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LONDON: Steve Smith’s 71 helped Australia recover from a batting collapse as the tourists frustrated England by battling to a first-innings lead in the fifth and final Ashes Test at The Oval on Friday.
Skipper Rohit Sharma and senior pro Virat Kohli, who have 76 international hundreds between them, decided to give game time to middle-order batters as India beat West Indies by five wickets in the opening ODI, riding on exploits from spinners Ravindra Jadeja and Kuldeep Yadav. After Jadeja (3/37 in 6 overs) and Kuldeep (4/6 in 4 overs) set it up beautifully, shooting out the Windies for 114 in 23 overs, Ishan Kishan helped himself to a half-century (52 off 46 balls) in India's successful chase in just 22.5 overs.
Virat Kohli did not bat in India's five-wicket victory over West Indies in the first ODI match in Barbados but that did not stop him from adding another major accolade to his already illustrious career. Kohli pulled off a stunning catch at second slip off the bowling of Ravindra Jadeja to dismiss Romario Shepherd and it was his 142nd catch in ODI cricket. He is currently tied in the fourth spot with New Zealand's Ross Taylor when it comes to cricketers with most ODI catches. Sri Lanka legend Mahela Jayawardene tops the list with 218 while Australia's Ricky Ponting is second with 160. Kohli will be looking to become the highest-placed Indian cricketer in the list by surpassing Mohammed Azharuddin who is third with 156 catches.
The Indian team will be expected to return to its set batting order as it aims to put up a much-improved show with the willow and take an unassailable lead in the three-match series when it faces a below-par West Indies in the second ODI in Barbados on Saturday. Skipper Rohit Sharma and coach Rahul Dravid did face a minor hiccup while trying out the middle-order batters upfront on a track that became a raging turner during the second session but a meager target of 115 meant that things were smooth for the better part.
Ravindra Jadeja was all praise for Virat Kohli after the former India captain took a stunning one-handed catch off his bowling in the first ODI against West Indies on Thursday. After conceding 20 runs in his first two overs, Jadeja made a strong comeback to dismiss Shimron Hetmyer and Romario Shepherd in quick succession. Jadeja cleaned up Hetmyer before Kohli's stunner saw him get his second wicket of the match. Kohli showed excellent reflexes as he dived towards his right to pluck the ball at second slip.
The first wicket of a nascent international career is always a special one. Mukesh Kumar who recently made his Test debut, played his first ODI match for India against West Indies on Thursday. He got his maiden wicket too in the match in the eighth over, with Ravindra Jadeja playing a big role. On the fifth ball of the eighth over, Alick Athanaze went for a cut shit against a short and widish delivery from Mukesh. The ball flew over Jadeja, but his well-timed jump well and and iron grasp ensured that it was a catch.
India stars Ravindra Jadeja and Kuldeep Yadav became the first pair of Indian left-arm spinners to take seven wickets or more in an ODI encounter. The duo achieved the feat during India's five-wicket win over West Indies in Barbados on Thursday. Kuldeep was the pick of the Indian bowlers with figures of 4/6 in just three overs while Jadeja took three wickets for 37 runs. "I thought it will be a seaming paradise, we are happy we got 7 wickets from our side. It was spinning a bit, and there was bounce as well. It's always good to have competition, we just try to work together," Kuldeep said after the match.
Left-arm spinners Kuldeep Yadav and Ravindra Jadeja masterminded the rout of an abject West Indies team as India romped to a five-wicket victory with more than 27 overs to spare in the opening One-Day International of a three-match series at Kensington Oval in Barbados on Thursday.