Virat Kohli fastest to 20,000 international runs
Virat Kohli has added another record to his growing list accolades after annihilating a batting mark held by Sachin Tendulkar and Brian Lara.
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Virat Kohli on Thursday became the fastest batsman to reach 20,000 international runs as he anchored India’s innings in a comfortable victory over West Indies in the World Cup match in Manchester.
The result leaves unbeaten India all but assured a semi-final place while ending any notional hopes the West Indies had of qualifying.
Kohli reached the landmark in his 417th innings with a single off West Indies skipper Jason Holder — India’s Sachin Tendulkar and Caribbean batsman Brian Lara both required 453 international innings to reach the landmark.
Mohammed Shami finished off the West Indies at Old Trafford with a four-wicket haul that netted dismissals at each end of the innings.
India continued its unbeaten streak with the 125-run victory, with Kohli guiding his side to 268-7 before Shami chimed in with figures of 4-16 to skittle West Indies for 143 in the 35th over.
It was a fifth win in the tournament for India, and a rebound in form following a close call against Afghanistan last Saturday when it took Shami’s hat trick in the last over to seal a nervy result.
“These haven’t been massive scoring games, but we’ve found ways of winning,” Kolhi said.
“Fielders … putting bodies on the line, showing their desperation to win. The opposition feels like this team is here to win.
“A lot of self-belief in the team room right now — we feel like we can win from any situation.”
It was a fifth loss in six games for the West Indians since a commanding opening win over Pakistan, and it makes them the third team to drop out of playoffs contention along with Afghanistan and South Africa.
The West Indies bowling attack did its job with Kemar Roach taking 3-36, skipper Jason Holder snaring 2-33 and Sheldon Cottrell taking two late wickets to return 2-50.
Only Kohli, with 72 from 82 balls, and MS Dhoni, with an unbeaten 56, posted half centuries for India. Hardik Pandya contributed 46 from 38 balls in a 70-run stand with Dhoni.
The Indian batsmen grafted in the conditions. The West Indian batsmen didn’t last long enough to really settle, with opening bowlers Jasprit Bumrah and Shami getting on top early with their pace and seam movement.
Shami was drafted in as the new-ball bowler when Bhuvneshwar Kumar injured a hamstring, and with eight wicket in two games he’ll be hard to dislodge.
Shami dismissed Chris Gayle (6) and No. 3 Shai Hope (5) in his opening spell and, after an innings building 55-run partnership between Nicholas Pooran (28) and Sunil Ambris (31), it all went downhill for West Indies.
Shami returned for two late wickets, including the last one with a short ball that No. 11 Oshane Thomas could only fend away to slip.
India moved into second place with 11 points, one behind defending champion Australia, and travels to Birmingham to play England on Sunday.
Originally published as Virat Kohli fastest to 20,000 international runs
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