Indian captain Virat Kohli continued his cricket lessons with the West Indies cricketers, leading his team to a six-wicket victory and a 2-0 series win over the West Indies at the Queen's Park Oval in Port-of-Spain on Wednesday.
At the end of a cloudy and rainy day, Kohli was hoisting yet another trophy, after winning the MyTeam11 T20 series 3-0 earlier on the tour. Set 255 to win in 35 overs under the Duckworth/Lewis system the Indians reached home at 256/4 in 32.3 overs on the back of a brilliant unbeaten 114 from Kohli.
The West Indies got 72 from Chris Gayle and 43 from Evin Lewis which took them to 240/7 off 35 overs. This proved inadequate in the end, as the bowling and fielding from the home team left a lot to be desired.
The right-hander, who was dropped by wicketkeeper Shai Hope on 12, went on to record his 43rd ODI century and second in succession. The classy hand came off 94 balls with 11 measured fours.
The class of the Indians reminded the West Indies just how far back they are compared to the well-oiled Indian unit. After losing Rohit Sharma for 10, Shikar Dhawan for 36 and Rishabh Pant for a duck, the West Indies were in the game. However, a partnership of
120 in 15.4 overs between Kohli and Shreyas Iyer finished off the Windies interest. Iyer, the Kohli lookalike made 65 off 41 balls with three fours and five sixes.
Earlier, the West Indies won the toss and skipper Jason Holder decided to bat first explaining that his batsmen needed to be positive and take the fight to the Indians.
This they did and after 10 overs when he looked up at the scoreboard he would have felt vindicated with his decision, as the maroons had 114 to the good and all ten wickets standing. The two struck the most sixes in the first 10 overs of an ODI - 8.
The Indians quickly realized that they needed to take pace off the ball and as soon as they brought the spinners on, they kept the openers, Chris Gayle and Evin Lewis, honest.
Gayle playing what looked like his final ODI game had requested a new number and got his wishes. He wore 301 on his back, which reflected the fact that he was playing his 301st ODI game. He came out in a very positive mood and it was brutal butchery from his bat. He raced to his half-century off just 30 balls but soon after saw the fall of Lewis. With no way to go and all day to do it - Lewis threw his hand away at 43 with the score at 115.
Gayle followed Lewis, after cracking 72 off 41 balls with eight fours and five sixes. He waved to all the spectators and shook hands with all the Indian players, indicating that this was his final hurrah in the ODI format.
With the rain threatening all day, it decided to come down and after a stoppage of around three hours, the match was reduced to a 35-over affair.
When the Windies went off at the rain break they were 158 for two after 22 overs. On the resumption, they were able to add 82 off the remaining 13 overs to end on 240/7. Nicolas Pooran thrilled with 30 off 16 balls, hitting three sixes.
SCORES
WEST INDIES 240 for seven off 35 overs (Chris Gayle 71, Evin 43, Nicholas Pooran 30, Shimron Hetmyer 25, Shai Hope 24; Khaleel Ahmed 3-68, Mohammed Shami 2-50)
INDIA 256 for four off 32.3 overs (Virat Kohli 114 not out, Shreyas Iyer 65, Shikhar Dhawan 36; Fabian Allen 2-40
