An emphatic performance from India to keep the series 1-1! Asked to bat first at Visakhapatnam by the West Indies, India pilled on runs with Rohit Sharma and KL Rahul putting on a double-century stand for the opening stand. Skipper Virat Kohli got out for a golden duck as his deputy went past him as the leading ODI scorer this year. Rohit was looking all set to score his fourth double ton, but somehow it didn't materialise for him. Rahul scored his first ODI ton at home, then came the real carnage with Delhi Capitals pair Shreyas Iyer and Rishabh Pant giving India the final touches. Then the bowlers did their job despite brilliant counter-attacking knocks from Nicholas Pooran and Shai Hope. Mohammed Shami opened the floodgates with a double blow, then Kuldeep Yadav became the first Indian to take two international hat-tricks. Catch highlights of the second IND vs WI ODI match at the ACA-VDCA Cricket Stadium, Visakhapatnam here.
West Indies Innings; Target 388 Runs
9:14 PM IST: Mohammed Shami returns for his eighth over, and he cleans up Keemo Paul with a yorker. Paul made 46 off 42. Shami's figures: 3/39 in 7.3 overs. West Indies all out for 280 in 43.3 overs. India win by 107 runs to level the series.
9:11 PM IST: Deepak Chahar returns for his seventh over. Keemo Paul hits the third ball for a four. Six runs from the ovver. WI - 280/9 (43). Paul - 46; Cottrell - 0. They need 108 runs.
9:06 PM IST: Bowling change. Shreyas Iyer, leg break, on. And he is hit for a six by Keemo Paul, behind square. Full toss. A dot then a wide. Then a four to long-on. A dot, then Iyer almost gets his maiden wicket. A return catch, puts down, with one hand. 13 runs from the over. WI - 274/9 (42). Paul - 41; Cottrell - 0. They need 114 runs.
9:02 PM IST: Ravindra Jadeja on with his last over. Two singles, then a dot. Keemo Paul takes a single off the fourth, and fifty-run stand in 46 balls. But Pierre (21 off 18) holes out the next ball. Catch taken by Virat Kohli at deep. Sheldon Cottrell, right-handed batsman, is the new man. A single to end the over. Four runs from the over. His figures: 2/74. WI - 261/9 (41). Paul - 30; Cottrell - 0. They need 127 runs.
8:58 PM IST: Mohammed Shami on with his seventh over. Keemo Paul hits the third ball a a bullet four, past the bowler. Six runs from the over. WI - 257/8 (40). Paul - 27; Pierre - 20. They need 131 runs.
8:54 PM IST: Ravindra Jadeja returns for his ninth over. Keemo Paul hits the fifth ball for a huge six over mid-wicket. Seven runs from the over. WI - 251/8 (39). Paul - 22; Pierre - 19. They need 137 runs.
8:51 PM IST: Shardul Thakur on with his eighth over. A dot, then two fours over the wicketkeepers head as Khary Pierre gets top-edges. Nine runs from the over. WI - 244/8 (38). Paul - 16; Pierre - 18. They need 144 overs. 34 runs in the last five overs.
8:47 PM IST: Kuldeep Yadav on with his last over. Khary Pierre takes a single off the first ball, then Keemo Paul creams the second ball for a mighty six ove mid-wicket. Two dots and a single. A single off the last ball. Nine runs from the over. His figures: 3/52. WI - 235/8 (37). Paul - 16; Pierre - 9. They need 153 runs.
8:43 PM IST: Shardul Thakur on with his seventh over. Five runs from the over. WI - 226/8 (36). Paul - 9; Pierre - 7. They need 162 runs.
8:38 PM IST: Kuldeep Yadav on with his ninth over. Keemo Paul hits the first ball for a four, then two singles off the second and fourth balls. WI - 221/8 (35). Paul - 6; Pierre - 5. They need 167 runs.
8:34 PM IST: Shardul Thakur returns for his sixth over. Khary Pierre hits the last ball for a four. Five runs from the over. WI - 215/8 (34). Paul - 5; Pierre - 4.
8:31 PM IST: Kuldeep Yadav on with his eighth over. Jason Holder hits the first ball for a six. A dot and a single, then the big WICKET of Shai Hope (78 off 85). Caught at boundary by Virat Kohli. And Jason Holder (11 off 13) is stumped. Keemo Paul and Alzarri Joseph are the new batsmen. And what a moment. Kuldeep Yadav has a HAT-TRICK. Joseph is caught by Kedar Jadhav. Kuldeep is now the first Indian bowler to claim two hat-tricks in International cricket. Seven runs and three wickets in the over. WI - 210/8 (33).
