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Prasidh Krishna repaid selectors’ faith with a four-wicket haul to help Rohit Sharma-led India take an unassailable 2-0 lead in the three-ODI series on Wednesday (February 9). India won the second ODI by a big margin of 44 runs as once again West Indies batting line-up failed to bat through the 50 overs. Chasing 237/9, the visitors were dismissed for 193 with four overs left in the innings.
Prasidh pesters Caribbean
The lanky fast bowler broke the opening partnership with the wicket of Brandon King who was looking dangerous, having scored 20 runs off 18 deliveries. Krishna surprised Caribbean batters with pace and bounce and induced outside edges. Darren Bravo was the second to fall as he got caught behind as well, surprised by the bounce and the ball shaping away from him.
Middle-order lets visitors down
Yuzvendra Chahal was brought into the attack and Rohit Sharma was spot on with field positions. Opener Shai Hope tried to hit Chahal for a maximum but found Suryakumar Yadav in the deep. Rohit brought back Prasidh after his four-over spell with the new ball. Nicholas Pooran edged it to Indian skipper at the first slip as West Indies dug a deeper hole for themselves. Another bowling change surprised everyone as Shardul Thakur replaced Krishna after the latter had taken Pooran’s wicket. The tactic worked though as Thakur got the wicket of half-centurion of first ODI, Jason Holder.
Some hope in middle overs
Shamarh Brooks and Akeal Hosein went into damage control as they knocked the ball around for singles and picked up an odd four or six. As Washington Sundar looked off-colour in his first spell, part-timer Deepak Hooda was asked to bowl and he delivered straight away. Brooks tried to target Hooda and got caught in the deep. He scored 44 runs from 62 deliveries including a couple of fours and as many sixes. Even after 117/6, West Indies had hope with Fabian Allen walking in. But the pressure of required run rate became too much to handle for Allen as he got out to Mohammed Siraj. Hosein followed him back to the pavilion in the next over as he became Thakur’s second victim.
Odean’s mini-attack in vain
With West Indies down at 159/8, Odean tried to launch a counter-attack and hit two consecutive sixes off Thakur. Considering the hitting ability of Caribbean tailender, the game was still not over. But, Sundar returned and delivered with the wicket of Odean. He contributed with a 24 off 20. In the next over, Krishna came back into the attack and got rid of Kemar Roach to finish off the proceedings. The tall fast bowler for four wickets for 12 runs in nine overs, the second-best bowling figures by an Indian in ODIs against West Indies.
Pant ploy fails as Indian top-order collapses
Earlier, Pooran elected to bowl In Kieron Pollard’s absence due to a niggle. The move worked for West Indies as Indian top order struggled against Caribbean pacers with the new ball. Skipper Rohit Sharma was surprised by extra bounce generated by Roach and was dismissed for five runs. Wicketkeeper-batter Rishabh Pant was promoted up the order to make way for KL Rahul in the middle order. Pant struggled too and lost his wicket to Odean Smith. The southpaw scored 18 runs from 34 deliveries on his opening debut in international cricket. Playing in his 100th ODI at home, Virat Kohli’s wait for 71st international century continued as he was dismissed for 18 by Odean. India were reduced to 43/3 in 12 overs.
Rahul, Yadav save the day
Back in the middle, Rahul shared a match-saving partnership with Suryakumar. Rahul started out slow and tried to steady the ship against Caribbean bowlers who had their tails up after the fall of top order. As he settled, Rahul accelerated in the middle overs against spinners. However, Rahul’s innings came to an unfortunate end as his confusion with Yadav led to him getting run out for 49. He shared a 91-run partnership with Suryakumar. The 31-year-old batter played a sensible inning, almost opposite to his nature. He scored 64 runs off 83 deliveries including five boundaries and got India out of danger.
Mediocre finish
Towards the end, India kept on losing wickets at regular intervals and failed to get past the 250-run mark. Washington Sundar (24), Deepak Hooda (29) contributed with cameos followed by Yuzvendra Chahal’s crucial unbeaten 11-run knock that helped India post 237/9.
