The West Indies posted 406 but still lost by eight wickets. Shubman Gill’s record double century sealed the defeat.
The West Indies posted a formidable 406 in the second ODI against India on Wednesday in Guwahati, only to see the total chased down in a record-breaking defeat that leaves the team facing an unassailable series deficit with one match remaining. Centuries from John Campbell, Amir Jangoo and Shai Hope had carried the West Indies to their total, but the innings proved insufficient as India produced the highest successful run chase in ODI history in response.
West Indies’ bowling attack could not contain India’s reply after Rohit Sharma struck 101 off just 75 balls to set the tone, before India captain Shubman Gill took the chase away from the visitors entirely, finishing unbeaten on 223 off 133 balls at a strike rate above 160. Gill’s innings, which included 25 fours and eight sixes, reached 200 in just 117 deliveries, the fastest double century in ODI history, surpassing the previous record by nine balls. The defeat means the West Indies’ strong batting performance, which included three individual centuries in a single innings, a notable collective effort, was overshadowed entirely by the scale of India’s response.
The loss extends West Indies’ winless run against India in bilateral ODI series to 14 consecutive meetings and leaves the team needing a win in the series finale simply to avoid a whitewash. The result will raise fresh questions about the West Indies’ bowling depth against elite batting lineups, after an attack that defended 406 in the first innings was unable to apply pressure once India’s chase gathered momentum. The West Indies will look to regroup before the third and final ODI, having come close to a series-defining total only to be outplayed by one of the most dominant individual innings in the format’s history.
This report is based on information from the Associated Press (via Outlook India), ESPNcricinfo and NDTV