Indian batsmen faltered at the fag end of their innings after a rollicking start provided by their openers to reach 190-6 against World T20 Champions West Indies in a one-off T20 International at Kingston on Sunday. Skipper Kohli (39 off 22 balls) and Shikhar Dhawan (23 off 12 balls) added 64 in a whirlwind opening stand. However, Dinesh Karthik (48 off 29 balls) and Rishabh Pant (38 off 35 balls) could not match the momentum despite an 86-run stand in 9.5 overs.
As a result, India could manage only 97 runs in the last 10 overs after scoring 93 in the first. Kohli was in regal form as he punished each and every bowler hitting seven boundaries and a six during his short stay. A backfoot cover drive off Carlos Brathwaite and a six over long-on off Kesrick Williams stood out among the rest. Dhawan was also in imperious form, hitting Samuel Badree for a couple of boundaries in his opening over.
Once Pant and Karthik joined forces, the run rate dipped. Especially young Pant, touted as the next big thing in Indian cricket, struggled to get going. He tried to hit the ball hard but struggled to time them, only getting singles in the process.
For West Indies, Evin Lewis smashed a 125 in 62 balls. Marlon Samuels chipped in with 36 off 29 as the hosts made a 191 for the loss of one wicket.
India win series
Virat Kohli scored an unbeaten 111 to lead India to a series-clinching eight-wicket win over the Windies in the fifth and final One-Day International at Sabina Park. Responding to the home side's modest total of 205-9 after captain Jason Holder chose to bat first in Jamaica, Kohli ensured there was to be no upset with the target reached in the 37th over to give India a 3-1 series triumph.
Stung by an 11-run defeat in the fourth match in Antigua, the Indians were in no mood to let their opponents off the hook this time around. An early strike by fast bowler Alzarri Joseph in removing Shikhar Dhawan at the start of the chase ushered in Kohli who immediately set about the bowling. He put on 79 for the second wicket with Ajinkya Rahane before the opener fell to spinner Devendra Bishoo. It was his first score under 50 in the series. Dinesh Karthik joined his leader in the 19th over and was prepared to play the supporting role to a rampant Kohli, his 28th ODI century coming up off 108 deliveries with one six and 12 fours decorating his authoritative innings. Karthik reached an unbeaten 50 in an unbroken third-wicket partnership of 122 just before Kohli finished the match with his second six off Roston Chase.
Earlier, opening bowlers Mohammed Shami and Umesh Yadav shared seven wickets in restricting the West Indies after they were well poised at 76-1 in the 16th over. Seeking victory to earn a share of the honours from a campaign in which they entered as huge underdogs, the home side's only substantial contributions came from the Hope brothers, Shai and Kyle. Shai topscored with 51, while Kyle contributed 46 at the top of the order.
Kohli surpasses Sachin
India skipper Virat Kohli has broken Sachin Tendulkar's record for most centuries in one-day internationals. Kohli led from the front with a fluent century as India wrapped up the five-match series 3-1 with a convincing eight-wicket win over the West Indies. This was Kohli's 28th hundred in one-day cricket, 18 of which have come while chasing. Tendulkar took 232 innings to reach 27, while Kohli has reached the milestone in only 102 innings.
Third in the list is Sri Lankan Tillakaratne Dilshan, who scored 11 centuries in 116 innings while batting second. Previously, only Rahul Dravid had scored a hundred as captain in the Caribbean against the West Indies. Overall, this is Kohli's fourth ton against the West Indies. The 28-year-old is now two hundreds short of equalling Ricky Ponting's tally of 30 ODI tons.
Semis in sight after India's spinners choke SL
India come closer towards clinching a semifinal spot with another convincing 16-run victory over Sri Lanka in a one-sided ICC Women's World Cup encounter. Mithali Raj and Co thus recorded their fourth win on the trot as they defended a respectable 232-8 by restricting the island nation to 216-7.
India's battery of slow bowlers have choked the opposition time and again during the tournament so far. It was no different on the day as leg-spinner Poonam Yadav (2-23 in 10 overs) led the charge with twin blows, removing the dangerous Chamari Atapattu (25) and opener Nipuni Hansika (29). Left-arm spinner Ekta Bisht (1-48 in 10 overs) and off-spinner Deepti Sharma (1-46 in 10 overs) were also economical.
Earlier, Deepti Sharma and Raj hit half-centuries to help India post 232 for 8. Deepti made 78 off 110 balls while Mithali (53 off 78) continued her good form with yet another 50 plus score to set the base for India's total after the early dismissal of openers Punam Raut (16) and Smriti Mandhana (8).
England set record
England emerged triumphant by 68 runs despite South Africa becoming the first team to score in excess of 300 runs batting second in women's ODI. Batting first, England rode on a second-wicket stand of 275 - the highest in Women's World Cup history and the second-highest in all women's ODIs -to notch up 373 for five in 50 overs. Needing to pull off the highest successful chase ever, South Africa managed 305 for nine, thanks to half centuries from Laura Wolvaardt, Lizelle Lee and Chloe Tryon in a run fest at the Country Ground.
