Virat Kohli struck a 125-ball 120 as India beat the West Indies by 59 runs at Port of Spain, Trinidad to go 1-0 up in the three-match ODI series. The first match in Guyana was abandoned due to rain.


Chasing a revised target of 270, West Indies was on course for a win when Evin Lewis and Nicholas Pooran were batting together. The duo added 56 runs for the fourth wicket to keep the visitor on its toes but Bhuvneshwar Kumar ran through lower middle-order as the Windies folded for 210.

India scored 279 for seven in 50 overs after a rain interruption stopped play for a brief period. India was 233 for four when a downpour sent the players off the field. Fortunately, the rain relented and play restarted.

Earlier, opting to bat, skipper Virat Kohli made 120 off 125 balls to anchor India’s innings. Shreyas Iyer scored 71 and Kedar Jadhav was out for 16.

India lost Shikhar Dhawan cheaply when left-arm pacer Sheldon Cottreel trapped in front. Initially, the batsman was ruled not out, but a review in the nick of time by Jason Holder’s men reversed the decision.

Rohit Sharma was circumspect and never found his rhythm. In fact, it was Kohli who dominated their second-wicket partnership, striking boundaries at will.

The Indian skipper’s 42nd ODI century was full of exquisitely timed shots all over the ground. It took Kohli 12 innings to move from his 41st to 42nd hundred.

Rohit’s misery ended when he mistimed Roston Chase and was taken by Nicholas Pooran running back. Chase bowled a miserly spell, finishing with one for 37 in 10 overs.

Kohli finally fell for 120 in the 42nd over bowled by Braithwaite. His runs came off 125 balls with 14 fours and a six.