Manchester, June 27: India continued their unbeaten run in the ICC World Cup 2019 as they hammered West Indies by a whopping margin of 125 runs at Old Trafford on Thursday (June 27).
Virat Kohli (72) once again led from the front and played yet another crucial knock, though he missed out on other well-deserved century. MS Dhoni (56*) and Hardik Pandya (46) stitched a solid partnership lower down the order and ensured their team posts a respectable 268/7 in the stipulated 50 overs on a dual-pace pitch.
India's middle order once again looked unsettled and remains an area of concern for the team management before they take on England in their next game. But it was India's dominance in the bowling department that once again won them this game quite convincingly.
India's pacers Mohammed Shami (4/16) and Jasprit Bumrah (2/9) once again proved why they are the most lethal pace attack in the world as they prevented dangerous West Indies opener Chris Gayle from firing.
India's writ-spin twins Yuzvendra Chahal (2/39) and Kuldeep Yadav (1/35) once again proved clinical in the middle over and so was Hardik Pandya (1/28) as West Indies were folded for 143 in 34.2 overs.
Here's how the match between India and West Indies panned out:
Virat Kohli, India captain: (MS) Dhoni knows exactly what he wants to do in the middle. When he has an off day here and there, everyone starts talking. We always back him. He has won us so many games. The best thing about having someone like him is when you need those 15-20 runs, he knows exactly how to get them. His experience, 8 out of 10 times has come good for us. We have quite a few players who play instinctive cricket and follow their game plans. He's such a keen understanding of the game. Always sends us feedback, that you know 260 is a good score. He's a legend of the game. We all know that. Just hope he can continue. Last two games, things haven't gone like we thought they would. These haven't been massive scoring games. But we've found ways of winning. Intensity has been the standout thing for me. Mindset really matters. Nothing is impossible. We feel we can win from any situation.
Jason Holder, WI captain: Thought the bowlers did a fantastic job on this surface. Just let ourselves down with the bat. In hindsight, Dhoni's (stumping) miss a crucial moment we didn't seize. Let ourselves down significantly in this tournament. Missed a few chances in the field which cost us. Batting was too inconsistent. Can't fault the bowlers. Need to improve. Probably our weakest format, this. Kemar Roach was outstanding today. Youngsters have chipped in here and there. Bowlers had a reasonable campaign. Can't fault their efforts. Fielding, definitely has to improve. So does the batting.
Virat Kohli(Man of the Match): I can't complain, we just became no. 1 yesterday as far as rankings are concerned, to be honest, we are playing that way for a while, need to continue that way. Things haven't gone our way with the bat in the last two games, but we have still done well to win, that's being the most pleasing thing. Happy with my own contribution as well. We were in a similar situation today (150 odd for 4), but getting to 270 was crucial. Last game, we didn't calculate well, we lost two quick wickets, but today we improved, Hardik played really well and MS finished strongly. When those two play in that way, we always get to a good total. To get to 270 was good, that put pressure on their batting and was very very difficult to chase. I don't need to tell anything to my batsmen, they have to adjust according to their strengths and weaknesses and play according to the pitch. That's my game plan, I look to play in my own way, happy to take the ones and twos which I think is a big factor in ODI cricket. Two difficult pitches, I'm happy with my contribution and look forward to doing more of the same in the future.
Virat Kohli has been named the Man of the Match for his composed knock of 72 off 82.
Virat Kohli is the first Indian captain to win his first five matches in the World Cup.#INDvWI #INDvsWI #CWC19
— Rajneesh Gupta (@rgcricket) June 27, 2019
It's all over!! Rohit catches Thomas at slip off Shami. Clinical Team India (268/7) have hammered West Indies (143-all out) by 125 runs. Comprehensive win from Team India and they have climbed at 2nd spot in the points table. With this loss, West Indies becomes the third team after South Africa and Afghanistan to be knocked out of the semi-final race.
West Indies now becomes the 3rd side after Afg & SAf to be out of the reckoning for the #CWC19 SF spot.
— Mohandas Menon (@mohanstatsman) June 27, 2019
This means since winning b2b titles in 1975/1979 and reaching #CWC final in 1983, WI, in last 9 editions, has managed to reach SFs just once-in 1996!#CWC2019#IndvsWI#IndvWI
Jasprit Bumrah's bowling effort in this match.
Jasprit Bumrah's 2/9 in six overs so far today ⬇️
— ICC (@ICC) June 27, 2019
1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 1 0 0 1 0 0 0 1 1 0 4B 0 0 0 0 0 2 1 0 0 W W 0 0 0 0#CWC19 | #WIvIND | #MenInMaroon | #TeamIndia pic.twitter.com/Th8Jymq4LJ
Dropped! KL Rahul fails to catch a tough one in the deep mid-wicket and Thomas survives. It should have been taken. Windies' innings would have been wrapped up. WI - 129/9 in 32 overs.
Not Out! Oshane Thomas survives as the catch at first slip by Rohit wasn't clean. India still need one wicket to win this one.
