Hosts thump West Indies by 44 runs to clinch second ODI and seal the series with unassailable 2-0 lead; Suryakumar Yadav (64) and fast bowler Prasidh Krishna (4-12) excel
Prasidh Krishna appeals successfully for the wicket of West Indies’ Darren Bravo; (right) Suryakumar Yadav en route his 64 against West Indies in the second ODI at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad yesterday. Pics/AFP
The hard-hitting West Indian lower order gave Rohit Sharma some anxious moments before India won the second ODI by 44 runs here on Wednesday to take a 2-0 lead in the three-match series.
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The Caribbeans were bowled out in 46 overs as dew seemed to have little impact on the performance of the Indian bowlers at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Motera.
Seamer Prasidh Krishna bowled four tidy spells to return career-best figures of 9-3-12-4.
Shardul strikes
Shardul Thakur went for runs in his first and fourth spells, but picked up two key wickets. He removed Jason Holder, who was highest scorer for the West Indies in the first ODI and then sent back Akeal Hosein (34, 52 balls, 3x4), who was threatening to take the game away.
Earlier, two partnerships in the middle-order salvaged some pride for India (237 for 9) after the top-order flirted outside the off stump even as the West Indian bowlers maintained a good line and length to choke the run flow.
Skipper Rohit Sharma slashed at the outgoing ball to give wicketkeeper Shai Hope an easy catch off Kemar Roach’s second over.
Quick wickets
Then, in the space of six balls, Odean Smith sent back Rishabh Pant and Virat Kohli. Running out of patience, Pant picked a ball way outside the off stump and tried to tap it on the leg side but scooped it straight to Jason Holder behind the square leg umpire. Kohli went fishing outside the off stump to edge one behind the wickets, reducing India to 43 for 3 after 12 overs.
The disciplined Windies bowling continued, but KL Rahul (49, 48 balls, 4x4, 2x6) and Suryakumar Yadav (64, 83 balls, 5x4) kept the scoreboard ticking, cleverly running between the wickets for their 91-run partnership in 107 balls for the fourth wicket.
However, a slight hesitation in the middle of the pitch, while going for the second run, ended Rahul’s knock. He pounced on loose balls from the left-arm spinners to fetch two sixes in the otherwise sedate knock. Suryakumar also played judiciously, avoiding percentage shots and needless risks. He went without a boundary for 42 balls at one stage. The West Indian skipper Nicholas Pooran put five fielders on the off side and his bowlers maintained a tight off stump line to put boundaries on ration.
Suryakumar was resisting the temptation of going across the line, but finally succumbed when he attempted probably his first sweep shot and top edged it for Alzarri Joseph to pouch a dolly catch at leg gully. Washington Sundar (24, 41 balls, 1x4) and Deepak Hooda (29, 25 balls, 2x4) ensured that the final 10 overs yielded 54 runs.
11
No. of consecutive ODI series wins for India against West Indies between 2007 and 2022
Brief scores
India 237-9 in 50 overs (S Yadav 64, KL Rahul 49; A Joseph 2-29, O Smith 2-36) beat West Indies 193 in 46 overs (S Brooks 44, A Hosein 34; P Krishna 4-12, S Thakur 2-41) by 44 runs
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