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Thursday, October 25, 2018

2018 West Indies Tour of India - Second ODI @ Vizag Wednesday Oct 24.10.2018 - Match Ends in Tie

The second ODI between India and the Windies in Visakhapatnam turned out to be a story of two halves. The first in which Virat Kohli produced a masterclass, shattering records of various magnitudes during his 37th ODI ton to take India to 321/6, and the second where the Windies batsmen led by Shai Hopes's unbeaten 123 and Shimron Hetmyer's 64-ball 94 took the visitors to the brink.


The end result - a thrilling tie.

Scorecard
India 321/6 in 50 Overs
Virat Kohli 157*(129 Balls 4x14 and 6x4)
Ambati Rayudu 73(80 Balls 4x8)
West Indies 321/7 in 50 Overs
Shai Hope 123*(134 Balls 4x10 and 6x3)
Shimron Hetmyer 94(64Balls 4x4 and 6x7)
Match Result - Tie
MOM - Virat Kohli(India)for his 157*


The Windies were in with a strong chance of chasing down the target all through with the equation eventually boiling down to 20 of the last two overs. With Hope still at the crease on 112, they would have harboured hopes of a win. But, Mohammed Shami produced a superb penultimate over conceding just the 6 runs. The last over by Umesh Yadav then had everything - a four off the pads, a wicket and a last-ball boundary. With Windies needing five to win off the last ball, Hope sliced a length delivery just wide of third man who could not prevent the ball from flying away for a four leaving mixed feeling in both camps as the visitors ended on 321/7 after their 50 overs.

Earlier, after Kohli had cantered to a second century of the series in as many games also becoming the quickest man in the history of the format to scale 10,000 runs, most would have had their money on an Indian win at the halfway stage. But, Hope and Hetmyer had other plans.

However, the start of the Windies run-chase was more of a flatter to deceive story with boundaries flowing aplenty but none of the batsmen sticking long enough. Kieran Powell cracked three solid fours during his innings but once again failed to capitalise falling to Shami on 18. His opening partner Chandrapaul Hemraj struck six boundaries during his knock before he was bamboozled by a Kuldeep Yadav wrong'un for a 24-ball 32. Samuels, then coming in at No. 4 started off with three fours against Kuldeep but he too fell soon for 13 to a leg-break that kissed the outside of his off-stump.

At 78/3 after 12 overs, Windies desperately needed someone to provide a semblance of stability to the run chase and Hope & Hetmyer did just that.The West Indies rode on an undefeated century from Shai Hope (123 off 134; 4X10, 6X3) and Shimron Hetmyer's 64-ball 94 to get tantalisingly close to a win.


Hope, already on 15 when Hetmyer walked out gave his younger partner some time to settle down. He took a lot of the strike initially while Hetmyer kept chugging along rotating. The left-hander collected his first boundary by smashing Kuldeep over the deep midwicket fence - a shot that was soon to become the theme of the day.

What followed in the next few overs was a stunning exhibition of clean ball striking from the 21-year-old Hetmyer. He struck five massive sixes between overs 21 and 26 further proving his century in the opening ODI was no fluke as he took each and every Indian bowler apart one by one. Hope, although restrained, kept accumulating the boundaries as well with both batsmen soon completing their half-centuries.


The duo added 143 runs in a mere 19.5 overs before Hetmyer on the verge of completing another ODI hundred fell to Yuzvendra Chahal top-edging a short of length delivery straight into the hands of Kohli. He fell for a 64-ball 94, his innings laced with four fours and seven sixes.

Rovman Powell (18) came and went even as Hope kept plundering boundaries at will. He soon notched up his second ODI century in the 46th over with a brace down to fine leg but his side still had a lot to do especially with Holder not getting his timing right at the other end. It eventually went down to the last ball and in some ways it was fair the game had no winners.


Shai Hope raises his bat to celebrate scoring a century during the second one-day international cricket match between India and West Indies in Visakhapatnam.
 Shimron Hetmyer raises his bat to celebrate scoring fifty runs during the second one-day international cricket match between India and West Indies in Visakhapatnam.

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