2nd ODI: India clinches series after Axar Patel's 64 not out
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WI vs IND: Axar Patel hit his maiden ODI half-century to help India take 2-0 lead over WI (AFP Photo)
Axar Patel's maiden ODI fifty, an unbeaten 64 off 35 which included 3 fours and 5 sixes, helped India prevail in a high-scoring game at Queen's Park Oval in Port of Spain, Trinidad as India chased down 312 with two deliveries to spare on Sunday (July 24).
With this gigantic hit in the final over, all-rounder Axar Patel shattered former India captain MS Dhoni's 17-year-old record.
As per the PTI report, Patel clobbered Kyle Mayers straight over the bowler's head for a six as India took an unassailable 2-0 lead in the three-match series. Patel smashed five sixes and three fours in his unconquered innings and added 51 off 33 balls with Deepak Hooda (33) to keep India in the hunt.
This was after Shreyas Iyer (63) and Sanju Samson (54) tried to take the chase deep with well-paced fifties.
"It's very special, to get it in a crucial, series-winning cause is amazing. When I went out, I aimed for 10-11 an over. We thought it could be done as we have IPL experience," Patel, who was adjudged man of the match, said.
"We wanted to be calm and keep cover of the rate. This was special as this is my first ODI since 2017, even my first fifty came here." India skipper Shikhar Dhawan was lavish in his praise for the all-rounder.
"The way Axar played was amazing. Our domestic and IPL cricket keeps us ready as we play in front of big crowds. As Axar said, he's done it multiple times in IPL. That brings a big stage." West Indies skipper Nicholas Pooran said his side lost the game "in the last six overs." "Axar played well and we didn't hold our nerves. We could not keep things down in the last five overs. We felt that it got easier to hit spinners. One wicket would have opened up things but Axar played brilliantly," he said.