Port of Spain: Ajinkya Rahane smashed his third ODI hundred as India produced a dominating batting display to pile on 310 for 5 in their second cricket one-dayer against the West Indies on Sunday.
Put into bat, India dashed West Indies hopes of any early breakthrough on a damp-looking pitch as they negotiated the initial overs without losing any wicket before launching on the erratic home side bowlers to post a big total after the match was reduced to 43-over a side due to rain.
Rahane (103) and his opener partner Dhawan (63) laid a strong foundation with a 114-run stand and despite a bit of a wobble in the middle overs, India went past 300 with captain Virat Kohli stamping his class with a 66-ball 87 later in the innings.
After today’s total, India became the side who have hit maximum number of 300-plus scores in an innings, as they reached the mark for the 96th time, overtaking Australia who had made over 300 runs 95 times.
Rahane, who also had hit 62 in the abandoned first match, had 10 fours and two sixes in his 104-ball knock before he was out in the 34th over. He also shared 97 runs for the second wicket with Kohli, who hit four boundaries and four sixes in his aggressive innings.
Kohli was out at the fag end of the innings after playing some exquisite strokes to the delight of the crowd at the Queen’s Park Oval.
Senior batsman Yuvraj Singh, however, continued with his struggle as he fell for just 14 from 10 balls while Hardik Pandya was the other Indian to fall cheaply for just 4.
The West Indies bowlers lacked discipline and bowled too many loose and short deliveries. The Indian batsmen were never troubled in any way during their innings.
Rahane grabbed the chance to open the innings in the absence of Rohit Sharma for this limited-over series as he led the Indian charge before Kohli took over later on.
The match began after a delay of two hours due to rain and West Indies captain Jason Holder put India to bat after winning the toss.
But, Holder’s hopes of getting an early breakthrough on a pitch which looked damp went haywire as Dhawan and Rahane giving scant respect of the home bowlers just like they did in the abandoned first match at the same venue.
Dhawan, who continued with his red-hot form from the Champions Trophy itself, and Rahane stitched 114 runs from 18.2 runs to set the match nicely for India.
The duo raced to the 50-run mark in the eighth over with the help of seven fours and a six. Rahane hit pacer Alzarri Joseph for a huge six in the third over before Dhawan sent Holder for two boundaries in the next over.
Holder himself and his new ball partner Joseph struggled to get the right line and the West Indies captain was again punished by Dhawan for three boundaries in the eighth over as India reached to the 50-run mark.
Dhawan gave the same treatment to Joseph the same treatment as he hit three boundaries in the 12th over and then raised his 21st ODI fifty two overs later. Dhawan had hit a 92-ball 87 in the abandoned first match.
Dhawan, however, could not capitalise on his fine touch for a three-figure score as he got out in the 19th over. He was beaten completely by a flighted delivery of off-spinner Ashley Nurse and wicketkeeper Shai Hope effected an easy stumping.
Dhawan had 10 fours from 59 deleiveries in his innings. (PTI)
