Internet Desk: A brilliant ton from skipper Virat Kohli helped India to win the five-match ODI series 3-1 with an emphatic eight wicket victory over the Windies today.
Earlier, the hosts won the toss and choose to bat first. India’s star pacer Mohammed Shami took four wickets for the visitors as they restricted the Caribbean team on an ordinary total of 205 runs.
Another pacer Umesh Yadav backed Mohammed Shami well by picking 3 wickets for 53.
Shai Hope (51) top scored for the hosts, on the other hand his brother played a knock of 46 runs off just 50 deliveries.
Later chasing a modest total, the visitors chased down the target with an ease as skipper Kohli (111*) Mr. consistent Ajinkya Rahane (39 off 51) shared 79 runs for the second wicket in 17.5 overs to set the platform for the comfortable win.
Today’s match was a do or die match Kohli and Co. after the unexpected 11 run loss against the hosts in the low-scoring fourth ODI in Antigua.
But the skipper was in a mood of destruction as he led India’s chase with his 28th ODI ton that came off 115 deliveries and he smashed 12 boundaries and two huge sixes in that innings.
Besides the early dismissal of Shikhar Dhawan, the Indians were in complete control of the chase.
In the pursuit of the target, India lost Dhawan in the last delivery of the opening over, caught by Evin Lewis off Alzarri Joseph.
But thereafter, it was Kohli and Rahane’s show as the duo dominated the proceedings with consummate ease.
While ever-consistent Rahane played the second fiddle, Kohli played with aggression from the onset.
But Rahane was unlucky to miss out on his fifth consecutive half-century of the series as he was dismissed Devendra Bishoo adjudged LBW in the 19th over. He struck five boundaries during his knock.
Kohli played a chanceless knock and dictated the terms. He showed his class and brought up his 28th ODI century, a record 18th while chasing, with a boundary of Kesrick Williams.
Together with Dinesh Karthik (50 not off 52 balls), Kohli stitched unbeaten 122 runs for the third wicket to take India home with 79 balls to spare.