Windies Can Beat Any Team On A Given Day: Virat Kohli

Virat Kohli once again led from the front, scoring 107 but lack of support from the other end saw his effort go in vain. Chasing 284, India were all out for 240 in the third game against Windies.

India began their chase on a poor note as the openers failed to provide a good start once again. In-form Rohit Sharma was out for just 8 before Kohli and Shikhar Dhawan added 79 runs to bring the chase on track.

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 game, Shai Hope fell just five short of his second consecutive century in the series as Windies piled up 283 for 9 in the allotted 50 overs. Windies were looking in deep trouble after being reduced to 55 for 3 in the 14th over.

However,  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.

Speaking after the game, Kohli said:

“We bowled pretty well. I think the wicket was not offering much in the first 35 overs. From 227 for 8 we should have been chasing 250-260 at the maximum. It was a pretty gettable total. we did not get the partnerships going. In the field we were fine. This Windies side is an explosive side and they can beat any team on a given day.”