On this day in 2019: Virat Kohli’s ton hands India easy win over WI
Virat Kohli made the most of his purple patch between 2016 to 2019 scoring runs consistently across formats. As of now, he also holds the record of the second most number of centuries in One Day Internationals after Master Blaster Sachin Tendulkar (49) and has scored over 12000 runs in this format.
Meanwhile, it was on this very day in 2019 that the batting megastar registered his 42nd ODI century. The first of his last back-to-back centuries in the 50-overs format before losing consistency in this format.
When Virat Kohli registered his 42nd ODI century
West Indies and India faced off against each other in the second One Day International at the Port of Spain, Trinidad. Indian skipper Virat Kohli won the toss and elected to bat first. The top-order could not make much of an impact as the visitors were reduced to 101/3 in the 23rd over.
That is when Virat Kohli decided to take the attack to the opposition and played his natural shots to perfection. He got good support from Shreyas Iyer (71) as the duo added 125 runs for the second wicket. Kohli ensured that he held one end firmly especially against left-arm pacer Sheldon Cottrell who dismissed him a few times on that tour.
The batting icon’s efforts eventually paid off as he completed his 42nd ODI century. He was dismissed for 120 in the 42nd over. Virat’s outstanding ton helped India post a competitive total of 279/7.
While it was a splendid batting effort from India, there was some bad news for them as there was a slight rain delay which reduced it to a 46-over contest with a revised target of 270.
Nonetheless, it did not matter at all as the Indian bowlers worked in tandem and made it a one-way traffic in the second innings. The Men in Blue did find themselves in a spot of bother when Evin Lewis (65) and Nicholas Pooran (42) were batting fearlessly, but once both the well-set batters were dismissed, there was no one to support them and the Caribbeans were bundled out for 210 in 42 overs.
Thus, India registered a comprehensive 59 runs by DLS Method and took a 1-0 lead in the three-match series as Kohli was adjudged the Player of the Match
