After a closely contested first T20I, India and Windies moved to Lucknow for the second game. The venue hosted its first international game and became the 52nd international ground in India. Rohit Sharma, the captain of India, decided to make the inaugural game at the venue special for the thousands that turned up.
Rohit lost the toss and as a result, India had to bat first. But that was the only thing went wrong for the Men in Blue. The openers Rohit and Shikhar Dhawan made a cautious start against the new ball. The score was just 11 after 3 overs. But when the spinners came into the attack, the Indian batsmen took a full toll and the score reached 49 after 6 overs.
The captain reached his fifty and also, the century partnership was up in the 13th over. Dhawan departed after scoring 43 courtesy Fabian Allen. Rishabh Pant was promoted to No.3. But the left-hander fell in the bid to strike big from the outset. After 16 overs, India was 136/2 when KL Rahul walked out to bat.
Rohit was carrying on his merry way and kept launching some towering sixes. Rahul too played a quickfire knock of 26 from 14 balls to help the side to a big total. In the last over, Rohit got to his 4th century and became the only batsman to have 4 T20I centuries. He also became the leading run-getter for India in the format, going past Virat Kohli. India piled on 195/2 after 20 overs.
The Windies innings never had the momentum. Indian bowlers kept striking wickets with ease. The visitors were restricted to 124/9 with Darren Bravo being the highest scorer with 23. Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Khaleel Ahmed, Jasprit Bumrah and Kuldeep Yadav bagged 2 wickets apiece as the hosts won the match by 71 runs and clinched the series with a game to go.
Match Summary
Windies won the toss and opted to bowl first
India: 195/2 in 20 overs
Rohit Sharma 111* (61), Shikhar Dhawan 43 (41)
Fabian Allen 33/1 (4), Kharry Pierre 49/1 (4)
Windies: 124/9 in 20 overs
Darren Bravo 23 (18), Keemo Paul 20 (21)
Bhuvneshwar Kumar 12/2 (4), Jasprit Bumrah 20/2 (4)
India won by 71 runs
Player of the Match: Rohit Sharma
Here are the best tweets that hailed India
Brilliant catch by @imro45. Always difficult to take catches off the back foot like the one we just saw. Simply brilliant!! #INDvWI
— Sachin Tendulkar (@sachin_rt) November 6, 2018
Fourth T20i Ton. Second as a captain. First man to do so. Well played, Rohit Sharma. #IndvWI
— Aakash Chopra (@cricketaakash) November 6, 2018
If you say @imVkohli is best in the world, then @ImRo45 is only second to him in white ball cricket. #INDvWI
— Shubham Khare (@shubhamkhare71) November 6, 2018
Only Rohit Sharma can make a massacre look sublime.👏👏👏🙏🙏🙏
— Sanjay Manjrekar (@sanjaymanjrekar) November 6, 2018
Rohit Sharma (2108*) now leading run-getter for India in T20Is.
Virat Kohli has 2102 runs.#IndvWI— Mohandas Menon (@mohanstatsman) November 6, 2018
Most 50-plus scores in T20Is:
19 – Rohit Sharma*
18 – Virat Kohli
16 – Martin Guptill #INDvWI— Umang Pabari (@UPStatsman) November 6, 2018
Rohit Sharma ka jawaab nahi. Exceptional in the limited overs format #INDvsWI
— Mohammad Kaif (@MohammadKaif) November 6, 2018
With Rohit Sharma batting… what is the need of crackers???… this is real eco-friendly #diwali… fabulous century….now becomes holder of world record of four centuries in T-20 cricket !!! #CEAT pic.twitter.com/MZA67aS4zM
— Harsh Goenka (@hvgoenka) November 6, 2018
When it’s your day, it’s your day. Can’t do a thing wrong today, Rohit Sharma. Magnificent century, good bowling changes and a wonderful catch already #IndvWI
— Mohammad Kaif (@MohammadKaif) November 6, 2018
Most sixes in a calendar year in International cricket:
66* – ROHIT SHARMA, 2018
65 – Rohit Sharma, 2017
63 – AB de Villiers, 2015#INDvWI— Sampath Bandarupalli (@SampathStats) November 6, 2018
Meet the Hitman – India's highest run-scorer in T20Is 😉 #CricketMeriJaan #INDvWI @ImRo45 pic.twitter.com/mZ0wBLRzi6
— Mumbai Indians (@mipaltan) November 6, 2018
That moment when you become the first player to score FOUR T20I Centuries 🔥🔥🔥🔥#INDvWI pic.twitter.com/F5TFxc3CQI
— BCCI (@BCCI) November 6, 2018
Fairly big outfield….but it matters only for batsmen who clear the boundary ropes. Not to ones who hits in the stands. Ro ‘SuperHit’ Sharma 👏👏 #IndvWI
— Aakash Chopra (@cricketaakash) November 6, 2018
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