India versus West Indies 2nd ODI: India seals the series with last over finish
The Indian Cricket Team continued their winning streak against West Indies as they won the 2nd ODI match in a thrilling encounter played at Queens Park Oval, Port of Spain, Trinidad on Sunday.
West Indies captain Nicolas Pooran won the toss and decided
to bat first on a good batting track. It was an aggressive start by Shai Hope
and Kyle Mayers not allowing Indian bowlers to settle. Hope playing his 100th
ODI match looked in decent touch while Mayers played with intent. Deepak Hooda
got the breakthrough off his first ball getting rid of Mayers providing a simple
return catch. Mayers and Hope added 65 runs for the opening wicket. At the end
of the first 10 overs, West Indies raced away to 71 for 1.
Brooks joined in with Hope and kept the momentum going with
lovely shots. Hope reached fifty off 69 balls making sure that West Indies on
course for a big total. Axar Patel provided a much-needed breakthrough dismissing
Brooks as Dhawan took a lovely high catch. Brooks and Hope added 62 runs for the
2nd wicket. Chahal did the damage by dismissing Brandon King to leave
West Indies on the back foot.
Nicolas Pooran struggled initially against the Indian
bowlers before putting pressure on the Indian spinners especially Chahal
hitting him for big sixes. Hope showed his class by keeping the scoreboard ticking
making life tough. Pooran demonstrated power-hitting completing fifty off 60
balls and kept Indian bowlers on the backfoot. Shardul Thakur provided the
breakthrough hitting the timber of Pooran going across stumps. Pooran and Hope
added 117 runs for the 4th wicket.
Shai Hope remained in the 90s for quite some time and finally
reached his century off 125 balls. Shardul Thakur grabbed the wicket of Rovman
Powell with a stunning catch by Shreyas Iyer at long-off. Powell and Hope added
33 runs for the 5th wicket. Shardul Thakur grabbed his 3rd
wicket dismissing well-set Hope as Axar took a simple catch. Mohammed Siraj
bowled some lovely deliveries against Romario Shephard and Akeal Hossein. At
the end of 50 overs, West Indies posted 311 for 6 in 50 overs.
Chasing 312 runs to win, Shubman Gill showed intent right
from the word go against disciplined bowling by Jayden Seales and Joseph. On
other hand, Dhawan struggled before the rain arrived at 41 for 0. After a short rain
delay break, Indian openers made 42 for 0 at the end of 10 overs.
A superb catch by Kyle Mayers resulted in the wicket of
Dhawan. Dhawan and Gill added 48 runs for the opening wicket. Shreyas Iyer
struggled initially against disciplined bowling while Gill looked solid. Kyle
Mayers did the job by dismissing Gill with a simple return catch and then got
rid of Surya Kumar Yadav taking the inside edge onto the stumps to leave India in
trouble 79 for 3.
Samson survived a few anxious moments initially before putting
pressure on Hayden Walsh Junior. Shreyas Iyer also made the batting look
keeping scoreboard ticking with occasional boundaries and singles. Shreyas
completed fifty off 57 balls along with Samson. Joseph produced a superb
delivery to dismiss well-set Shreyas Iyer. Shreyas and Samson added 99 runs for
the 4th wicket.
Deepak Hooda was not able to time the ball while Samson
looked solid to complete his maiden ODI fifty off 47 balls. A superb throw by
Mayers as it hit the leg off Shephard running out Samson to leave India on the
backfoot.
Axar Patel looked in sensational form especially against
Akeal Hossein to put enough pressure on West Indies captain Pooran. Deepak
Hooda also shared the charge keeping the scoreboard ticking. Hossein grabbed
the big wicket of Hooda providing an easy catch to Walsh at backward point. Hooda
and Patel added 51 runs for the 6th wicket.
Joseph struggled against Patel and Shardul Thakur with 2
no-balls. Patel completed his maiden ODI fifty off 27 balls to keep India on
course for a win. Joseph eventually struck dismissing Thakur as Brooks took an easy
catch.
Axar showed intent against Romario Shephard to make the
equation in favor of India. Avesh Khan swung the ball hard and hit vital runs.
Seales grabbed the big wicket of Khan caught by Brooks.
With 8 runs required off the final over, Kyle Mayers bowled
three lovely deliveries before Axar Patel hit the winning shot with a six to give
India a thrilling 2-wicket win.
India 312 for 8 in 49.4 overs ( Axar Patel 64*, Samson 54, Joseph
2/46, Mayers 2/48) beat West Indies 311 for 50 overs ( Hope 115, Pooran 74,
Thakur 3/54) by 2 wickets.
For his all-around contributions with 1 for 40 and 64 off 35
balls, Axar Patel was named the man of the match award. With this win, India
sealed the 3-match ODI series with a game to spare.
The third and final ODI will be played on 27th
July at the same ground.
Axar Patel's contributions give India a thrilling 2-wicket win in the 2nd ODI
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