conceding 36 in his first three overs.
Thakur was not spared either as Mayers sent his first two balls for a four and a six but Siraj kept things tight in his opening spell.
Hooda produced the first breakthrough with Mayers hitting the first delivery straight back to the bowler.
Brooks and Hopes then looked to build a partnership with Hooda and Patel bowling in tandem, targeting the stumps. The spin duo did well to tighten things up as WI managed just 42 from the 10th to 20th over.
Chahal was taken to the cleaners in the 21st over with Hope and Brooks smashing a six and a four. But Dhawan brought back Patel and he produced a wicket-maiden to get rid off Brooks with the Indian skipper taking a low catch.
Chahal redeemed himself in his next over as he induced a top-edge off Brandon King, who paid the price for going for a slog sweep too early in his innings.
Pooran and Hope then brought up the 150 in the 28th over. The opener took the initiative, picking up three boundaries and also slog-swept Chahal for a six to reach his fifty.
Pooran also went down the track to produce two maximums as the 200 was up in 38th overs.
The Windies skipper exploded in the 39th over with two sixes off Chahal on both sides of the ground on way to his half-century.
When Patel was introduced, Pooran, down on one-knee, clobbered him for another six to bring up their 100-run stand in the 42nd over.
Pooran next sent Avesh over the ropes for his sixth maximum but Thakur bowled him round his legs to break the partnership.
Hope then unleashed two sixes in two balls off Chahal en route his century, while Rovman Powell (13) and Romario Shepherd (14) played some lusty blows to take WI across the 300-mark.
WI amassed 93 runs in last 10 overs.