West Indies and India faced each other in the second ODI of the three-match series at the Queen’s Park Oval in Trinidad. The visitors entered the game leading the series by 1-0. On the other hand, the home team needed to win the game to keep the series alive. The Maroon Brigade won the toss and elected to bat first.
Their decision started proving right with openers, Kyle Myers and Shai Hope putting up 65 runs. The former scored quickly while Hope was taking his time. Myers scored 39 off 23 balls but his inning was cut short by Deepak Hooda. Shamarh Brooks came and rotated the strike very well. He scored 35 off 36 balls before becoming the only victim of Axar Patel in the game.
Brandon King, who scored a fifty in the last game, scored a duck trying to play a slog sweep against Yuzvendra Chahal. Skipper Nicholas Pooran joined hands with Hope at 130/3. The duo put together 117 runs for the fourth wicket. Pooran (74) was clean bowled on the leg stump as he tried to shuffle on the off-side against Shardul Thakur. Rovman Powell (13) couldn’t do much as he became the second victim of Thakur.
Meanwhile, Hope (115) bought up his 13th ODI hundred and was caught at long-off by Patel off Thakur. West Indies amassed 311/6 at the end of the innings. In reply, the Men In Blue got off to a slow start, thanks to skipper Shikhar Dhawan’s 13 off 31 balls. On the other hand, Shubman Gill carried his form with 43 off 49 before being caught and bowled by Myers. Two overs later, Suryakumar Yadav (9) got played on against Myers.
Shreyas Iyer and Samson added 99 runs fourth wicket and got half-centuries to their name. Notably, Samson (54) scored his maiden ODI fifty. On the other hand, Iyer (63) scored his second fifty of the series. However, both players got out at the wrong time and left the team in deep trouble. However, an unbeaten fifty from Axar (64 off 35) and Hooda’s 33 took the team home.
This is how Twitter reacted
AXAR PATEL HAS DONE IT!!!!!!! OH MY GOD!!!!! WHAT A FINISH!!!!
— Punjab Kings (@PunjabKingsIPL) July 24, 2022
In close games, Siraj and Axar have delivered wins; Samson and Hooda have played good hands in unfamiliar roles; Shreyas is making himself difficult to leave out; Gill has made a case. And Shikhar just owns this format.
— Harsha Bhogle (@bhogleharsha) July 25, 2022
Two tight matches, two wins showcase India’s depth of talent as well as ambition. Dhawan, Hooda, Iyer, Gill, Samson, Axar, Chahal all coming good when needed
— Cricketwallah (@cricketwallah) July 25, 2022
Oh Bapu quality che quality well played @akshar2026 top class batting in the run chase. Good hands from @ShreyasIyer15 @IamSanjuSamson @HoodaOnFire @ShubmanGill #IndvsWI
— Irfan Pathan (@IrfanPathan) July 24, 2022
Axar Patel’s knock was one of the finest knocks that you’d see in a run-chase. The clarity of thought. The confidence with which he managed the chase…’incredible’ is falling short to define it. Brilliant, Bapu ??
— Aakash Chopra (@cricketaakash) July 24, 2022
That ???? finish from Axar = Worth the sleep sacrifice ??
RT if you watched #WIvIND till the end! ?#OneFamily @akshar2026
— Mumbai Indians (@mipaltan) July 24, 2022
Man that’s got to hurt players and fans. Still work to be done on death bowling and batting tempo. But little improvements happening. Good pitches. Congrats to India on a series win and Axar Patel for a brilliant knock??.
— Ian Raphael Bishop (@irbishi) July 24, 2022
Everyday You Wake up, You Have One job. To be better than yesterday.#WIvIND, #AxarPatel #AvengersSecretWars #ramnathkovind #Ukraine #NATION_WITH_MODI
— Glosel International Consultancy (@GloselC) July 25, 2022
A good win by young #TeamIndia in the 2nd ODI to clinch the series. #AxarPatel is the key. Sanju Samson, Shubman Gill, Shreyas Iyer, Hooda also contributed, #INDvWI #WIvIND #CricketTwitter pic.twitter.com/u8Lb2vWr2m
— Anushmita?? (@anushmita7) July 25, 2022
Congratulations #TeamIndia ??
For a nail biting finish & spectacular Win at #Trinidad
Well-done #ShikharDhawan#axar
& whole team for unassailable 2-0 ODI series lead agnst #WestIndies#WIvIND #IndvsWI #aravchoudhary #newindia— Arav Choudhary (@iaravchoudhary) July 25, 2022
ODI Cricket Is Very Well Alive!!#CricketTwitter #WIvIND #India #TeamIndia pic.twitter.com/cWyAzFZllM
— Fantasy Sports King (@FantasySportsK1) July 25, 2022