8:21 PM IST: Mohammed Shami on with his sixth over. A dot to Jason Holder, then a single. Shai Hope mistimes his pull shot, and the ball beats Virat Kohli at mid-off and goes for a four. Seven runs from the over. WI - 203/5 (32). Hope - 78; Holder - 4. They need 185 runs.
8:17 PM IST: Kuldeep Yadav on with his seventh over. Two runs from it. WI - 196/5 (31). Hope - 73; Holder - 2. They need 192 runs.
8:12 PM IST: Mohammed Shami on a hat-trick and Jason Holder in the new man. Holder takes a single, then a dot to Shai Hope. Two runs and two wickets from the over. WI - 194/5 (30). Hope - 73; Holder -1. They need 194 runs.
8:09 PM IST: And what? Mohammed Shami dismisses Kieron Pollard for a golden duck, caught behind. Shami on a hat-trick.
8:07 PM IST: Virat Kohli persists with Mohammed Shami, and it pays off. A dot Nicholas Pooran (75 off 47), then holes out at deep. Catch taken by Kuldeep Yadav. Drinks.
8:04 PM IST: Kuldeep Yadav returns for his sixth over. Big turn to beat Nicholas Pooran. And Pooran hits the next ball for a six, over long-off, for hundred-run stand in 74 balls. KL Rahul misfields to give a boundary awar at long on. Virat Kohli is fuming. A single to sweeper cover. 11 runs from the over. WI - 192/3 (29). Hope - 72; Pooran - 75. They need 196 runs.
8:00 PM IST: Mohammed Shami returns for his fourth over. Nicholas Pooran hits the first ball for a six, flicks over deep square leg. A thick egde and a four to third man. A dot, then Pooran creams the fourth ball to dee mid-wicket, but Ravindra Jadeja stops it for a single. A single to end the over. 13 runs from the over. WI - 181/3 (28). Hope - 72; Pooran - 64. They need 207 runs.
7:54 PM IST: Deepak Chahar on with his sixth over. Shai Hope takes a single. Nicholas Pooran hits the next ball for a four to long-on. Rocket. Anf fifty for Pooran, in 34 balls. Virat Kohli is furious. A dot, then a single. A wide for height. Seven runs from the over. WI - 168/3 (27). Hope - 71; Pooran - 52. They need 220 runs.
7:47 PM IST: Ravindra Jadeja continues. Nicholas Pooran hits the first ball for a six, over deep mid-wicket. Two dots, then a clean hit for a six over long-on. A dot then a four. 16 runs from the over through cover. WI - 161/3 (26). Hope - 70; Pooran - 47. They need 227 runs. 61 in the last five overs and the fourth-wicket stand is now worth 75 off 60.
7:42 PM IST: Deepak Chahar returns for his fifth over. Shai Hope hits the first ball for a six over long-on. A single, then a dot. Nicholas Pooran takes a single off the fourth, and another off the next. A dot to end the over. 10 runs from the over. WI - 145/3 (25). Hope - 70; Pooran - 31. They need 243 runs. Fifty-run stand between the two.
7:38 PM IST: Ravindra Jadeja on with his seventh over. Shai Hope takes a single, then Nicholas Pooran hits the next ball for a six over Deepak Chahar at long-off. A dropped catch in the same area. Easy one. A single, the Pooran hits the fifth ball for a six over long-on. 15 runs from the over. WI - 135/3 (24). Hope - 62; Pooran - 29. They need 253 runs.
7:33 PM IST: Kuldeep Yadav continues. A dot to Shai Hope, then two singles. Hope hits the fourth ball for a six, with the turn, over long-on. Nine runs from the over. WI - 120/3 (23). Hope - 60; Pooran - 16. They need 268 runs.
7:29 PM IST: Ravindra Jadeja on with his sixth over. Nicholas Pooran hits the first ball for a four through mid-wicket. Two dots, then another huge appeal for caught behind. A wide, given instead. A four through cover. 11 runs from the over. WI - 111/3 (22). Hope - 52; Pooran - 15. They need 277 runs.
7:25 PM IST: Kuldeep Yadav on with his fourth over. Singles off the first and fifth balls. And a review for LBW against Shai Hope. Missing leg stump. WI - 100/3(21). Hope - 51; Pooran - 6. They need 288 runs.
7:21 PM IST: Ravindra Jadeja on with his fifth over. Shai Hope takes a single off the fifth ball to reach his fifty, in 59 balls. Three runs from the over. WI - 98/3 (20). Hope - 50; Pooran - 5. They need 290 runs.
