Kohli, Rohit guide India to win - TeluguPeople.com News

VISAKHAPATNAM: Two sucker punches had laid India low. Then a light drizzle came as a blessing. When it looked they had recovered their composure and were on road to recovery then another blow sent the hosts wobbling.

But a determined Virat Kohli (117), who came up with his second successive century in the city of destiny, and Rohit Sharma (90 not out), who promised to present it as a gift to his mother in her hometown, helped India post a five-wicket victory against West Indies in the second ODI at ACA-VDCA Stadium on Friday.

India chased down the target in 48.1 overs to take a 2-0 lead in the five-match series.

Kohli and Sharma's 163-run fourth wicket stand pushed the Ravi Rampaul's record-breaking 66-ball unbeaten 86 into oblivion. The left-handed Rampaul came out with all guns blazing, spraying sixes and fours to all parts of the park, as West Indies recovered to post a challenging 269 for 9 in 50 overs.

It was the pace and bounce that reduced West Indies to 170 for 9 at one stage before Rampaul rattled off to his maiden half-century to let loose salvo after salvo to give a fighting total.

The 10th wicket stand between Rampaul and Kemar Roach (24 not out) yielded 99 runs as India lost their way.

But in the end, Kohli and Sharma turned the tables on the West Indies. Full of energy, flamboyant and creative, Kohli and Sharma basked in glory. Kohli followed up with his 118 scored against Australia last year.

Sharma yet again was fluent and clinical in his second consecutive match-winning knock. Kohli did not stay till the end, falling to a tired shot. India lost Suresh Raina but Sharma kept his nerves and steered to India to win.

This was India's 11th successive win at home.

Rain interrupted play for 44 minutes in the Indian innings as the second round of drizzle forced the players into the pavilion. India were 49 for 2 in 11.2 overs at that stage. The organisers did a fine job in drying the field after the drizzle had stopped.

However, the target was not changed. Before the interruption India lost both the left-handers Parthiv Patel and Gautam Gambhir. The Delhi player was out to a stunning catch by Adrian Barath at covers.

West Indies' poor fielding saw Virender Sehwag (26) being reprieved at one and 15, Darren Sammy dropping at second slip and Darren Bravo failing to latch on to a dipping catch at deep third man. Kohli, too, lead a charmed life with wicketkeeper Denesh Ramdin being the culprit.

The firework was missing in Sehwag's knock. He failed to take off despite the two chances. He finally departed, caught at long-off off Marlon Samuels.

Earlier, Umesh Yadav (3 for 38) got bounce and pace from the wicket. Swinging the ball late, Yadav had the West Indians in knots. Opener Adrian Barath went early. Marlon Samuels struggled for his eight-ball 4.

He was reprieved once by Rohit Sharma, who grassed a sitter at second slip. However, in the next over, Yadav again found the edge of Samuels' bat and this time, Raina pulled of a fine diving catch at third slip. There was further setback for the visitors as Vinay Kumar scalped two wickets that of Bravo and Danza Hyatt in his sixth over after changing the ends.

Coming back for his second spell, Yadav struck with his first delivery by dismissing Ramdin. Sehwag waited till the 21st over before introducing left-arm spinner Jadeja and off-spinner R Ashwin in the next. Opener Lendl Simmons and Kieron Pollard (35 off 30 balls) added 56 for the sixth wicket before the later was dismissed, off bat and pad. Pollard was unhappy with debutant umpire S Ravi's decision.

It was Simmons (78), who defied the Indian attack. The opener was ninth out, while going for a second run. But Rampaul, who came into side in place of off-spinner Martin, changed the script with a blistering knock. He struck sixes off Ashwin, Jadeja and Varun Aaron and finished off the innings with a majestic hit over long on boundary.