Mumbai,31 March। Star batsman Virat Kohli smashed an unbeaten 89 off just 47 balls to steer India to a challenging 192/2 in 20 overs against West Indies in the second semi-final of the World Twenty20 cricket tournament at the Wankhede Stadium here on Thursday.
En route his 16th T20I half-century, Kohli struck 11 boundaries and one six to help the team post a competitive total.
Put into bat, openers Rohit Sharma (43) and Ajinkya Rahane (40) got India off to a flying start scoring 55 runs without losing a wicket in the powerplay.
But as Rohit was cruising after striking three boundaries and three sixes, leg-spinner Samuel Badree brought the much-needed breakthrough dismissing Rohit leg before wicket to have India at 62/1 in 7.2 overs.
Incoming in-form batsman Virat Kohli along with Rahane played sensibly, stealing quick singles, twos, and a couple of boundaries to keep the scoreboard ticking and help team reach 86/1 in 10 overs.
The duo used their experience to good effect to not allow the Windies bowlers dot balls.
The two right-handed batsmen converted ones into twos and twos into threes to help the team cross the 100-run mark in the 13th over.
But as the home side was cruising to take on the Windies bowlers, Andre Russel struck in the 16th over to dismiss Rahane to have India at 128/2.
Next up, skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni (15 not out) who promoted himself up the batting order gave good support to Kohli as the duo piled on some useful runs with boundaries and sixes at regular intervals to bring up an unbeaten 64-run partnership for the third wicket and thus help the team post a competitive total.
Samuel Badree (1-26) was the pick of the bowlers for West Indies.
Brief scores: India 192/2 in 20 overs (Virat Kohli 89 not out, Rohit Sharma 43, Ajinkya Rahane 40; Samuel Badree 1-26, Andre Russell 1-47)
Agency