2nd ODI: Axar Patel 64 not out helps India take 2-0 unassailable lead over West Indies
India Today
India tour of West Indies: Axar Patel played a gem of a knock to help India chase down a 312-run target in the second ODI and take a 2-0 unbeatable series lead over West Indies on Sunday.
Axar Patel emerged as India's unlikely hero with the bat as the left-arm spinner hit an unbeaten 64 to help the visitors gun down a 312-run target in a thriller in the 2nd ODI of a 3-match series against West Indies in Trinidad on Sunday.
The win has also guaranteed India's 12th consecutive bilateral series win against the West Indies and fifth consecutive bilateral ODI series win in the Caribbean.
WI vs IND, 2nd ODI: Highlights
Chasing 312 to win, India 32 needed from 24 balls when Axar slammed two consecutive fours off Romario Shepherd to bring up his fifty off just 27 balls. Avesh Khan, too, hit a boundary in the same over as India collected 13 from the 47th. Alzarri Joseph followed it up with a four-run 48th over.
With the equation now down to 15 off 12, Jayden Seales conceded just seven and picked up the wicket of Avesh. Kyle Mayers, bowling the final over in an LOI for the first time, had 8 runs to play with. He went for two off the first three before Axar sealed the deal with a six off the fourth ball.
Shikhar Dhawan fell on the final ball of the 11th over for 31-ball 13. Shubman Gill scored43 runs, while Suryakumar Yadav (9) failed to impress yet again. The duo of Shreyas Iyer and Sanju Samson forged an important 99-run partnership for the fourth wicket. The former scored an impressive 71-ball 63 before losing his wicket to Alzarri Joseph on the final ball of the 33rd over. Samson's maiden ODI fifty which consisted of three fours and as many sixes took India past the 200-run mark.
Earlier, West Indies rode on opener Shai Hope's magnificent 115 while skipper Nicholas Pooran's 74-run knock to post 311 for six against India in the second ODI on Sunday. Hope, who was dismissed cheaply in the first ODI, added 65 runs off 55 balls for the opening wicket with Kyle Mayers (39), before stitching another 62-run stand with Shamarh Brooks (35).
