New Delhi:
KL Rahul and Rohit Sharma showcased their class in the Vizag ODI against West Indies as they both blasted centuries to put India on top in the second one-day international. Rahul hit his third century while for Rohit, it was his 28th century and third against the West Indies. The dominance by both Rohit and Rahul was aided by some sloppy fielding and lack of discipline from the West Indies bowlers on a pitch which was flat and had plenty of runs for offer. Both Rohit and Rahul made West Indies pay after Kieron Pollard won the toss and chose to bowl on a wicket which was expected to be flat.
Rohit and Rahul got going with a boundary off Sheldon Cottrell and that set the momentum. Rahul pounced on Cottrell's bowling with two more boundaries and Rahul grew in confidence with an upper-cut six off Jason Holder. Rohit played second fiddle and Rahul was in prime form at the other end. While Rohit tackled the spin off Kharry Pierre with an edge to third man, Rahul neared his fifty with a lofted six over wide long on.
Rohit broke the shackles with a pulled six over long leg off Alzarri Joseph and he went past 11000 List A runs and also became the leading run-getter in ODIs in 2019. Rahul launched Pierre for another six down the ground and notched up his fifth fifty. After reaching the landmark, there were some quiet overs but Rahul hammered two fours off Joseph and Rohit reached his landmark soon with a pull to deep square leg.
The runs kept flowing in the middle overs with Rahul and Rohit regularly finding the boundary. On 70, Rohit received a life when he miscued a lofted shot off Roston Chase but Shimron Hetmyer dropped the catch straight down the ground. Rohit almost caught up with Rahul by hammering Joseph down the ground. Rahul entered the 90s but Rohit blazed past him with a six and a four off Pierre as the death overs approached.
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Rohit was the first to reach the landmark as he tapped Holder to the leg side for a single and the standing ovation that he got summed up his contribution. Rahul lingered in the 90s for a little while but he notched up his landmark in fine fashion by glancing Alzarri Joseph to the fine leg fence as Rohit cut loose at the other end. Rahul was soon dismissed for 102 as he miscued an upper-cut to third man.
