[UPDATED]: Sloppy bowling costs Windies series as India lead 2-0

West Indies captain Nicholas Pooran plays a shot during the second one day international match against India, at the Queen's Park Oval, St Clair, on Sunday. - Sureash Cholai
West Indies captain Nicholas Pooran plays a shot during the second one day international match against India, at the Queen's Park Oval, St Clair, on Sunday. - Sureash Cholai

INDIA completed a record run-chase at the Queen’s Park Oval, St Clair on Sunday to defeat the West Indies by two wickets, to take an unassailable 2-0 lead in the three-match One Day International (ODI) series.

Set a victory target of 312, left-handed all-rounder Axar Patel struck an unbeaten 64 off 35 balls, with three fours and five sixes (his final six, over the head of bowler Kyle Mayers, sealed the deal), as India reached 312 runs for the loss of eight wickets, with two balls to spare.

This was the first time a team scored over 300 runs to win an ODI at the Queen’s Park Oval but, on the flip side, this defeat was the West Indies’ eighth in a row, in ODIs.

Patel, known for his left-arm spin, came to the crease with India on 205/5 in the 39th over and featured in a 51-run stand for the sixth wicket with Deepak Hooda.

Patel lost his partners Hooda, Shardul Thakur and debutant Avesh Khan in the space of five overs; Khan fell on the final ball of the penultimate over.

India needed eight runs to win and WI captain Nicholas Pooran entrusted pacer Mayers with the final over. Patel got a single off the second ball, and Mohammed Siraj got another single, to deep cover, off the third.

However, Mayers served up a full toss, which was duly dispatched by Patel, to spark wild celebrations in the India team’s technical area.

During the post-game media interview, Pooran said, “In the last couple overs, we didn’t hold our nerves. Congrats to India, they stuck in there and got over the line. In saying that, the last six overs, we lost the game.”

After a brief stoppage for rain, in the tenth over, Mayers tilted the balance in West Indies’ favour, as he had in a hand in the first three Indian wickets.

The all-rounder leapt at full stretch to hold a catch off captain Shikhar Dhawan (13), then he accepted a return catch from Shubman Gill (43) and forced Suryakumar Yadav (nine) to chop a ball onto his stumps, to leave India struggling on 79/3.

Shreyas Iyer (63 of 71 balls with four fours and a six) and Sanju Samson (54 off 51 balls with three fours and three sixes) were involved in a 99-run partnership for the fourth wicket before fast bowler Alzarri Joseph trapped Iyer leg-before.

India skipper Shikhar Dhawan looks to play a shot against the West Indies during the second ODI, at the Queen’s Park Oval, St Clair, on Sunday. - Sureash Cholai

Samson was run out shortly afterwards, as he failed to beat a throw from Mayers to Romario Shepherd at the bowler’s end. Patel stayed firm, and feasted on loose bowling from Shepherd and Joseph, before sealing the deal, under fading light.

Asked about his bowling changes in the final powerplay, Pooran replied, “We had to gamble and bowl Akeal to the left-hander (Patel). It didn’t work out for us today. We just needed one wicket to seal off the game but Axar played well.”

For the West Indies, Joseph got two wickets for 46 runs and Mayers 2/48.

Earlier, Shai Hope became the fourth West Indian batsman to score a century in his 100th One Day International (ODI) and Pooran struck a vital half-century as the West Indies posted 311 runs for the loss of six wickets.

Hope joined Sir Gordon Greenidge, Chris Gayle and Ramnaresh Sarwan on the list of WI century-makers in their 100th ODI when he lifted leg-spinner Yuzvendra Chahal for a six over long-off; his hundred came off 125 deliveries and included eight fours and two sixes.

Hope was eventually dismissed for 115 (135 balls, eight fours and three sixes), while Pooran contributed 74 (77 balls, six sixes and a four).

Pooran hailed the contribution of Hope, saying, “He’ll go down in the history books and it’s very impressive.”

There were useful contributions from opener Mayers (39) and Shamarh Brooks (35).

Medium pacer Shardul Thakur got three wickets for 54 runs for India.

India won the first ODI by three runs on Friday. The third and final ODI in the series will take place on Wednesday, at the Queen’s Park Oval.

This story was originally published with the title "India complete record run-chase to defeat WI in 2nd ODI" and has been adjusted to include additional details. See original post below.

INDIA completed a record run-chase at the Queen’s Park Oval, St Clair on Sunday to defeat the West Indies by two wickets, to take an unassailable 2-0 lead in the three-match One Day International (ODI) series.

Set a victory target of 312, left-handed all-rounder Axar Patel struck an unbeaten 64 off 35 balls, with three fours and five sixes (his final six, over the head of bowler Kyle Mayers, sealed the deal), as India reached 312 runs for the loss of eight wickets, with two balls to spare.

This was the first time a team scored over 300 runs to win an ODI at the Queen’s Park Oval but, on the flip side, this defeat was the West Indies’ eighth in a row, in ODIs.

India also got useful scores of 63 from Shreyas Iyer and 54 from Sanju Samson while, for the West Indies, fast bowler Alzarri Joseph got two wickets for 46 runs and Mayers 2/48.

Earlier, Shai Hope became the fourth West Indian batsman to score a century in his 100th One Day International (ODI) and his captain Nicholas Pooran struck a vital half-century as the West Indies posted 311 runs for the loss of six wickets.

Hope joined Sir Gordon Greenidge, Chris Gayle and Ramnaresh Sarwan on the list of WI century-makers in their 100th ODI when he lifted leg-spinner Yuzvendra Chahal for a six over long-off; his hundred came off 125 deliveries and included eight fours and two sixes.

Hope was eventually dismissed for 115, while Pooran contributed 74. Medium pacer Shardul Thakur got three wickets for 54 runs for India.

India won the first ODI by three runs on Friday. The third and final ODI in the series will take place on Wednesday, at the Queen’s Park Oval.

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"[UPDATED]: Sloppy bowling costs Windies series as India lead 2-0"

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