7:18 PM IST: Kuldeep Yadav continues. Three singles. WI - 95/3 (18). Hope - 48; Pooran - 4. They need 293 runs.
7:15 PM IST: Ravindra Jadeja on with his fourth over. Four singles. WI - 92/3 (18). Hope - 46; Pooran - 3. They need 296 runs.
7:12 PM IST: India are rushing through their overs. Nicholas Pooran, left-handed batsman, is the new man. Kuldeep Yadav on with his second over. Two singles, off the fourth and sixth deliveries. WI - 88/3 (17). Hope - 44; Pooran - 1. They need 300 runs.
7:09 PM IST: WICKET! Ravindra Jadeja continues. A dot followed four singles. Then, he cleans up Roston Chase's wickets (4 off 9). WI - 86/2 (16). Hope - 43. They need 302 runs.
7:05 PM IST: Bowling change. Kuldeep Yadav on. Two singles. WI - 82/2 (15). Hope - 41; Chase - 2. They need 306 runs.
7:01 PM IST: Ravindra Jadeja continues. Shimron Hetmyer (4 off 7) returns for a second and pays the price as Shreyas Iyer produces a stunning piece of fielding effort. First stops a certain four at boundary, then returns the ball in no time to affect a run-out. Roston Chase, right-handed batsman, is the new man. Shai Hope hits the fifth ball for a four through cover. Nine runs from the over. WI - 80/2 (14). Hope - 40; Chase - 1. They need 308 runs.
6:54 PM IST: Shardul Thakur continues. Shai Hope hits the fourth ball for a six over long on. Nine runs from the over. WI - 71/1 (13). Hope - 34; Hetmyer - 2. They need 317 runs.
6:50 PM IST: Bowling change. Ravindra Jadeja on. And a single from his first over. Shimron Hetmyer is the new man. WI - 61/1 (11). Hope - 26; Hetmyer - 1. They need 326 runs.
6:46 PM IST: WICKET! Shardul Thakur breaks the opening stand. He had Evin Lewis (30 off 35) caught by Shreyas Iyer. Five runs from the over. WI - 61/1 (11). Hope - 26.
6:40 PM IST: Mohammed Shami continues. Two singles. WI - 56/0 (10). Lewis - 26; Hope - 26. They need 332 runs.
6:36 PM IST: Shardul Thakur returns for his third over. Evin Lewis hits the third ball for a four through cover. Cracking shot and fifty up for the Windies. A double off the last ball with India asking for a run-out review against Lewis. Saved by dive. Nine runs from the over. WI - 54/0 (9). Lewis - 25; Hope - 25. They need 334 runs.
6:30 PM IST: Mohammed Shami continues. Evin Lewis hits the fourth ball for a four through point. Four runs from the over. WI - 45/0 (8). Lewis - 18; Hope - 23. They need 343 runs.
6:25 PM IST: Deepak Chahar continues. Shai Hope hits back-to-back fours to finish the over. Eight runs from the over. WI - 41/0 (7). Lewis - 14; Hope - 23. They need 347 runs.
6: 20 PM IST: Bowling change. Mohammed Shami on. Evin Lewis gets a top edge off the fourth ball. Six runs from the over. WI - 33/0 (6). Lewis - 14; Hope - 15. They need 355 runs.
6:14 PM IST: Deepak Chahar on with his third over. Shai Hope hits the third ball for a four, through extra cover. Sublime. Six runs from the over. WI - 27/0 (5). Lewis - 10; Hope - 15. They need 361 runs.
6:10 PM IST: Shardul Thakur continues. A single off the first ball as Evin Lewis plays it to mid-on. Shai Hope hits the next ball for a four through cover. Three dots then a wide. A dot to end the over. Six runs from the over. WI - 21/0 (4). Lewis - 9; Hope - 10. They need 367 runs.
6:05 PM IST: Deepak Chahar continues. Shai Hope hits the last ball for a four to mid-on. Seven runs from the over. WI - 15/0 (3). Lewis - 8; Hope - 6. They need 373 runs.
6:00 PM IST: Shardul Thakur, coming in for Shivam Dube, shares the new ball with Deepak Chahar. And a run-out chance goes begging. A direct hit from the bowler would have made Shai Hope struggle at the striker's end. A dot, then a single to square leg as Hope opens his account. A dot, and a huge shout for LBW. Inside edge, as it turns out. And the first boundary, beating a diving Rishabh Pant down the leg. Fine nick. A single to end the over. Eight runs from the over. WI - 8/0 (2). Lewis - 6; Hope - 1. They need 380 runs.
