Pune, Oct 27: India's middle-order muddle woes were once again exposed as a clinical West Indies team has defeated Men In Blue by 43 runs in the third one-day international (ODI) here at MCA Stadium on Sunday (October 28).
Virat Kohli slammed his career's 38th ODI century and became the first Indian batsman to slam three consecutive ODI centuries. Chasing a competitive target of 284, India were restricted to 240 in 47.4 overs. It was only the third instance when the chase master's century goes in vain.
India lost the wickets of their middle-order batsmen Ambati Rayudu (22), Rishabh Pant (24) and MS Dhoni (7) at regular intervals in the middle overs to mount pressure over hosts. Both Rayudu and Pant disappointed with the bat as they failed to convert the good start into a big partnership.
No other Indian batsman rose to the occasion in the run chase and all but Kohli could manage to post a fifty-plus total. None of the batsmen in the middle-order batted to their potential after two off the top-three batsmen i.e. Rohit Sharma (8) and Shikhar Dhawan (35) failed to contribute.
It looked like a lone-warrior effort from skipper Kohli who was dismissed for 107 in an attempt to score quickly as the tail was exposed. Kohli's dismissal was the final nail in the coffin for India as none of the recognised batsmen provided him with a support.
A hat-trick of hundreds is just an incredible feat by a special player. Well done @imVkohli. pic.twitter.com/DMc95fCPPX
— Sachin Tendulkar (@sachin_rt) October 27, 2018
Earlier, Shai Hope continued his brilliant form with the bat while Ashley Nurse played a superb cameo down the order to guide West Indies to a competitive 283/9 in the stipulated 50 overs.
After being invited to bat first by Indian Virat Kohli, Hope played another fine knock of 95 runs to guide his team to a respectable total and provide a genuine opportunity for his bowlers to defend it and level the series.
Jasprit Bumrah (4/35) and Kuldeep Yadav (2/52) were the pick of the bowlers for India after captain Kohli won his third consecutive toss in the series and opted to chase.
The two teams will now face each other at Brabourne Stadium in Mumbai on Monday (October 29) and whosoever wins it will take a lead in the series.
As it happened:
Ashley Nurse has been named the man of the match for his all round performance with the bat (40 off 22) and ball (2/43).
Jason Holder: Credit to the boys. We hung in the game for as long as possible. I should have gone deeper. Something to learn there. We hung in there. They were probably a batter short. We knew if we remove Dhoni, we could get in to their lower order. He is a competitor. I know what to expect from him. He keeps it tight and gives us wickets at regular intervals. The guys are learning better. We just need to be consistent. We need to buck up more. If you want to be one of the best team, you have to be consistent in all aspects of the game.
Shai Hope: I am becoming more consistent, so I am pleased. We lost wickets at some crucial stages so I had to put up my hand up and bat through the innings. My aim was to bat as deep as possible. My preparation is same. I haven't changed anything from the Test series.
Kohli on defeat: 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. Look when Hardik and Kedar both play, we get the extra option. When someone like Hardik is not playing, who gives you both bowling and batting option, it is difficult to get the balance.
It's all over! India have been bundled out for 240 in 47.4 overs. Jasprit Bumrah has been dismissed for duck and Marlon Samuels returns with 3 wickets, including the big fish of Kohli. WI have levelled the 5-match series with a 43-run win.
Wicket No. 9 perishes! Khaleel Ahmed (3) has been stumped by Shai Hope and India are 237/9 in 46 overs.
After 45 overs, India have reached 230/8.
A wake-up call for India!
This is a wake-up call for India and will force a relook at team balance. As I have long argued, India have to find a way to have 6 bowling and 8 batting options. That means a keeper and two all-rounders at 6/7/8.
— Harsha Bhogle (@bhogleharsha) October 27, 2018
Wicket! Chahal too departs. He's back into the hut for 3 and India have lost their 8th wicket. Windies are in control of the game.
Big Wicket! Marlon Samuels - the part-time bowler - has given India their biggest jolt in this run chase as he gets the wicket of Kohli for 107. India have lost their captain and so have their hopes of winning this game have sunk. India 220/7.
Big Wicket! Marlon Samuels - the part-time bowler - has given India their biggest jolt in this run chase as he gets the wicket of Kohli for 107. India have lost their captain and so have their hopes of winning this game have sunk. India 220/7.
