VIZAG, India – A well-crafted century from Shai Hope and a blistering 94 from Shimron Hetmyer led the WINDIES to 321/7 and a dramatic tie against India in the 2^nd One Day International at the ACA-VDCA Cricket Stadium in Vizag.

Virat Kohli won the toss for the second time in as many matches and this time elected to bat first on a pitch that was devoid of green or grass. There would be no repeat heroics for Rohit Sharma as Kemar Roach had him caught by Shimron Hetmyer for 8, India 15/1. Virat Kohli strode out to the middle, 81 runs short of reaching 10,000 ODI runs. He and Shikhar Dhawan added 25 runs to their total before Ashley Nurse trapped Dhawan LBW for 29

Then came India’s biggest partnership when Ambati Rayudu joined Kohli at the crease. The pair started slowly, easing the singles and twos around the tight WINDIES bowling. But the last third of the overs, the pair exploded and started carting the WINDIES bowlers around the ground. Young Obed McCoy making his ODI debut got Kohli to play a wayward slash only for Jason Holder to spill a difficult backward running catch.

Nurse was reintroduced and struck almost immediately when he bowled Rayudu for 73. McCoy did get his first ODI scalp when he bowled MS Dhoni for 20 and then a second when he accounted for Ravindra Jadeja for 13. Kohli powered on and finshed the Indian innings on 157 not out.

Bowling for the WINDIES, Ashley Nurse had figures of 2/46 and McCoy 2/71.

The WINDIES got a fairly good start from their opening pair of Kieran Powell and Chandrapaul Hemraj. With 36 runs on the scoreboard, Powell tried to go for one too many shots and caught by Rishabh Pant for 18. Hemraj looked set to trouble the scorers and bowlers. He struck 6-fours on his way to a solid 32 before being bowled by Kuldeep Yadav.

Shai Hope and Marlon Samuels joined forces but Samuels was out for 13 when the ball barely shave the stumps, dislodged the bails. In came the napalm of the WINDIES team, Shimron Hetmyer who along with Hope ignited the WINDIES innings. The pair blistered both the pace of Umesh and Shami and the spin of Kuldeep and Chahal. The pair was reminiscent of Usain Bolt on the track, sprinting between the wickets running singles and twos. Hetmyer showed just how special a youngster he is, placing calculated shots well beyond the reaches of fielders, into the stands. The pair posted a staggering 143-run partnership, which set the match nicely in favour of the WINDIES to level the 5-match ODI series. But Hetymer on 94 and a second consecutive hundred in sight, went for one too many big swings, top-edging to a patiently waiting Kohli who made no mistake holding on the catch.

The quick running and scoring continued with Rovman Powell and Hope. The pair added 32 before Kuldeep had Powell caught for 18. Captain Jason Holder then joined Hope. The scoring rate slowed for the first time in match, however the experienced batsmen kept the score ticking over. 47-runs later and some miss-communication saw Holder runout after he charged down the pitch for a single and was sent back by Hope.

Ashley Nurse came in and tried the “Dilscoop” the first delivery he faced. He then settled and gave the strike back to Hope. They added 15 runs before Nurse tried another scoop but was caught for 5. Needing 14 runs from the last over, Shai Hope had strike. He took quick twos, needing 5 runs off the last ball to win and 4 to tie, Kohli set his field to force Hope to hit out. Hope lived up to his name and went for the win. He slashed at the delivery from Umesh and it raced past the fielder on the boundary to allow for a drawn match for the WINDIES. WINDIES 321/7 from 50 0vers.

Hope finished on 123 not out, his highest ODI score and second ODI hundred. Roach finished on 0 not out. Kuldeep Yadav was the best bowler for India, taking 3/67 from his 10 overs. The series remains 1-0 to India with the 3^rd ODI to be played in Pune on October 27.

-ENDS-

ODI Squad – India 2018

1. Jason Holder (Captain)
2. Fabian Allen
3. Sunil Ambris
4. Devendra Bishoo
5. Chanderpaul Hemraj
6. Shimron Hetmyer
7. Shai Hope
8. Obed McCoy
9. Ashley Nurse
10. Keemo Paul
11. Kieran Powell
12. Rovman Powell
13. Kemar Roach
14. Marlon Samuels
15. Oshane Thomas

INDIA TOUR SCHEDULE

-CWI