5:53 PM IST: A dot to Evin Lewis, then a single to short fine leg. It's happening. KL Rahul drops Shai Hope at second slip. Brilliant delivery to induce a fine nick, but only a dropped catch. Excellent first over. Just a single.
5:48 PM IST: Players are out for the Windies innings. Deepak Chahar to bowl the first over. Evin Lewis on strike. His opening partner is Shai Hope.
5:25 PM IST: With the series on the line at Vizag, openers Rohit Sharma and KL Rahul set the stage with a double-century stand then Shreyas Iyer and Rishabh Pant gave the perfect finish with a late onslaught. Windies need 388 runs to win the series.
India Innings
5:18 PM IST: Last over and Keemo Paul on. A dot to Kedar Jadhav, then a four past point. A wide for height. One-handed shot and four to long-on. Jadhav loses control, but still a boundary. Another four to deep backward point. A dot. A single to long-on to finish the innings. 14 runs from the over. IND - 387/5 (50). Jadhav - 16; Jadeja - 0.
5:14 PM IST: Sheldon Cottrell on with his ninth over. Three singles, then a dot to Kedar Jadhav, who misses the fuller delivery. A dot, then a wide. And the WICKET. Shreyas Iyer walks. Caught behind. Slightest of tickle. He made 53 off 32. Good over for the Windies. Five runs. IND - 373/5 (49). Jadhav - 3.
5:09 PM IST: Keemo Paul returns for his sixth over. One leg bye and Shreyas Iyer takes a single, and he thinks it's fifty. Needs one more. WICKET. Rishabh Pant (39 off 16) holes out at sweeper cover, catch taken by Nicholas Pooran. Kedar Jadhav is the new man. Iyer takes a single off the fourth ball and reaches his fourth successive fifty. Five runs from the over. IND - 368/4 (48). Iyer - 51; Jadhav - 1.
5:03 PM IST: Roston Chase returns for his fifth over. He slips the ball. No ball. Free-hit, for Rishabh Pant. A single to deep cover. Missed opportunity for Pant. Shreyas Iyer hits the next ball for a six, over deep mid-wicket. Then, another. Full toss and to long-on. And fifty-run-stand in 19 balls. A four off the fourth ball to fine leg. Third six of the over, to long-on. And another one, to deep mid-wicket. 31 runs from the over. 55 in two overs. Absolute carnage from Delhi Capital duo. IND - 363/3 (47). Iyer - 48; Pant - 39.
4:57 PM IST: Sheldon Cottrell on with his eighth over. Ferocious pull shot from Rishabh Pant and six, over deep square leg boundary. a dot as Pant misses the shot. Review for LBW. There's an inside edge. A wild swing and a four to third man. Pant is one fire. Another six, to long-on. And Virat Kohli is happy. A slower delivery followed and a punch - four to deep extra cover. Another four, the same area. 24 runs from the over. IND - 332/3 (46). Iyer - 20; Pant - 38.
4:51 PM IST: Alzarri Joseph on with his ninth over. Shreyas Iyer takes a single to deep mid-wicket. A dot then Rishabh Pant hits a mighty six, over long-off. A dot, then a six. This time, not a biggie but still good enough to clear deep extra cover. A quick single to keep the strike. 14 runs from the over. IND - 308/3 (45). Iyer - 20; Pant - 14.
4:46 PM IST: Sheldon Cottrell returns for his seventh over. Shreyas Iyer takes a single, to midwicket. Rohit Sharma hits the next ball for a four through short fine leg. And the BIG WICKET. Rohit caught behind (159 off 138; 17x4s, 5x6s). Rishabh Pant is the new man. Seven runs from the over. IND - 294/3 (44). Iyer - 19; Pant - 1.
4:41 PM IST: Khary Pierre returns for his ninth over. A wide, then a single as Shreyas Iyer plays to deep cover. A wide even as Rohit Shara goes for a reverse sweep. A single, then a dot, ANother single, then two dots. Brilliant over for the Windies. Five runs from the over. IND - 287/2 (43). Rohit - 155; Iyer - 17.
4:37 PM IST: Jason Holder returns for his ninth over. A loosener to start with and is punished by Shreyas Iyer, a four fine leg. A dot, then a single. Rohit Sharma launches the fourth ball for a six over the bowler's head for his 150, in 132 balls. A single to mid-wicket. A full toss to Iyer and a single to deep mid-wicket for fifty-run stand in 27 balls. 13 runs from the over. IND - 282/2 (42). Rohit - 154; Iyer - 15.
