Gill’s record 223 lays waste to Windies 405

GUWAHATI, India (CMC):

Shubman Gill struck the fastest double-century in One-Day International history and Rohit Sharma made 101 as India mowed down 406 to beat West Indies with 39 balls to spare, taking an unassailable 2-0 lead in the three-match series.

On a batting-friendly pitch, West Indies, sent in to bat, posted 405, with John Campbell, Shai Hope and Amir Jangoo all scoring centuries. Debutant Auqib Nabi finished with 0-84 from 8.5 overs, the most expensive figures by an Indian bowler on ODI debut.

India’s reply was even more ruthless. Gill remained unbeaten on 223 from 133 balls, reaching his double-century off just 117 deliveries, nine balls quicker than Ishan Kishan’s previous record.

Rohit scored 101 from 72 balls and became only the third Indian, after Sachin Tendulkar and Virat Kohli, to reach 12,000 ODI runs.

The match produced 811 runs, the third-highest aggregate in ODI history and the first ODI in which five batters scored centuries.

Gill’s innings began somewhat fortuitously. In the opening over, Jayden Seales extracted seam movement and Gill’s attempted cut flew past off stump for four via a thick under-edge.

Seales beat him again in his next over, but Alzarri Joseph and Shamar Joseph offered width and were punished, conceding 14 and 17 runs, respectively, in their first overs. India raced to 92 without loss after 10 overs, with Rohit bringing up his half-century from just 32 balls.

Gill then took charge, advancing to the spinners, striking Roston Chase for two sixes in an over and reaching his century off only 62 deliveries.

West Indies had one genuine opportunity to break the opening stand when Keacy Carty spilled a chance off Rohit on 84 from the bowling of Vitel Lawes. Rohit went on to register his 35th ODI century from 72 balls.

Seales eventually trapped him lbw with a slower delivery in the 27th over, ending a 255-run opening partnership, just three short of the Indian record held by Sachin Tendulkar and Sourav Ganguly, and setting India firmly on course for a record chase.

Gill and Kohli then plundered 25 runs from Seales’s next over as India reached 300 in 29.1 overs, the fastest any team has reached the milestone in an ODI, and more than three overs quicker than South Africa during their famous 438-run chase.

Kohli fell for 29 from 19 balls, ramping Shamar Joseph to third man, where Sherfane Rutherford held a sharp catch at the boundary. Ruturaj Gaikwad rotated the strike efficiently while Gill continued his assault, reaching 150 from 89 deliveries.

Earlier, West Indies built their innings around two substantial partnerships.

Carty, promoted to open in place of the injured Justin Greaves, was caught by Naman Dhir off Prasidh Krishna for nine in the fifth over with the score on 37, India’s only Power Play wicket.

West Indies surged to 96-1 after 10 overs. Campbell blasted a 68-ball century, featuring nine fours and five sixes, and added 110 from 79 balls with Hope before Gurnoor Brar made the breakthrough.

Hope and Jangoo then shared 182 runs from 131 balls. Hope anchored the innings with 104 from 94 deliveries, while Jangoo accelerated impressively from 59 off 54 balls to reach his century from just 70 deliveries.

Kuldeep Yadav ended the partnership on the final ball of the 40th over when Hope was caught by Nabi with the score on 329. Two deliveries later, Brar dismissed Rutherford for a first-ball duck.

Ravindra Jadeja removed Jangoo two overs later, while Kuldeep had Keemo Paul caught by Kohli soon after to claim his 200th ODI wicket, becoming the fastest Indian spinner to reach the milestone. Only Mohammed Shami achieved the feat in fewer matches for India.

Roston Chase’s unbeaten 29 off 25 balls lifted West Indies to 405, but the visitors managed only 76 runs in the final 10 overs, a slowdown that ultimately proved costly as India’s batsmen made the target appear well within reach.