With the help of dual centuries by the Indian captain (Virat Kohli) and ODI vice-captain (Rohit Sharma), India clinched an easy victory by comfortably chasing 323 runs against Windies in the first ODI of the five-match ODI series at Barsapara Cricket Stadium (Guwahati) on Sunday night.
Indian skipper Virat Kohli decided to field first after winning the toss. After the international debutant opener Chandrapaul Hemraj was dismissed on 9 runs, opener Kieron Powell and the no.3 wicketkeeper-batsman Shai Hope provided a 65-run partnership for the second wicket. While Powell played a fast half-century knock (51 off 39 balls), Hope played a 32 runs knock.
At next, the no.5 batsman Shimron Hetmyer carried the innings and completed a brilliant fast century in just 74 balls. The young left-handed batsman scored 106 off 78 balls with 6 fours and 6 sixes. He had two good partnerships in the middle-order – 74 runs partnership for the fifth wicket with Rovman Powell and 60 runs partnership for the sixth wicket with the skipper Jason Holder.
Powell played a 22-run knock while Holder was bowled after scoring 38 runs. At the end of the innings, Devendra Bishoo (22* off 26 balls) and Kemar Roach (26* off 22 balls) provided an important unbroken 44-run partnership for the ninth wicket that helped the visitors to manage a good first innings total on the board as they scored 322/8 (50 overs).
Among the Indian bowlers, Yuzvendra Chahal (3/41) bagged three wickets while Mohammed Shami (2/81) and Ravindra Jadeja (2/66) took two wickets each and Khaleel Ahmed (1/64) picked up one wicket.
Also read: On-field Brilliance Of MS Dhoni Gets India A Wicket
In reply, the 21-year-old debutant Windies pacer Oshane Thomas bowled the Indian opener Shikhar Dhawan (4) in his very first over, but that was the only enjoyable moment for Windies in that innings.
Soon, another Indian opener Rohit Sharma and the Indian skipper Virat Kohli took in control of that situation and provided a brilliant 246-run partnership for the second wicket. Both the batsmen completed their centuries and carried their innings for further long that made ease to claim a comfortable victory for the hosts.
Also watch: Virat Kohli And Rohit Sharma Puts Windies Bowler On Remand
Kohli completed his century in 88 balls while Sharma achieved that in 84 balls. Kohli was stumped out after scoring 140 off 107 balls (21 fours and 2 sixes) but Sharma stayed intact in the crease and led to the comfortable victory as he remained unbeaten on 152 runs off 117 balls (15 fours and 8 sixes). Ambati Rayudu also helped Sharma to secure that comfortable victory as the no.4 batsman remained not out on 22 runs as he had an unbroken third-wicket partnership with Sharma for 70 runs.
Also watch: Rohit Sharma Smashes Back-to-back Sixes
With those knocks, India reached the target in 42.1 overs after losing only two wickets (326/2) as the hosts won the match by eight wickets with 47 balls remaining. At the end of the game, Skipper Kohli won the Player of the Match award.
Among the Windies bowlers, only the debutant pacer Oshane Thomas (1/83) and the leg-spinner Devendra Bishoo (1/72) were able to pick up the wickets.
Here are some Twitter reactions:
What a partnership it was from the ICC ODI world rank number 1 and 2! When these two play together there's no stopping them! Two great centuries and one massive partnership! @ImRo45 @imVkohli #INDvWI
— Harbhajan Turbanator (@harbhajan_singh) October 21, 2018
Remember Tony Greig once said, there is Tendulkar, then there is daylight then there is the rest. It’s the sane with Kohli now, there is Kohli, then daylight, then the rest. Unreal Consistency #IndvWI
— Mohammad Kaif (@MohammadKaif) October 21, 2018
Double Dhamaka. Kohli and Rohit made it look very easy. Congratulations @ImRo45 on your 6th 150+ score, the first man to do so. Tremendous achievement. #IndvWI
— Virender Sehwag (@virendersehwag) October 21, 2018
Watching @imVkohli and @ImRo45 at the crease makes batting look so effortless; but I know hard these 2 players work at their game #masterclass @BCCI #INDvWI
— Jonty Rhodes (@JontyRhodes8) October 21, 2018
Too easy for India. Congratulations to @ImRo45 on becoming the first man to have 6 scores over 150. Makes batting look extremely easy. #IndvsWI
— Mohammad Kaif (@MohammadKaif) October 21, 2018
India have chased down a target of 300 or more nine times since Virat Kohli made his ODI debut.
Virat has scored a hundred in seven of them!
What a player!!!🙏 #INDvWI— Rajneesh Gupta (@rgcricket) October 21, 2018
Congratulations Team India on a comprehensive victory. Kohli’s hunger and consistency is extraordinary and Rohit Sharma is all class, a treat to watch for the wonderful crowd in Guwahati #IndvWI pic.twitter.com/BP2yGSkFuR
— VVS Laxman (@VVSLaxman281) October 21, 2018
Batting Is Not This Easy. Trust Me. Don’t believe what you’ve seen from Kohli and Rohit today….unbelievable. Unreal. #IndvWI
— Aakash Chopra (@cricketaakash) October 21, 2018
https://twitter.com/RightGuy9/status/1054034562307842048
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