4:32 PM IST: Final ten overs. Keemo Paul on with his fifth over. Two dots to Shreyas Iyer, then a single. Rohit hits the fourth ball for a six over fine leg. Two singles to end the over. Nine runs from the over. IND - 269/2 (41). Rohit - 147; Iyer - 9.
4:28 PM IST: Kieron Pollard on with his second over. A dot then back-to-back fours, first to fine leg, and the second through cover. Rohit almost gets another. But still three despite a good fielding effort from Jason Holder at deep square leg. A dot, then a single. 12 runs from the over. IND - 260/2 (40). Rohit - 140; Iyer - 7.
Indian supporters cheer for their team as batsmen score runs during the second ODI cricket match between India and West Indies in Visakhapatnam, India, Wednesday, Dec. 18, 2019. (AP Photo/Aijaz Rahi)
4:24 PM IST: Sheldon Cottrell returns for his fifth over. Rohit Sharma takes a single off the first ball, to extra cover. Then, a lovely cover drive for a four. Three singles, then a controlled cut shot from Shreyas Iyer to third man for another four. 13 runs from the over. No salute today. IND - 248/2 (39). Rohit - 129; Iyer - 4. 46 runs and two wickets in the last five overs.
4:19 PM IST: Kieron Pollard introduces himself to the attack. Rohit Sharma hits the first ball for a four to fine leg, then a single. New man Virat Kohli is gone. Slower bouncer and forcing the Indian captain to reach to the ball. And A GOLDEN DUCK. Caught at mid-wicket by Roston Chase. Shreyas Iyer joins Rohit Sharma in the centre. Eight runs from the over. IND - 235/2 (38). Rohit - 121; Iyer - 1.
4:14 PM IST: Alzarri Joseph continues. A wide, then KL Rahul reaches his hundred with a four to fine leg, in 102 balls. A well-timed flick. A single, and Rohit Sharma hits the third ball for a four past mid-on. A dot, then another wide. A single to mid-off. And finally a WICKET. Rahul (102 off 104) caught at third man by Roston Chase. 12 runs from the over. IND - 227/1 (37). Rohit - 115.
4:07 PM IST: Jason Holder continues with his eighth over. Two dots, then Rohit Sharma takes a single, to deep square leg. A dot, then a single to cover. And Rohit ends the over with a six over sweeper cover. Stunning shot. Rohit misses the line of the ball but still makes a connection and it flies away. Eight runs from the over. IND - 215/0 (36). Rohit - 110; Rahul - 97.
4:03 PM IST: Alzarri Joseph returns for his seventh over. Three singles, one leg bye and a wide from it. IND - 207/0 (35). Rohit - 103; Rahul - 96.
3:59 PM IST: Jason Holder returns for his seventh over. Rohit Sharma takes a single off the first ball to move to 99. A single from KL Rahul. And a dot. Then, a quick single to mid-on for his hundred in 107 balls. His seventh in 2019. Rohit survives off the last ball. Short of Keemo Paul at deep square leg. Six runs from the over. Also, 200-run opening stand -- India's 6th double-century partnership for the opening wicket in ODIs. IND - 202/0 (34). Rohit - 102; Rahul - 94.
3:53 PM IST: Meanwhile, Jacques Kallis has been named as South Africa's batting consultant for the summer season.
3:51 PM IST: Khary Pierre returns for his eighth over. Rohit Sharma takes a single off the first ball, to cover. KL Rahul takes a single, to the same area. Then, Rohit comes down and hits a flat shot to long-off for a four. A dot, then Rohit lofts over long-on for a six. A single to end the over. 13 runs from the over. IND - 196/0 (33). Rohit - 98; Rahul - 92. And DRINKS.
3:47 PM IST: Roston Chase on with his fourth over. Three singles from the over. 27 runs from the last five overs. IND - 183/0 (32). Rohit - 86; Rahul - 91.
3:43 PM IST: Alzarri Joseph returns for his sixth over. KL Rahul takes a double off the first ball to mid-wicket. Another couple even as umpires check for a run-out against Rohit Sharma, who halts midway while coming back for the second. Huge miscommunication between the batsmen. A single, then Rohit hits the fourth ball for a four over the bowler's head. Almost a six. A single, then a dot. 10 runs from the over. IND - 180/0 (31). Rohit - 84; Rahul - 90.
