BENGALURU: Indian all-rounder Axar Patel thumped an unbeaten 64 off 35 balls on Sunday as the visitors pipped West Indies by two wickets in the second ODI to take an unassailable 2-0 lead in the three-match series. This is India’s 11th consecutive ODI series win against West Indies.
Patel’s scorching innings was laced with three boundaries and five sixes. The 28-year-old smacked Kyle Mayers down the ground on the fourth delivery of the 50th over as India chased down 312 in 49.2 overs.
The left-hander began his assault by belting left-arm spinner Akeal Hosein for a six over deep square-leg. Later he walloped two more sixes off him, while his other two sixes came against Mayers.
India lost skipper Shikhar Dhawan in the 11th over as he fell after scratching around for 13 runs. Shubman Gill also fell soon after scoring 43 as he tried to play a scoop off Mayers but the leading edge resulted in a return catch.
Sanju Samson looked in superb touch as he reeled off a few sumptuous inside-out shots to clock up three sixes. He and Shreyas Iyer joined forces and cobbled up a 99-run stand for the 4th wicket. Both of them blasted half-centuries and after they were dismissed in quick succession, Patel took up the cudgels and steered India to a thrilling win with the help of Deepak Hooda.
Earlier, West Indies opener Shai Hope on Sunday became the 10th batter to crack a hundred in his 100th ODI as he drove West Indies to 311 for 6 in 50 overs in the 2nd match of the series.
The other cricketers to have attained this milestone are Gordon Greenidge, Chris Cairns, Mohammad Yousuf, Kumar Sangakkara, Chris Gayle, Marcus Trescothick, Ramnaresh Sarwan, David Warner and Shikhar Dhawan. The 28-year-old reached the milestone by biffing leg-spinner Yuzvendra Chahal for a six in the 45th over.
After West Indies captain Nicholas Pooran won the toss and opted to bat, Hope and Mayers accorded a solid start to the team by stitching up a 65-run alliance for the first wicket. Mayers batted with aplomb as he whipped out a string of boundaries and a six off medium-pacer Shardul Thakur in the 8th over. But his rampage was scuttled by Hooda as the all-rounder nipped him out for 39.
After Mayers’ dismissal, Shamarh Brooks came to the crease and batted sensibly. Hope, who was playing second fiddle to Mayers, also began to score more freely as he brought up his fifty by tonking Chahal for a six over deep mid-wicket in the 21st over. But, in the next over, Brooks was dismissed by the left-arm spinner Patel for 36-ball 35.
Brandon King fell for a duck as the hosts were in a bit of a pickle at 130-3. But captain Pooran came out all guns blazing and blitzed an attacking 74 off 77 balls. He was particularly aggressive against spinners and smoked six sixes, five of which came against Hooda, Chahal and Patel. Hope and Pooran added 117 runs for the fourth wicket before Thakur cleaned up the latter in the 44th over.
Hope’s innings was a tad sedate, but he held one end resolutely and ensured that West Indies didn’t go off the rails. He scored 115 off 135 balls and fell to Thakur in the 49th over, who grabbed his third wicket. Though the medium-pacer snapped up three scalps, he went for 54 runs in 7 overs. Patel, on the other hand, bowled with enormous control and gave away only 40 runs in nine overs.