Skipper Virat Kohli (140) and his deputy Rohit Sharma (152*) scored century each as India crushed West Indies by 8 wickets in the first ODI at Guwahati.
Chasing 323, India lost Shikhar Dhawan for just 10. But containing the Indian batsmen on a flat track was going to be a herculean task for West Indies and Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli proved it right. While Rohit looked cautious early on, Kohli batted in top gear right from the start. India crossed the 50-run mark in just the 8th over while Kohli reached his fifty off just 36 balls.
FIFTY!@imVkohli brings up his 49th half-century in ODIs ??@Paytm #INDvWI pic.twitter.com/hiS0BYuz9Z
— BCCI (@BCCI) October 21, 2018
Rohit, on the other hand, reached his fifty off 51 balls. The right-hander shifted gears after surpassing the fifty run-mark while Kohli continued to bat in the same manner. Consequently, he reached his century off 88 balls. Rohit joined the century club too.
West Indies finally managed a breakthrough when Devendra Bishoo dismissed Kohli for 140 to end the mammoth 246-run stand.
Rohit Sharma and Ambati Rayudu then shared an unbeaten stand to take the team home with ease.
Unstoppable! ODI century number 36 for @imVkohli! ?
It's his fifth against the West Indies and his fourth of 2018! #INDvWI pic.twitter.com/VjJDTHvVrb
— ICC (@ICC) October 21, 2018
Earlier in the game, a stunning century from Shimron Hetmyer propelled West Indies to a competitive 322 for 8. Asked to bat first, the visitors were off to a poor start. Debutant Chandrapaul Hemraj departed after scoring just nine. However, Kieran Powell, who had an average of 12 in his past 12 innings, held firm from one end.
Powell began the proceedings with a fine cover drive off Mohammed Shami. On the other end, Shai Hope was struggling to get going. But Powell made sure that the scoreboard moves on with a healthy rate. He and Hope added 65 runs to lay the foundation for a good total. Powell reached his half-century in only 36 balls but threw his wicket away soon after. Looking to clear the boundary, he mistimed and holed out to Shikhar Dhawan at long on.
The breakthrough allowed India to tighten the grip for a while. Veteran batsman Marlon Samuels, playing his 200th ODI, was out for a two-ball duck. Hope also returned to the pavilion soon as West Indies were four down for 114. But from thereon, Hetmyer took the onus on himself to guide his side to a good total. The left-hander faced little trouble against the pacers as well as the spinners.
He shared fifty-plus stands with Rovman Powell and Jason Holder to steady the ship. It took Hetmyer only 41 balls to reach his fifty and 33 more balls to reach his 3rd century in 13 games. He eventually fell for 106 off just 78 balls. The knock contained 6 fours and as many sixes.
Congratulations to Shimron Hetmyer for making his third century in just 13 ODIs for the Windies! ?
He reaches his ton off just 74 balls, brought up in style with a six! ? #INDvWI pic.twitter.com/U57lw4L6TB
— ICC (@ICC) October 21, 2018
Devendra Bishoo and Kemar Roach then took the side past the 300-run mark with an unbeaten 43-run stand.
Here is how Twitter reacted to the match:
What a partnership it was from the ICC ODI world rank number 1 and 2! When these two play together there's no stopping them! Two great centuries and one massive partnership! @ImRo45 @imVkohli #INDvWI
— Harbhajan Turbanator (@harbhajan_singh) October 21, 2018
Watching @imVkohli and @ImRo45 at the crease makes batting look so effortless; but I know hard these 2 players work at their game #masterclass @BCCI #INDvWI
— Jonty Rhodes (@JontyRhodes8) October 21, 2018
No pair as destructive in ODIs as Virat-Rohit, shredding the Windies attack, with as much ease and nonchalance as men scything through daisies. And watching them batting in tandem such pure joy #IndvsWI
— Vikrant Gupta (@vikrantgupta73) October 21, 2018
Kohli playing as if he spent last two weeks reading make rohit india captain tweets.
— ⚰️? (@The_Sleigher) October 21, 2018
https://twitter.com/Dhawanswarrior/status/1053989799969796097
Rohit & Kohli greatest ODI batting partnership of all time & there is nothing nostalgia enthusiasts can do about it.
— ⚰️? (@The_Sleigher) October 21, 2018
– 36th ODI century in 204 innings for Virat Kohli
– Sachin Tendulkar reached his 36th century in 311 innings (in Nov 2003)#IndvWI#IndvsWI— Mohandas Menon (@mohanstatsman) October 21, 2018
Where are the warriors of ‘Make Rohit Sharma Captain’ campaign gone? Bhai logo, bhandara kha rahe ho ya bill mein chhup kar baith gaye? Chalo bahar aa jao, koi kuch nahin kahega. #MakeRohitIndianCaptain LOL
— Ra_Bies 2.0 (@Ra_Bies) October 21, 2018
Kohli in the mood to chase this down alone. #INDvWI
— Shubh Aggarwal (@shubh_chintak) October 21, 2018
Look how Rohit Sharma is controlling his talent so that he shouldn't look like overshadowing his captain Virat Kohli. Perfect team player. What a man! Legend!
— Keh Ke Peheno (@coolfunnytshirt) October 21, 2018
Virat Kohli has now scored over 2,000 international runs for a third successive calendar year.
?#INDvWI pic.twitter.com/M6CT2jkaR7
— bet365 (@bet365) October 21, 2018
Virat Kohli showing Oshame Thomas that international cricket isn't easy. #INDvWI
— Shubh Aggarwal (@shubh_chintak) October 21, 2018
Chasing 323 wont be easy for India. Have to keep up with the run rate as well as preserve wickets. Dhawan’s early wicket is major setback
— Cricketwallah (@cricketwallah) October 21, 2018
"Abey 400 run padne wale the, tune bacha liya Jaddu" https://t.co/yv1csfhbIe
— Shubh Aggarwal (@shubh_chintak) October 21, 2018
Thrilling century by Hetmyer! India missing his nemesis Kuldeep Yadav but nothing takes away from the batsman’s strokeful knock. Do I detect a crease of worry on Kohli’s forehead?
— Cricketwallah (@cricketwallah) October 21, 2018
Love it when young players arrive on the international scene with a bang … 21 yr old Shimron Hetmyer looks a player … 106 off 78 balls … & what a name … #LoveIt #INDvsWI
— Michael Vaughan (@MichaelVaughan) October 21, 2018
Shami, Jadeja showing why they were dropped.
— Nikhil ? (@CricCrazyNIKS) October 21, 2018
https://twitter.com/Man_isssh/status/1053925573255290881