3:37 PM IST: Roston Chase on with his third over. Two dots to KL Rahul, then a single off the third, to long-off. A dot, then two singles. Very good over for the Windies. IND - 170/0 (30). Rohit - 79; Rahul - 85.
3:35 PM IST: Khary Pierre continues with his seventh over. A dot, then Rohit hits the second ball for a four through square leg. Another dot, followed by two singles. Six runs from the over. IND - 167/0 (29). Rohit - 78; Rahul - 83. 29 runs from the last five overs.
3:22 PMIST: Roston Chase on with his second over. A dot to Rohit Sharma, then a dropped catch. Rohit miscues his lofted shot and at long-off, and onrushing Shimron Hetmyer fails to hold on. A single from it. Four more singles and five from the over. IND - 161/0 (28). Rohit - 73; Rahul - 82.
3:29 PM IST: Khary Pierre returns for his sixth over. KL Rahul takes a single off the first ball, courtesy a misfield from Keemo Paul at sweeper cover. A single to extra cover, then a dot. A single as Rohit Sharma plays the fourth ball to long-off. KL Rahul fails to control his cut shot and a half chance at short third man, ball falling in front of Roston Chase. Two dots to end the over. Four runs from the over. IND - 156/0 (27). Rohit - 70; Rahul - 80.
Ground staff clean the pitch area at drinks break during the second ODI cricket match between India and West Indies in Visakhapatnam, India, Wednesday, Dec. 18, 2019. (AP Photo/Aijaz Rahi)
3:25 PM IST: Bowling change. Roston Chase, off-spinner, replaces Keemo Paul. Rohit Sharma plays the first ball to long-on for a single. A wide down the leg. KL Rahul fails to connect his swing. Good take from wicketkeeper. Another wide, on the same line. Two singles, and 150 up for India. Then another wide. A dot, then a single to long-on. Rohit blocks the last ball. Seven runs from the over. IND - 152/0 (26). Rohit - 69; Rahul - 77.
3:20 PM IST: Sheldon Cottrell continues. Two singles, then Rohit Sharma hits the next ball for a four to fine leg boundary. A dot, then a single to long-on. A dot to end the over. Seven from it. IND - 145/0 (25). Rohit - 67; Rahul - 75.
3:16 PM IST: Keemo Paul on with his fourth over. A dot to Rohit Sharma, then a four to third man. A single, the KL Rahul gets a lucky four -- outside edge to beat the wicketkeeper. Two more singles and 11 runs from the over. IND - 138/0 (24). Rohit - 61; Rahul - 74. 43 runs in the last five overs.
3:12 PM IST: Sheldon Cottrell returns for his fourth over. KL Rahul takes a single off the first ball, to point. A dot then Rohit Sharma hits the third ball for a four to long-on. Mistimed shot but just enough power to beat the fielder. Two dots and six runs from the over. IND - 127/0 (23). Rohit - 55; Rahul - 69.
3:07 PM IST: Keemo Paul returns for his third over. KL Rahul hits the first ball for a four to point boundary. Well-timed cut shot. Two dots, then a single to deep point. Rohit pulls the last ball for a four to fine leg. Fifty in 67 balls. IND - 121/0 (22). Rohit - 50; Rahul - 68.
India's KL Rahul, left, interacts with batting partner Rohit Sharma after hitting a boundary during the second ODI cricket match between India and West Indies in Visakhapatnam, India, Wednesday, Dec. 18, 2019. (AP Photo/Aijaz Rahi)
3:01 PM IST: Alzarri Joseph on with his fifth over. Rohit Sharma breaks the shackles with a four, one bounce to long-on boundary. Mistimed but still got the runs. A dot, then a single. KL Rahul hits the fourth ball for a four to deep midwicket. A cut shot for another four. Two brilliant shots from the stylish batsman. A gentle push for a single to end the over. 14 runs from it. But still 20 runs from the last four overs. IND - 112/0 (21). Rohit - 46; Rahul - 63.
2:56 PM IST: Jason Holder on with his sixth over. A wide, down the leg, to start. A dot to KL Rahul. A single to through point. Then a dot to Rohit comes down and plays a mistimed shot, to deep mid-wicket. Risky shot for a single. Rahul leaves the next ball. And another dot. Three runs from the over. IND - 98/0 (20). Rohit - 41; Rahul - 54.
2:52 PM IST: Alzarri Joseph on with his third over. And we have the first maiden over, to Rohit Sharma, of the match. IND - 95/0 (19). Rohit - 40; Rahul - 53.
