adminKOCHI – Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli have combined to give India a comfortable six wicket victory over the West Indies in Kochi in the first ODI yesterday.
The supersport.com website reports that the pair put on 133 for the second wicket, after the visitors had made an encouraging start when they picked up the wicket of Shikar Dhawan (5) in the fourth over to end on 212 for four at the Nehru Stadium.
Their stand lasted 21.4 overs at a scoring rate of 6.13 runs to the over, until Ravi Rampaul got Sharma to go after a short delivery, which he attempted to pull, but failed to stay in control of the shot and got caught at deep midwicket for 72.
The 26-year-old who is in the form of his life notched up his 19th limited overs half-century and hit 8 fours and one maximum in his innings.
Kohli then partnered the returning Yuvraj Singh for a rapid 42-run third wicket partnership which all but guaranteed victory for the hosts.
Kohli had made 86 which included 9 fours and 2 sixes when he miscued one from Jason Holder trying to go over the bowlers head.
Sunil Narine picked up the wicket of Suresh Raina for a duck but the damage had already been done and India’s captain MS Dhoni saw his side home alongside Yuvraj.
Earlier, India’s spinners restricted the West Indies to 211 after the visitors won the toss and opted to bat first.
Ravi Jadeja, Suresh Raina and Ravichandran Ashwin took eight wickets collectively, after danger-man Chris Gayle (0) was run out in the first over.
The big-hitting opener defended a Bhuvneshwar Kumar delivery to short midwicket and set off for a daring single. However Kumar moved quickly to gather, turn and throw at Gayle’s end where he was comfortably short.
The 34-year-old tumbled and landed awkwardly in a desperate attempt to make it. Marlon Samuels and Johnson Charles then put on a fluid second-wicket partnership of 65 from just 10.2 overs with both batsmen playing some expansive strokes.
Jadeja pulled off a stunning catch off his own bowling to take the wicket of Charles for 42.-Cricinfo.
Online Reporter