India crush WI by 71 runs in 2nd T20I, Rohit hits 4th ton in the shortest format

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Patna : India who had scored 195/2 batting first with captain Rohit Sharma hitting an unbeaten 111 in 61 balls with 8 fours and 7 sixes, his 4th T20I ton, crushed West Indies (WI) by 71 runs in the second T20I at Bharat Ratna Atal Bihari Vajpayee International Cricket Stadium, Lucknow, on November 6, 2018, night. Chasing a target of 196, West Indies could score only 124/9 in 20 overs. For India, K Khaleel Ahmad, Bhuvaneshwar Kumar, Jasprit Bumrah, and Kuldeep Yadav took two wickets each.

Rohit Sharma on November 6 became the only bastman in the world to hit four T20I centuries, his second as captain and third in 2018. Rohit and his opening partner Shikhar Dhawan added 123 runs for the first wicket in 14 overs. Dhawan was out for 43 with 3 fours while Rishabh Pant scored 5 runs. Rohit and Lokesh Rahul added 62 runs for the third wicket. Rahul remained unbeaten on 26 with 2 fours and a six.

Incidentally, Rohit Sharma opened the innings playing out a maiden and India had scored just 11 runs in the first 3 overs. But, thereafter Ro-hit Sharma exploded in his usual style and scored his 4th T20I century in 58 balls. Rohit was at non-striker’s end on 92 when the last over began. But, Rahul took 1 run to let Rohit score his century. Rohit hit three consecutive fours and a six in that over bowled by West Indies Captain Carlos Brathwaite to complete his 4th T20I century and remained unbeaten on 111. Rohit has now hit 96 sixes in T20Is. He has now 2,203 run in T20I, ahead of Virat Kohli.

Darren Bravo top scored for WI with 23 runs while Keemo Paul scored 20. WI openers Shai Hope and Shimron Hetmyer scored 6 and 15 runs respectively while Kieran Pollard scored 6. Captain Brathwaite remained not out on 15 while Oshane Thomas remained unbeaten on 8.

India now lead the three-match T20I series 2-0. Rohit Sharma, who also took three catches in the match, was declared Man of the Match.