2:48 PM IST: Jason Holder (0/13), Windies' best bowler so far, returns for his fifth over. Two dots, then KL Rahul almost chops on. A dot then a double to deep square leg. A dot to end the two-run over. IND - 95/0 (18). Rohit - 40; Rahul - 53.
2:41 PM IST: Alzarri Joseph on with his third over. Single off the second ball as KL Rahul plays it to square leg. Rohit Sharma blocks the remaining deliveries. IND - 93/0 (17). Rohit - 40; Rahul - 51. And DRINKS.
2:38 PM IST: Khary Pierre on with his fifth over. KL Rahul escapes. To edge and but the fielder at the deep reacts slow. A double for the trouble. A dot, then Rahul hits a six over deep mid-wicket. A dot then a single to cover for his fifty, in 46 balls. A dot to end the over. Nine runs from it. IND - 92/0 (16). Rohit - 40; Rahul - 50.
2:34 PM IST: Alzarri Joseph continues. Rohit Sharma hits the first ball for a four, to backward point, guiding the bounce. Two dots, and a straight drive. Two dots then a single to mid-wicket. KL Rahul plays the next ball straight, but no run as Rohit slips. A single to mid-on to end the over. Six runs from it. IND - 83/0 (15). Rohit - 40; Rahul - 41.
2:30 PM IST: Khary Pierre continues with his fourth over. Singles off the first five balls. IND - 77/0 (14). Rohit - 35; Rahul - 40.
2:26 PM IST: Bowling change. Alzarri Joseph, right-arm fast-medium bowler, on. Two dots then Rohit Sharma hits his first six, over fine-leg. and he overtakes Virat Kohli (1292) as the leading ODI scores this year. A single off the last ball. Seven from the over. Rohit now has 1300 runs in 2019. IND - 72/0 (13). Rohit - 32; Rahul - 38.
2:21 PM IST: Khary Pierre on with his third over. KL Rahul plays the first ball to backward point for a double. Two singles then three dots to Rahul. Four runs from the over. IND - 65/0 (12). Rohit - 25; Rahul - 38.
2:18 PM IST: Keemo Paul continues. Six singles. IND - 61/0 (11). Rohit - 24; Rahul - 35.
2:13 PM IST: Khary Pierre on with his second over. Rohit Sharma gets a thick outside edge and a four. A single off the second ball to rotate the strike. A dot, then KL Rahul comes down and hits the first six of the match. Launches over long on, hitting with the spin. Two dots to end the over. 11 runs from it. IND - 55/0 (10). Rohit - 21; Rahul - 32.
2:09 PM IST: Bowling change. Keemo Paul, right-arm fast-medium bowler, on. Two singles, then two dots. Then another couple of singles. Four runs from the over. IND - 44/0 (9). Rohit - 16; Rahul - 26.
2:05 PM IST: Jason Holder continues. Five dots then Rohit Sharma plays the fifth ball to mid-wicket for a double. Holder is brilliant today. 0/13 from his four overs so far. IND - 40/0 (8). Rohit - 14; Rahul - 24.
2:01 PM IST: Bowling change. Khary Pierre, left-arm spinner, on. A single to Rohit Sharma, then a dot, followed by singles. Five runs from the debutant's first over. Every time, Rohit and Rahul go past the 30-run mark in the opening stand, they make it big -- 136 vs Pakistan at Manchester, 180 vs Bangladesh at Edgbaston and 189 vs Sri Lanka at Leeds. IND - 38/0 (7). Rohit - 12; Rahul - 24.
1:58 PM IST: Jason Holder on with his third over. Five dots, then a six off the last ball. Short and wide, and KL Rahul brilliantly executes an uppercut shot over backward point for the maximum. IND - 33/0 (6). Rohit - 9; Rahul - 22.
1:53 PM IST: Sheldon Cottrell on with his third over. A dot, then KL Rahul plays a beautiful shot for a four through cover. Stand and deliver. A gentle punch and it races away. A dot, and another four, this time slashing past point. Rahul takes single, to third man, to rotate the strike. A dot to Rohit Sharma. Nine runs from the over. IND - 27/0 (5). Rohit - 9; Rahul - 16.
1:49 PM IST: Jason Holder continues. Two dot balls to Rohit Sharma, then a single to backward point. In the air, and beats a diving Pierre. KL Rahul gets a single off the next ball, past Pollard at wide slip. Two dots to end the over. Two runs from the over. IND - 18/0 (4). Rohit - 9; Rahul - 7.