Wicket! Yuzvendra Chahal traps Cottrell (10) in front with a googly. Good comeback from the spinner after getting hit for a four and six on the previous deliveries. Windies are 124/9 in 29.5 overs.
Another Wicket! Shami gets his third as Shimron Hetmyer (18) plays directly in the hands of KL Rahul at the point region. Windies batting continues to collapse. WI - 112/8 in 28.3 overs.
Kemar Roach defends the Hat-trick delivery from Bumrah. It was a slower one from Bumrah.
Wicket! Jasprit Bumrah 🔥🔥 traps Fabian Allen in front for a golden duck. Batsman goes upstairs but it turned out to be 'umpire's call'. He has to depart. WI - 107/7 in 26.2 overs. Boom-Boom on a Hat-trick!!
WICKET!! MS Dhoni takes a stunner with a single hand to end Brathwaite's knock for 1. Jasprit Bumrah gets his first wicket. Dhoni can do nothing wrong today. WI - 107/6 in 26.1 overs.
Wicket! Yuzvendra Chahal too joins the party as he gets his first wicket in the match. Windies captain Jason Holder (6) gives a simple catch to Kedar Jadhav at covers. WI - 98/5 in 23.5 overs.
Batsmen are the big stars in Indian cricket, but the bowlers have been marvellous and have had a bigger contribution in the team’s success — across formats — in recent times
— Cricketwallah (@cricketwallah) June 27, 2019
Wicket! Nicholas Pooran (28) joins his batting partner Sunil Ambris back into the pavilion as looks to clear Kuldeep over long-off, fails to clear it & Shami takes a simple catch in the deep. It was bowled at a speed of 72 kmph and it did the trick. This is first wicket for Kuldeep in this match. WI - 80/4 in 20.2 overs.
Kedar Jadhav has been introduced into the attack as two left-handed batsmen are present into the middle.
Not Out! Shimron Hetmyer (0) given LBW off Kuldeep Yadav. He goes upstairs immediately and the ultra-edge showed the ball hit the bat first. DRS comes to the rescue. WI - 75/3 in 19 overs.
Four & Wicket!! Sunil Ambris (31) hits Pandya for a boundary on the previous delivery but gets trapped in front on the next delivery. Hardik breaks the fifty-plus partnership. WI - 71/3 in 18 overs.
Four! Nicholas Pooran pulls and gets a boundary on the first ball bowled by Hardik Pandya. This is the first sign of positive intent from the batsman.
West Indies are 50/2 after 15 overs. Pooran - 14 & Ambris - 19 have added 34 runs between them. WI are looking to revive themselves slowly. Indian bowlers have kept them silent so far.
Kuldeep Yadav has been brought into the attack in the 11th over.
After 10 overs, West Indies reach 29/2. Sunil Ambris - 10* & Nicholas Pooran - 4* are present into the middle and looking to revive their team.
This is how Shami set up Hope!
Shami set up Hope beautifully in his last over. He bowled three dots in a similar area, short of a good length, before firing in a fuller delivery that deviated 2.2° off the pitch and snuck through Hope's defences. #CWC19 #WIvInd pic.twitter.com/58A7Jj4ne9
— The CricViz Analyst (@cricvizanalyst) June 27, 2019
Harsha Bhogle praises Shami's spell.
Just like you go into ecstacy over a great cover drive so must you over the ball that got Hope out. This spell by Shami is of the highest class
— Harsha Bhogle (@bhogleharsha) June 27, 2019
Excellent stuff from Shami!!
Brilliant opening spell by Shami: shortish delivery which got big on Gayle and got him to miscue, Hope castled by a snorting yorker, two of West Indies’s best batsmen gone with very few on the board. In this form, Shami will be hard to omit from the playing XI!
— Cricketwallah (@cricketwallah) June 27, 2019
BOWLED!! Shami on 🔥🔥 as he ends Shai Hope's (5) inning with a beauty. In-swinging delivery and there was a gap between bat-pad and the ball breached it to hit the woodwork. WI - 16/2 in 6.5 overs.
Great stuff from @MdShami11 🔥🔥🔥🇮🇳
— Harbhajan Turbanator (@harbhajan_singh) June 27, 2019
After 5 overs, West Indies are 10/1. Sunil Ambris (4) and Shai Hope (0) are present into the middle.
Big Wicket! Chris Gayle (6) is surprised by the short-pitched bouncer from Shami and gives a simple catch to Jadhav at mid-on. Shami strikes early. WI - 10/1 in 4.5 overs.
West Indies - 9/0 after 4 overs. Gayle and Ambris are batting cautiously at the moment as both the strike pacers have maintained a tight line and length.
Shami has begun well with the new ball.
@MdShami11 finding good rhythm straightaway. it is all about confidence and of course, if a hattrick doesn't provide a fillip for a bowler, what else will? #CWC19 #INDvWI
— wv raman (@wvraman) June 27, 2019