Kohli And Sharma Masterclass Puts India 2-0 Up

Kohli And Sharma Masterclass Puts India 2-0 Up

Rohit Sharma hit a wonderful unbeaten 90 to guide India to victory

©REUTERS / Action Images

India 270-5 (Kohli 117, Sharma 90no) beat
West Indies 269-9 (Rampaul 86no) by five wickets
Second One-Day International, Visakhapatnam
Scorecard

A 163-run partnership for the fourth wicket between Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma drove India to a five-wicket victory over the West Indies in the second One-Day International in Visakhapatnam.

Kohli's majestic 117 and Sharma's fluent unbeaten 90 put India 2-0 up in the five-match series after they allowed the West Indies to post 269 for nine as Ravi Rampaul hit a blistering half-century from number ten in the order.

He became the fifth man to score a half-century from number ten and shared a 99-run stand with Kemar Roach to keep the West Indies in the game.

He hit six sixes then took two wickets before Kohli and Sharma guided India home to their 11th consecutive ODI victory at home, aided by the West Indies missing four chances in the field.

Kohli and Sharma took full advantage; Kohli scoring his eighth ODI century, hitting 14 fours in 123 balls before he edged Rampaul to wicket-keeper Denesh Ramdin and Sharma hitting two sixes - one of them just when the pressure was building - as well as seven fours in 98 balls.

India were in trouble early on after Parthiv Patel (2) was briliantly caught by Darren Sammy off Roach and Virender Sehwag (26) and Gautam Gambhir (12) also departing early as the hosts slipped to 84 for three.

And although Kohli and Suresh Raina were caught behind off in quick succession, Sharma held his nerve along with Ravi Jadeja, whose nine in eight balls included the winning runs.

When the West Indies were in disarray at 63 for five such a relatively close finish looked impossible but they rallied thanks to a strong half-century from Lendl Simmons at the top of the order and some clean hitting from Rampaul at the bottom.

Simmons made 78 in 102 balls, Kieron Pollard blasted 35 in 30 but three wickets from Umesh Yadav and two apiece from Ranganath Vinay Kumr and Jadeja reduced the West Indies to 170 for nine.

However, Rampaul and Roach then made the best possible use of the 84 balls they faced, hitting shots all around the ground - while it was Rampaul taking much of the glory for his six fours and six sixes, Roach played his part, first holding up an end to allow Rampaul the strike until he grew in confidence enough to his three boundaries of his own.

He made 24 not out in 36 deliveries and then returned two for 40 but his and Rampaul's efforts proved to be in vain.

The third game in the series is in Ahmedabad on 5th December.

© Cricket World 2011