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Dharmasala - A sparkling 127 from Virat Kohli set India up for a 59-run victory over the West Indies in the fourth one-day international at the picturesque Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association Stadium in Dharmasala on Friday.
After an inept fielding display, Marlon Samuels saved the visitors' blushes with a masterful 112 off 106, to take the West Indies to 271 before Mohammad Shami put an end to his resistance and the innings, sealing the series for India 2-1.
With rumours and counter-rumours about the supposed abandoned tour doing the rounds, the West Indies' chase seemed doomed from the off, as they lost Dwayne Smith without scoring, and Kieron Pollard (6) with the score on 27 after 11 overs.
However, Darren Bravo (40) showed some backbone, adding 55 with Samuels for the third wicket. A flurry of wickets in the middle set their efforts back, but Andre Russel hit a cameo 46 off only 23 balls (six fours and three sixes) to give the visitors hope. But with his departure, Samuels was left with too much to do on his own, and he was the last man dismissed with 11 deliveries remaining.Having been invited to bat, India surged to 330 for six.
Kohli reached his 20th ODI century against a lacklustre West Indies fielding side, who had announced that they were abandoning their tour of the subcontinent following an internal dispute.
Kohli was run out off the final delivery of the innings, having faced 114 balls. He dispatched the ball to the boundary on 13 occasions and cleared it three times.
Openers Ajinkya Rahane (68) and Shikhar Dhawan (35) gave the hosts a solid 70-run platform in just over 11 overs, before Kohli joined Rahane.
Suresh Raina found his form again, with a well-struck 58-ball 71, adding a maddening 138 runs with Kohli off only 108 deliveries, plundering five maximums off a pretty disinterested bowling attack. The West Indies managed to prise out some wickets at the end of the innings, but India still added 94 runs in the last 10 overs. Sulieman Benn survived the onslaught, conceding only 30 runs in his eight overs, and trapping Rahane in front.
