Finance
Ishan Kishan (55) hit his second successive half-century, but India were all out for 181 in 40.5 overs in the 2nd ODI against West Indies here on Saturday, after a solid start on a challenging wicket with varying bounce.
India made a hash of things in a match that was twice halted by rain but did not lose any overs, after the visitors got off to a terrific start with to opener Ishan Kishan, who blasted a run-a-ball 55, his second after the 52 in the opening match that India won.
Kishan and Shubman Gill scored 90 runs for the first wicket, but the West Indies took advantage of the juice provided by the sluggish but bouncey ground. The top West Indian bowlers were Romario Shepherd (3-37) and Gudakesh Motie (3-36), while Alzerri Joseph grabbed 2-35 in seven overs. The West Indies also fielded effectively, picking up some excellent catches and denying the Indians numerous chances to make a comeback in the contest.
But tragedy struck India just before the first rain break midway through their innings, when they lost two wickets off consecutive deliveries, dropping to 113/5 in the 25th over from 95/2 in the 18th. India’s experiments in this match did not work out and they fell short by at least 40 runs on a difficult wicket.
Hardik Pandya (7), filling in for Rohit Sharma and senior hitter Virat Kohli, tried to pull a bouncer around shoulder height from Jayden Seales but it went straight to Brandon King at midwicket. Pandya was the fourth batter to be struck out in the 24th over.
Sanju Samson (9) edged legspinner Yannic Cariah to King in the slips off the first delivery of the 25th over, getting squared up as he shaped up to hit it square and the ball spun and bounced and grabbed the edge.
India got off to a terrific start after West Indies skipper Shai Hope chose to bowl first, with Ishan Kishan and Shubman Gill (34) putting up 90 runs for the first wicket. Ishan batted 55 balls, hitting six boundaries and one six. This is his second half-century in a row, following his 52 in the series opener.
Kishan reached his fifty off 51 balls, hitting five boundaries and one six. He avoided a close run-out attempt and a hit on his hand by a sharply rising delivery from Alzarri Joseph. In the ninth over, he hit Joseph for boundaries off consecutive deliveries then drove Mayers magnificently past the bowler. A ramp was launched from a short, wide one by Alzarri Joseph got him another four before hammered Motie for a six over long-on in the 15th over.
But he was out just when India was looking up to him for a big one, given how easily he was hitting.
Gill was the first to go after a slow start, attempting to hit Gudakesh Motie off of the ground but being caught by Alzarri Joseph a few steps inside the rope. Axar Patel, who was despatched ahead of Hardik Pandya, also failed.
After a 30-minute rain delay, India lost two fast wickets as Ravindra Jadeja (10) and Suryakumar Yadav (24) were run out after repairing the innings somewhat by adding 33 runs for the sixth wicket. Yannic Cariah caught Jadeja off Romario Shepherd.
Yadav, who looked in terrific form and was running virtually at run-a-ball pace coming in at No.7, fell to Motie, who was aiming to up the scoring tempo after the West Indies bowlers kept them quiet.
Shardul Thakur scored 16 runs off 22 balls, but India’s tail could not last long, falling to 167/8 in the 38th over.
Brief scores: India 181 all out in 40.5 overs (Ishan Kishan 55, Shubman Gill 34, Suryakumar Yadav 24; Romario Shepherd 3-37, Gudakesh Motie 3-36) against West Indies.
Source:IANS
