Rohit Sharma and Ambati Rayudu scored brilliant hundreds as India hammered West Indies by 224 runs in the fourth One Day International at the Brabourne Stadium in Mumbai on Monday.
After winning the toss and electing to bat, India’s opening pair of Sharma and Shikhar Dhawan started briskly as they added 71 runs for the first wicket before Dhawan fell, caught by Kieran Powell at mid wicket, off the bowling of Keemo Paul for 38 runs.
After three consecutive hundreds, Indian skipper Virat Kohli failed for the first time in the series, only scoring 16 before edging to keeper Shai Hope.
Rohit and Rayudu batted superbly, as they added 211 runs for the third wicket before the former was dismissed for a brilliant 162.
Mahendra Singh Dhoni and Kedar Jadhav towards the end made some useful contributions at the end to help the Men in Blue post a mammoth score of 377 for 5 in their allotted 50 overs.
Chasing a stiff target of 378, the visitors got off to a poor start with Chandrapaul Hemraj falling to Bhuvneshwar Kumar for 14 in the fifth over.
In form Shai Hope and opener Kieran Powell were both run out thanks to some brilliant fielding from Kuldeep and Virat Kohli respectively. leaving the Windies reeling at 20/3.
Left arm pacer Khaleel Ahmed thenwrecked the visitors’ middle-order, claiming the wickets of Shimron Hetmyer, Marlon Samuels and Rovman Powell in quick succession, as the Windies chase disintegrated.
Left arm spinner Kuldeep Yadav took care of the lower middle-order as the Windies slumped further towards defeat. Jason Holder scored his 7th ODI half century, aided by tailender Kemar Roach, who faced the second most number of deliveres in the winnings. However the Windies only managed 153, nine less than what Sharma had achieved on his own.
Both Khaleel and Kuldeep picked up three wickets apiece.
Rohit Sharma was declared the Man of the Match following his sensational knock of 162.
The fifth and the final match of the ODI series will be played on 1 November at Thiruvananthapuram.