Wicket! Bhuvneshwar Kumar (10) disappoints as he throws his wicket away and India are in neck deep in trouble. They are 218/6 in 41 overs. It has all boiled down to Kohli now. How long is he going to hang, with the tail exposed?
2018 must be declared The Year of Kohli!
Virat Kohli in ODIs this year:
— Rajneesh Gupta (@rgcricket) October 27, 2018
112
46*
160*
75
36
129*
75
45
71
140
157*
100*
1146 runs at an average of 163.71#INDvWI
Harbhajan hails Kohli's 38th ODI century!
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
Dhoni's struggle in 2018 continues! These aren't good signs for India.
Dhoni's struggles in ODIs in 2018 continue. He has scored 252 runs in 12 innings at an average of 25.2, scoring at 4.04 runs per over. The average is least since his debut year in 2004 and the scoring rate this year is the lowest in his 15 year career. #INDvWI pic.twitter.com/Tg9oKzg8fk
— The Cricket Prof. (@CricProf) October 27, 2018
CENTURY No. 38 comes from the blade of KING Kohli. He's the first man from India to slam THREE Centuries in a ROW! A low-key celebration from the skipper as the team is in trouble.
RECORD ALERT: Yet another @imVkohli innings, yet another @imVkohli century and yet another couple of @imVkohli records.
— Arun Gopalakrishnan (@statanalyst) October 27, 2018
He becomes the first Indian cricketer to score hundreds in 3 consecutive ODIs.
He becomes the FIRST player to score 100s in 4 consecutive ODIs at home.
Big Wicket! MS Dhoni has been dismissed for 7 as he goes for playing the ball going away from him. Jason Holder has given a big jolt to the Indians as they've lost their 5th wicket and last recognised batting pair. India - 194/5.
Kemar Roach has been brought into the attack to break the partnership between Kohli-Dhoni. Kohli meanwhile entered into 90s.
Wicket! Rishabh Pant (24) nicks Ashley Nurse but the umpire turned the appeal down. Holder went upstairs and the ultra-edge confirmed there was a connection between ball and the gloves. India lost their fourth wicket for 172 in 31.1 overs. Pant was batting well and was disappointed with his dismissal tonight.
India have reached 162/3 after 29 overs. 20 runs have came for the Indians in the last two overs, credit goes to Rishabh Pant.
Wicket! India lose their third wicket when they were looking to cement the partnership between Ambati Rayudu and Virat Kohli. Rayudu (22) plays on to the stumps and McCoy gets a wicket. India - 134/3 in 25.4 overs.
After 25 overs, India have reached 134/2 in the run chase of 284. 150 more runs are needed from as many deliveries.
Watch the celebration!
Another day, another FIFTY for @imVkohli #INDvWI pic.twitter.com/uN5xAgr4uV
— BCCI (@BCCI) October 27, 2018
Fifty! Virat 'Consistent' Kohli has notched up another fine half-century. The captain has continued his supreme form with the bat. Back-to-back centuries and now a fifty.
The last time Kohli made less that 30 in an ODI was 14 innings ago...
— Peter Miller (@TheCricketGeek) October 27, 2018
Wicket! Shikhar Dhawan (35) throws his wicket away as he tries to sweep Ashley Nurse and completely misses it. The ball crashes on to the pads and umpire raises his finger. There was no need to play such a shot. India - 88/2 affter 17.2 overs.
After 14 overs, India have reached 79/1 against Windies in the run chase. The partnership for the second wicket in worth 70.
Fifty-run partnership between Kohli and Dhawan for the second wicket.
After 10 overs, India reach 54/1. Kohli and Dhawan have revived the hosts after Rohit's early departure.
After 4 overs, India have reached 20 for the loss of 1 wicket. Rohit Sharma was the big wicket India lost.
Not the best opening stands for India in this series. Either Rohit or Shikhar has failed to give their team a decent start against the Windies.
In 15 innings this year before this series, India's opening partnership had scored 814 runs at an average of 54.3 with 5 fifty-plus stands.
— The Cricket Prof. (@CricProf) October 27, 2018
In this series though with scores of 10, 15, & 9 - they've register 34 runs at an average of 11.33.#INDvWI