Picture : BCCI / Twitter
The second ODI between India and West Indies at Vizag was high scoring affair. Both the teams excelled on a batting track. The fans in the end got their money’s worth as the match ended in a dramatic tie.
India had scored a high target of 321 for six thanks to a majestic 37th ODI ton by skipper Virat Kohli and Ambati Rayudu’s 73.
Kohli fired 157 off 129 balls, while Ambati Rayudu, who is seen as the answer to the team’s persistent problems at the number four slot by Kohli himself, scored a fluent 73 off 80 deliveries.
The 29-year-old Kohli, who hit 13 boundaries and four sixes, bettered the iconic Sachin Tendulkar’s record by an incredible 54 innings, and then went past 1000 runs in the calendar year in only 11 innings, which is also the fastest.
The West Indies were not to give up easily. They went for the chase. And almost pulled it off. Needing 14 runs in the final over, and five off the last ball, levelled the score, with Shai Hope (123 not out) cutting Umesh Yadav for a boundary. And the West Indies finished at 321 for 7.
Apart from Hope’s ton, there was also a 94-run blitzkrieg from Shimron Hetmyer that took the match to the distance. Kuldeep Yadav bowled well to bag three wickets.
