Windies overcame yet another century from Virat Kohli to beat India by 43 runs in the third ODI and level the five-match series 1-1.
Chasing 284, India were off to yet another poor start with Jason Holder castling Rohit Sharma for just 8. However, Shikhar Dhawan and Virat Kohli steadied the ship and revived the chase with a 79-run stand before Ashley Nurse broke the stand by dismissing Dhawan for 35.
Kohli, who scored centuries in the first two games, soon went on to reach his fifty while his partners kept on deserting him from the other end. The likes of Ambati Rayudu (22) and Rishabh Pant (24) got the starts but failed to convert. On the other hand, MS Dhoni’s (7) woes with the bat continued as India found themselves five down for 194.
But Kohli kept on going strong and soon scored his third century of the series to keep India in hunt. But the game turned on its head when Marlon Samuels dismissed Virat Kohli for 107 to reduce India to 220 for 7. India were eventually all out for 240.
Earlier in the match, Shai Hope once again top-scored for his side to help them recover from a shaky start and put up a challenging 283 for 9. Returning Jasprit Bumrah, who took 4 for 35, was perhaps the difference as India stopped the Windies from crossing the 300-run mark for the third game in a row. He also stopped Hope from scoring hundreds in consecutive games by castling him with a yorker for 95.
Asked to bat first, Windies openers once again failed to give the team a good start. Chandrapaul Hemraj was out for 15 after MS Dhoni took a stunning diving catch running backwards. Kieran Powell also failed to score big, falling for just 21 as Windies found them 2 down for 38.
Khaleel Ahmed then accounted for Malon Samuels to reduce the visitors to 55 for 3 in the 14th over. Hope then found a good partner in Shimron Hetmyer as the two steadied the ship by adding 56 runs in 45 deliveries for the fourth wicket. It ended when Hetmyer’s failed slog-sweep attempt resulted in stumping.
Rovman Powell then fell cheaply as Windies found themselves reeling at 121 for 5. Hope and Jason Holder stopped the rot for a while by adding 75 runs for the sixth wicket.
Any hopes of getting close to 300 was looking bleak when Hope became the eighth wicket to fall with 227 runs on the board. However, Ashley Nurse slammed 40 off just 22 balls to take his team to a challenging 283.
Here is how Twitter reacted to the match:
38 Tons in 206 ODI innings is ridiculous ….. 🐐 #Fact
— Michael Vaughan (@MichaelVaughan) October 27, 2018
KOHLI ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 100 no-38 first indian batsman to score 3 hundreds in a row… take a bow champion #KingKohli #IndVsWI
— Harbhajan Turbanator (@harbhajan_singh) October 27, 2018
It just keeps getting better and better from @imVkohli Congratulations
— Russel Arnold (@RusselArnold69) October 27, 2018
I was so wrong when I wanted Virat Kohli to rest during this ODI series. India might be trailing 3-0 and would have lost the series by now. #INDvWI
— Shubh AggarWall (@shubh_chintak) October 27, 2018
I have seen machines of many kinds. But hardly a century machine like Virat Kohli. We are seeing a magnificent phase of batsmanship.
— Harsha Bhogle (@bhogleharsha) October 27, 2018
Virat approaching ANOTHER 100.
Nothing better to watch!
Come on, buddy!
— Kevin Pietersen🦏 (@KP24) October 27, 2018
Kohli is out so finally Ravi Shastri can break his #KarwaChauth #IndvWI
— Bollywood Gandu (@BollywoodGandu) October 27, 2018
Virat Kohli's five of eight dismissals in this year in ODIs have come against spinners.
His last five dismissals in ODIs have come against spinners.#INDvWI— Umang Pabari (@UPStatsman) October 27, 2018
Virat Kohli has now aggregated 995 runs in his last 10 ODI innings, which is the highest run-aggregate for ANY player across ANY span of 10 innings in the game's history.#INDvWI
— Rajneesh Gupta (@rgcricket) October 27, 2018
This westindies are very good . one or two players ( Gayle , pollard , russel , narine ) and this team will be team to beat #IndvWI
— Amit Jha (@moterwala11) October 27, 2018
Virat Kohli has become first player in ODI history to score three consecutive 100s as captain. #KingKohli
— Mazher Arshad (@MazherArshad) October 27, 2018
Where are those ultra legends, who once said Kohli needs to rest for the ODI’s vs. WI?
Can you imagine what could have happened?#INDvWI
— Prajakta Bhawsar (@18prajakta) October 27, 2018
The long tail being exposed. Brilliant from the Windies today and despite Kohli’s third 100 in a row, this is a good reaity check for India #IndvWI
— Mohammad Kaif (@MohammadKaif) October 27, 2018
In any other instance, Virat Kohli would have ran two after hitting the ball into the gap. But he was focussed on keeping the strike for the next over instead of getting to his century at that instant. Brilliant.#INDvWI
— Vinayakk (@vinayakkm) October 27, 2018
Jasprit Bumrah has just bowled the first maiden of this series #IndvWI
— Mohandas Menon (@mohanstatsman) October 27, 2018
His action speaks! @msdhoni replied to Selectors! Baby I m SuperMan… what a catch! Nobody can replace you! #MSDhoni #INDvWIN pic.twitter.com/1jlQKxP4Pt
— Manveer Gurjar (@imanveergurjar) October 27, 2018
MS Dhoni, is still the best keeper in the world. So quick off the mark (Hemraj’s catch a prime example) & lightening quick to take the bails off (Hetmyer’s wicket)…and is 37! 👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽
— Lisa Sthalekar (@sthalekar93) October 27, 2018
Virat Kohli wins the toss to decide whether he will score a century while batting first or while chasing target.
— Keh Ke Peheno (@coolfunnytshirt) October 27, 2018
