LUCKNOW – Skipper Rohit Sharma smashed his fourth T20 international century – the most by any batsman in the format – to set up India’s convincing 71-run series-clinching win over West Indies on Tuesday.
Sharma hit an unbeaten 111 off 61 deliveries to power the hosts to 192/2 after being put into bat first in the second T20 at Lucknow’s newly built cricket stadium.
India then restricted the tourists to 124/9 and take an unassailable 2-0 lead in the three-match series.
Fast bowlers Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Khaleel Ahmed and Jasprit Bumrah, along with spinner Kuldeep Yadav, took two wickets each.
But the day belonged to Sharma. He put on 123 runs with opening partner Shikhar Dhawan – who made 43 – to pummel the West Indian bowling after paceman Oshane Thomas started with a maiden over.
Sharma, who now has 2 203 runs in 86 matches, became India’s highest run-scorer in T20s after surpassing regular captain Virat Kohli (2 102) during his red-hot knock.
He is now the second highest scorer in the world behind New Zealand’s Martin Guptill, on 2 271.
The right-left combination of Sharma and Dhawan, who surpassed 1 000 T20 runs during his 41-ball knock, smashed the balls to all parts of the huge ground before the first wicket fell in the 14th over.
Dhawan, who survived a dropped catch on 28, finally fell to spinner Fabien Allen as Nicholas Pooran took a diving catch at long leg.
Sharma then launched an attack as he hit eight fours and seven sixes during his entertaining blitz in front of a raucous home crowd.
Lokesh Rahul, unbeaten on 26, had the best view when Sharma reached his century in the last over of the innings with a boundary off his opposite number Carlos Brathwaite.
The Caribbean batting faltered in their chase after losing their openers Shai Hope, for six, and Shimron Hetmyer, for 15, early.
Ahmed bowled Hope in his very first over, and then got the dangerous Hetmyer caught at long-on three overs later with his left-arm pace.
Left-arm wrist-spinner Kuldeep Yadav soon joined forces to take two quick wickets, and paceman Jasprit Bumrah got the big-hitting Kieron Pollard caught and bowled as West Indies slipped to 68/5.
Hitman @ImRo45 all smiles as he receives the Paytm Man of the Match award for his brilliant knock of 111* #INDvWI pic.twitter.com/NnCejRrMnz
— BCCI (@BCCI) November 6, 2018
The Caribbeans kept losing wickets at regular intervals, with Darren Bravo top-scoring with 23.
It has been a complete domination by India after they swept the Test series 2-0 and then won the one-day internationals 3-1.
The third T20 is scheduled in Chennai on Sunday.