1:45 PM IST: Sheldon Cottrell continues. Rohit Sharma hits the first ball for a four, to deep fine leg. Picking the length early and playing a pull shot with control. Three dots, then a single to square leg. KL Rahul guides the last ball for a four to third man. He's lucky though. Looking to drive, but ends of getting a thick edge. Nine runs from the over. IND - 16/0 (3). Rohit - 8; Rahul - 6.
1:41 PM IST: Jason Holder shares the new ball. KL Rahul takes a single off the first ball, to third man. Another single as Rohit Sharma, to the same area. A dot then a single to short third man. One leg bye as the ball hurries into Rohit, on the leg stump line. Rahul leaves the last ball. Four runs from the over. IND - 7/0 (2). Rohit 3; Rahul - 2.
1:36 PM IST: Sheldon Cottrell starts with a dot to Rohit Sharma. A wide followed, then a double off the fifth ball, to deep extra cover. good timing, just a little punch. Three runs from the over.
1:30 PM IST: Rohit Sharma to face the first ball. His opening partner is KL Rahul. They will be well aware that India are staring at the fifth successive home defeat in ODIs. Sheldon Cottrell gets the new ball.
1:29 PM IST: Players are out. First ball next.
1:28 PM IST: A minute's silence for Basil Butcher, who died at 86 on Monday. The former Windies opener played 44 Tests between 1958 and 1969.
1:18 PM IST: At the toss, Kieron Pollard said that they "have forgotten what has happened in the last couple of days and started 0-0." That's heartening. Virat Kohli, who loves to score big here, it's India's "responsibility to bring that intensity into the game and in a do or die game they have to stand up." Also about the change, "adding an extra seamer gives us a more balanced bowling attack and not be one dimensional," he said.
1:09 PM IST: India made one change. Shivam Dube is replaced by Shardul Thakur.
Playing XI: Rohit Sharma, Lokesh Rahul, Virat Kohli (c), Shreyas Iyer, Rishabh Pant (wk), Kedar Jadhav, Ravindra Jadeja, Deepak Chahar, Mohammed Shami, Shardul Thakur, Kuldeep Yadav
1:05 PM IST: Windies have two changes. Evin Lewis and Khary Pierre for Sunil Ambris and Hayden Walsh respectively. Pierre is making his ODI debut today.
Playing XI: Shai Hope (wk), Evin Lewis, Shimron Hetmyer, Nicholas Pooran, Roston Chase, Kieron Pollard (c), Jason Holder, Keemo Paul, Alzarri Joseph, Sheldon Cottrell, Khary Pierre
1:02 PM IST: Kieron Pollard wins the toss again and will bowl first.
With the next ODI World Cup still a four-year cycle away, not many would care about bilateral series. But India, ranked second in ODIs, can't afford to lose one -- at home, against a lower-ranked team. After all, cricket is like a religion in India, no matter how ridiculous it sounds in the present context.
Anyway, India now need to beat the Windies to save the ODI series. But it's a tough ask. Windies have been in India for some time and they have not only acclimatised but also started liking everything that is Indian, especially the bowling attack, which is regarded as the best in the world, ironically. And we might just see another round of carnage at Vizag today.
The chances of Windies batsmen thrashing Indian bowlers at Vizag are high. Just look at the four matches played so far - 207/5 in the first T20I, 173/2 in the second T20I, 173/3 in the third T20I and 291/2 in the first ODI. So, the onus is on Indian batsmen. Call it fighting fire with fire. How many times have you seen the Indian cricket team batted out in recent times? Certainly, something is happening.
Squads:
India: Virat Kohli (c), Rohit Sharma (v-c), Mayank Agarwal, KL Rahul, Shreyas Iyer, Manish Pandey, Rishabh Pant (wk), Shivam Dube, Kedar Jadhav, Ravindra Jadeja, Yuzvendra Chahal, Kuldeep Yadav, Deepak Chahar, Mohammed Shami, Shardul Thakur
West Indies: Sunil Ambris, Shai Hope, Khary Pierre, Roston Chase, Alzarri Joseph, Kieron Pollard (c), Sheldon Cottrell, Brandon King, Nicholas Pooran (wk), Shimron Hetmyer, Evin Lewis, Romario Shepherd, Jason Holder, Keemo Paul, Hayden Walsh Jr.
Ravindra Jadeja continues. Nicholas Pooran hits the first ball for a six, over deep mid-wicket. Two dots, then a clean hit for a six over long-on. A dot then a four. 16 runs from the over. WI - 161/3 (26). Hope - 70; Pooran - 47. They need 227 runs. 61 in the last five overs and the fourth-wicket stand is now worth 75 off 60.
