The visiting side Windies have taken the 1-0 lead in the three-match ODI series against the hosts India after winning the opening game of the series on Sunday (15th December) night at Chennai.
After winning the toss, the visiting captain Kieron Pollard decided to field first. Struggling from the beginning, the hosts managed the first innings total of 287/8 (50 overs). In reply, Windies chased down that target in 47.5 overs after losing two wickets.
Windies opener Shai Hope and no.3 batsman Shimron Hetmyer scored centuries
Though the opener Sunil Ambris (9) lost his wicket cheaply, another opener Shai Hope and the no.3 batsman Shimron Hetmyer handled that situation very well. Both were very solid – while Hetmyer was furious, Hope showed his familiar control batting. For the second wicket, Hope-Hetmyer put the 218 runs partnership.
Shimron Hetmyer scored 85 balls century and smashed 139 runs off just 106 balls (11 fours and 7 sixes). Though Hetmyer was dismissed in 39th over of that innings, Hope smoothly guided Windies to the comfortable victory along with Nicholas Pooran. Hope-Pooran set up the 62 runs partnership for the unbroken third wicket.
Wicketkeeper-batsman Shai Hope completed his century in 149 balls. The right-handed batsman remained not out on 102 runs off 151 balls (7 fours and only six). Meanwhile, Pooran scored 29 not out off 23 balls (4 fours).
Among the Indian bowlers, only Deepak Chahar (1/48) and Mohammed Shami (1/57) managed to pick up a wicket.
Indian middle-order batsmen played well
Indian opener KL Rahul (6) and the skipper Virat Kohli (4) lost their wickets cheaply as the hosts were struggling on 25/2.
Another opener Rohit Sharma handled that initial situation very well along with Shreyas Iyer. After their 55 runs partnership, Rohit was dismissed on 36 runs. Then Shreyas Iyer and the wicketkeeper-batsman Rishabh Pant provided a good partnership for the fourth wicket which was 114 runs. Both those batsmen batted very well while Pant finally impressed with his bat after a long time.
After Iyer was dismissed on 70 runs off 88 balls (5 fours and only six), Pant soon lost his wicket on 71 runs off 69 balls (7 fours and only six).
Then Kedar Jadhav and Ravindra Jadeja put the 59 runs partnership for the sixth wicket at late of that innings. While Jadhav’s bat added 40 off 35 balls (3 fours and only six), Jadeja scored 21 runs.
Among the Windies bowlers, Sheldon Cottrell (2/46), Keemo Paul (2/40) and Alzarri Joseph (2/45) all scalped two wickets each.
While Windies are now leading this series by 1-0, India and Windies will play the second ODI of this series at Visakhapatnam on Wednesday (18th December).
Very impressed by Shimron Hetmyer, showed great maturity and turned the game firmly in WI's favour. Great support from Shai Hope as well and this is a very deserving win for the West Indies. Promises to be a very exciting series #IndvWI pic.twitter.com/9hjx3jHdTo
— VVS Laxman (@VVSLaxman281) December 15, 2019
Contrasting ?s @SHetmyer @shaidhope but none more important than the other ?
Congrats team windies ? #MenInMaroon #INDvsWI pic.twitter.com/vvLnLAG6tC— Brian Lara (@BrianLara) December 15, 2019
Very controlled 5th Odi century from Shimron Hetmyer. He has paced this innings with such calm body language and assured shot selection; it has the feel of a player who has gone up another step in his maturity????????????????.
— Ian Raphael Bishop (@irbishi) December 15, 2019
An ODI game in Chennai and not a single wicket to spinners. Who would’ve thought? Top stuff from Hetmeyer and Hope. Radically Different ways of succeeding on the same surface. A knockout series for India now. #IndvWI
— Aakash Chopra (@cricketaakash) December 15, 2019
Congratulations @windiescricket for winning the game at our @CskIPLTeam den.. team india will bounce back in the next game @BCCI #Greatcricket ?✅ and crowd always to good in chennai ?
— Harbhajan Turbanator (@harbhajan_singh) December 15, 2019
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
What a stunning innings it was from Shimron Hetmyer, one of the best played by an overseas batsman in India in recent times and Shai Hope complimented him so beautifully and this is a really well deserved win for WI. #IndvWI pic.twitter.com/zeP5TdKqrk
— Mohammad Kaif (@MohammadKaif) December 15, 2019
https://twitter.com/Crickie408_/status/1206236840006520832
Hetmyer after his dismissal during 3rd T20i as he couldn't take his team Home
Now back with a 85 ball century ?
Gotta love this guy Temperament !! #INDvsWI pic.twitter.com/ykV7V9Ra7V— – (@Morganified_) December 15, 2019
Shimron Hetmyer by next weekend. #INDvWI #IPLAuction pic.twitter.com/2G9HyXlZFp
— Swapnil Gujar (@iamswap07) December 15, 2019
West Indies deserve this win..Hetmyer and Hope, brilliant century from tonight. Iyer and Pant silver lining for india can't help n winning due to poor bowling, fielding…Team Management has to more careful in selections. Missing HP,Bumrah..#INDvsWESTIND pic.twitter.com/MQmTzzsXYb
— Dipsikha Ray (@me_dipsikha) December 15, 2019
#INDvWI #INDvsWESTIND
Commentator-287 is a good score.
Hetmyer – pic.twitter.com/brJwNQdf8C— JeeTu bhaiya (@gentleman_jitu) December 15, 2019
After Pollard decided to bowl Kohli said he was shocked, but, we have to admit that Windies assessed the conditions way better than us and were well prepared. @V_Trips7781 @CricCrazyJohns @pull_playlist #INDvsWESTIND
— Robin (@robin_rounder) December 15, 2019
Very controlled 5th Odi century from Shimron Hetmyer. He has paced this innings with such calm body language and assured shot selection; it has the feel of a player who has gone up another step in his maturity????????????????.
— Ian Raphael Bishop (@irbishi) December 15, 2019
#INDvsWI
After trolling rishabh pant during T-20 series
me and my boys watching rishabh pant's inning in today's ODI pic.twitter.com/PNDBrxXwlb— Ajay Mahawar (@bhattpurvasi) December 15, 2019