Kohli, Gill rip WI as India take lead

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM, India:

Centuries by Virat Kohli and captain Shubman Gill, and stellar bowling by spinner Kuldeep Yadav helped India pummel West Indies by eight wickets in the opening match of their one-day International (ODI) series on Sunday.

Their efforts overshadowed a heroic effort by an injured Justin Greaves, whose maiden ODI century looked set to take the Windies to a mammoth total.

Instead, Yadav’s four-wicket haul transformed the complexion of the match after the West Indies got off to a blistering start at Greenfield International Stadium, with his effort restricting them to 295 for seven in 50 overs.

Kohli then bludgeoned an unbeaten 139 off just 88 balls, with nine sixes and 10 fours – his 55th ODI century – while a more reserved Gill needed 108 balls for his 110, to power the home side to 300 for two in only 41.4 overs.

Perfect start

The Windies would have been eyeing a total in excess of 350 after openers John Campbell and Greaves gave them a perfect start during a 135-run partnership in 19 overs.

By the time Greaves reached his half-century, it was obvious he was in some discomfort as he visibly limped while running between the wickets.

Yadav drew first blood for India when he had Campbell caught at short fine leg for 62 off 60 balls, with his attempted sweep ballooning in the air for Prasidh Krishna to take the catch.

Keacy Carty never looked settled during his knock of 13 off 31 balls, and it came as no surprise when he miscued a pull off Krishna straight into the hands of mid-on at 176 for two in the 31st over.

Yadav then prised out the wicket of captain Shai Hope for 12 with the score on 195, before Greaves reached his ton off 104 balls by driving Jadeja through the offside for a single.

Greaves was trapped lbw by Yadav in the next over for 101 off 108 balls, including 12 fours, with the spinner also dismissing Jewel Andrew for a first-ball duck to put India in the driver’s seat at 198 for five in the 36th over.

Roston Chase and Amir Jangoo added 52 runs for the sixth wicket, and despite Jangoo’s unbeaten 58 off 43 balls, the West Indies fell short of a competitive total.

Yadav ended with 4-40 and Krishna 2-60.

Dependable pair

India’s dependable opening pair of Rohit Sharma and Gill gave them a decent start by putting on 74 runs inside 12 overs.

The Windies should have dismissed Gill when he had scored just 11, but substitute fielder Keemo Paul spilled a regulation catch at cover off the bowling of pacer Jayden Seales.

It was an opportunity they would live to regret as Gill romped to his 10th ODI century.

After Sharma was dismissed for 32, he shared a 151-run partnership with Kohli that decided the contest.

After reaching his half-century by hitting Alzarri Joseph for six, Kohli reached another milestone by getting to 15,000 ODI runs by pulling Joseph to the deep midwicket boundary, to join countryman Sachin Tendulkar as the only other player to do so.