Chennai, December 15: Shai Hope and Shimron Hetmyer slammed brilliant centuries and guided West Indies to a mammoth 8-wicket win over India in the opening ODI on Sunday (December 15) at the MA Chidambaram stadium here. With this win, the visitors have taken a 1-nil lead in the three-match series.
Chasing a target of 288, Hetmyer (139) and Hope (102*) were too good for the visitors as they looked the run chase look ridiculously easy as they reached home in 47.5 overs. The tourists never looked in trouble in their run chase as Hetmyer and Hope forged a massive 200-plus partnership for the second wicket and lead their team to an emphatic win.
No Indian bowler could trouble India Windies batters who made maximum use of the slow pitch and dew conditions at the Chepauk. The batting in the second innings looked easier.
Earlier in the first innings, West Indies bowlers did exceedingly well to prevent the star-studded Indian batting line-up from posting a big total after their skipper Kieron Pollard won the toss and invited Virat Kohli and his band to bat first.
Rishabh Pant (71) and Shreyas Iyer (70) were the only bright spots from India's innings as the youngsters forged a crucial partnership for the fourth wicket and steered the hosts through troubled waters. India lost the top-three KL Rahul (6), Virat Kohli (4) and Rohit Sharma (36) were dismissed cheaply.
Here's how the match between India and WI panned out:
Shimron Hetmyer, the man of the match: I don't know from where the power is coming from. I am trying to hit as hard as I can. This ton means a lot to me. The last one I had was at the start of the year and this one came at the end of the year. It always nice to have a smile on the face after the victory. It's a good feeling because the last time, I got a hundred, we lost the game.
Kieron Pollard, the winning captain: We know the talent that he has. He has been struggling a bit in the last 9 months. He has been in the team from the last 18 months. And he has a taste of international cricket. Everyone playing should be accountable and responsible for the team. With experience comes confidence and Cottrell is bowling superbly for us. (On Jadeja's run-out) At the end of the day, the right decision was made and that's the most important thing for me.
Virat Kohli, losing captain: Very good signs for us with the performances of Iyer and Pant. They went about their business in a smart manner. We thought six bowling options would be enough. I don't think pitch changed drastically, they batted brilliantly. Hetmyer's innings was outstanding. The people sitting outside cannot tell the fielder and they can't ask the umpire about reviewing the run-out. I have never seen this in cricket.
Hope: Cramping a bit, that's why I'm not smiling too much. Key is to stay as long as possible, see off the new ball, assess the situation. Key is for someone to bat deep, win the game. Pitch was a bit of the slow turner. Don't know how he (Hetmyer) did it, made batting look easy. Cricket is partnerships. As long as someone bat deeps. The way he was playing, took the pressure off.
Done and dusted! West Indies pull off a sensational run chase and hammer India by 8 wickets to take 1-0 lead in the 3-match series. This is highest successful run chase at Chepauk.
SIX & Four!! Shai Hope too brings up his century with a maximum and a boundary off Chahar. This is his 8th ODI ton.
SIX!! Shai Hope moves on to 97* with a maximum off Chahar.
West Indies need 21 off 22 deliveries.
After 44 overs, WI reach 248/2. They need 40 off 36 balls. Shai Hope - 82*, Nicolas Pooran - 6* are present in the middle.
DRS lost! Desperate review from Kuldeep to appeal Pooran's LBW, but in vain. WI - 240/2 in 42 overs.
Wicket! Shreyas Iyer takes the catch to end the brilliant knock of Shimron Hetmyer (139). Shami breaks the record partnership. WI - 229/2 in 38.4 overs
SIX, Four! Shimron Hetmyer is looking to puncture the confidence of Indian bowlers in the series opener. Debutant Shivam Dube is also receiving huge blows with the ball. WI - 223/1 in 38 overs.
A 200-run partnership between Shimron Hetmyer and Shai Hope. You don't see such mammoth partnerships against India in their own backyard. Credit to these batsmen.
SIX, SIX!! Shimron Hetmyer hits Ravindra Jadeja for back-to-back maximums. The second maximum covered a distance of 102 meters and it went outside the stadium. 200 comes up for the Windies in the run chase as well.
Dropped! Shreyas Iyer puts down a sitter in the deep and Shimron Hetmyer gets a breather on 106. India's poor fielding in this series continues. Frustration on bowler Deepak Chahar and skipper Virat Kohli's face.
💯!! Fifth ODI century from Shimron Hetmyer and second against India. This is going to be a match-defining knock for West Indies.
Absolutely top innings from Hetmyer. His ability has never been in doubt, it was organising an innings that was. And he has done that very well today.
— Harsha Bhogle (@bhogleharsha) December 15, 2019
Fifty! 15th ODI half-century from Shai Hope. This has been a fine knock from the opener as West Indies are cruising in this run chase.
Shimron Hetmyer has developed a cramp in his legs, he's seething in pain and the physio is on the pitch to attend the batsman as he nears his century.
150 up for West Indies.
SIX! Hetmyer hits Shami over mid-wicket for a maximum and enters in the 90s.
After 25 overs, West Indies are 136/1. The visitors are going at a decent pace in this run chase.
100-run partnership between Hetmyer and Hope. These two have started giving some headache to the Indian captain.
SIX, SIX!! Back-to-back maximums from Hetmyer against Ravindra Jadeja. 16 runs came from that over, Hetmyer is looking to shift gears now. WI - 113/1 after 22 overs.
Fifty comes up for Shimron Hetmyer off 50 deliveries. He continues the good form on this tour.
SIX!! Shimron Hetmyer dispatches Kuldeep Yadav deep into the stands. The left-hander batsman is showing his class.
50 up for West Indies with a boundary off Shai Hope's bat off Shivam Dube.
Another bowling change! Shivam Dube will bowl the tenth over for India. WI - 31/1 after 9 overs.
Kuldeep Yadav has been introduced in the attack in ninth over by India captain Virat Kohli.
After 5 overs, West Indies reach 12/1. They need another 277 runs to win this game.
Wicket! Deepak Chahar strikes early as he traps Sunil Ambris (9) right in front. WI - 11/1 in 4.1 overs.