Hope, Hetmyer sizzle as Windies earn tie

VISAKHAPATNAM, India (CMC):

Strokemaker Shai Hope smashed the last delivery of the match to the point boundary to earn West Indies a thrilling tie with India after they appeared on course for a rare win in a high-scoring second One-Day International here yesterday. Asked to chase a difficult 322 at the ACA-VDCA Cricket Stadium, the 24-year-old Hope carved out a superb unbeaten 123 - his second ODI hundred - but was unable to get West Indies over the line after they needed 20 runs from the last two overs.

West Indies looked to be en route to victory especially after left-hander Shimron Hetmyer struck an exceptional 94 off just 64 deliveries, in an outstanding 143-run, fourth wicket partnership with Hope, who stroked 10 fours and three fours in a 134-ball innings.

But key strikes saw the Windies lose wickets and ultimately, momentum in the last 10 overs, and seamer Mohammed Shami sent down an outstanding penultimate over, conceding just six runs, leaving the visitors with an uphill task of getting 14 runs from the final over bowled by speedster Umesh Yadav.

The tie was the second in ODIs between the two teams following the low-scoring thriller in Perth, nearly three decades ago.

India captain Virat Kohli had earlier stroked his 37th ODI hundred to become the fastest batsman to 10,000 ODI runs, as India recovered from a dodgy start to reach 321 for six off their 50 overs.

Choosing to bat first, India were stuttering at 40 for two in the ninth over before the incomparable Kohli arrived to unfurl a magnificent unbeaten 157 off 129 balls to clinch another Man-of-the-Match honour.

He was supported by Rayudu, who made 73, while opener Shikhar Dhawan chimed in with 29.

SCOREBOARD

INDIA

R Sharma c Hetmyer b Roach 4

S Dhawan lbw b Nurse 29

*V Kohli not out 157

A Raudu b Nurse 73

+MS Dhoni b McCoy 20

R Pant lbw b Samuels 17

R Jadeja c Powell b McCoy 13

Mohammed Shami not out 0

Extras (lb3, w5) 8

TOTAL (6 wkts, 50 overs) 321

Did not bat: Umesh Yadav, Kuldeep Yadav, Y Chahal.

Fall of wickets: 1-15, 2-40, 3-179, 4-222, 5-248, 6-307.

Bowling: Holder 6-0-50-0, Roach 10-0-67-1, Nurse 10-0-46-2, Bishoo 10-0-48-0, McCoy 9-0-71-2, Samuels 5-0-36-1.

WEST INDIES

K Powell c Pant b Shami 18

C Hemraj b Kuldeep Yadav 32

+S Hope not out 123

M Samuels b Kuldeep Yadav 13

S Hetmyer c Kohli b Chahal 94

R Powell c Rohit b Kuldeep Yadav 18

*J Holder run out 12

A Nurse c Rayudu b Umesh Yadav 5

K Roach not out 0

Extras (b1, lb4, w1) 6

TOTAL (7 wkts, 50 overs) 321

Did not bat: D Bishoo, O McCoy.

Fall of wickets: 1-36, 2-64, 3-78, 4-221, 5-253, 6-300, 7-315.

Bowling: Mohammed Shami 10-0-59-1, Umesh Yadav 10-0-78-1, Kuldeep Yadav 10-0-67-3, Jadeja 10-0-49-0, Chahal 10-0-63-1.

Result: Match tied.

Series: India lead five-match series 1-0.

Man-of-the-Match: Virat Kohli.