New Delhi: India's batting has always been it's main strength over the years and during the second ODI against West Indies at the Queen's Park Oval stadium in Port of Spain, Virat Kohli and his troops set a new milestone.
Batting first, India amassed 310/5 in 43 overs (reduced due to rain), and by doing so, they became the side with most number of of 300+ totals in the 50-over format of the game. This was 96th instance when India crossed the 300-run mark in ODIs, surpassing 5-time World Champions Australia (95).
Meanwhile, South Africa (77), Pakistan (69) and Sri Lanka (63) complete the top-5 list of most number of 300+ scores in ODIs.
India reached their maiden 300 during versus Pakistan at Sharjah in April 1996 and since then, the Men in Blue have crossed the 300-run mark another 95 times. India have registered 75 victories and 19 losses while two matches have ended in a tie.
India's 310/5 today is their 96th total of 300 or more- one more than Australia. A world record!!!#WIvIND #WIvsIND— Rajneesh Gupta (@rgcricket) June 25, 2017
Most times 300+ in ODIs96 Ind95 Aus77 SAf69 Pak63 SL57 Eng51 NZ#WIvInd— Mohandas Menon (@mohanstatsman) June 25, 2017
India produced a stunning all-round performance to thrash West Indies by 105 runs in the second ODI take a 1-0 lead in the five match series.
The bowlers stunned the hosts with their impeccable line and length after India's top three came up with the goods as the Men in Blue recorded their biggest ever victory in West Indies.
Chasing a mammoth target of 311, West Indies got off to the worst start possible as Bhuvneshwar Kumar removed Kieron Powell for a duck. Bhuvi wasn't done there as in his next over he got rid of Jason Mohammed to make it 4/2.
Shai Hope and Evin Lewis then stitched an 89-run stand for the fourth wicket to steady the ship. Hope also slammed his second ODI half-century in the process.
But the partnership was finally broken by Chinaman Kuldeep Yadav, who got rid of Lewis to pick his first ODI wicket of his career. Kuldeep then removed Hope for 81 and with that went away any chances of a West Indies victory.
Earlier, Ajinkya Rahane smashed his third ODI hundred as India produced a dominating batting display to pile on 310 for 5 in their second cricket ODI.
Put into bat, India dashed West Indies hopes of any early breakthrough on a damp-looking pitch as they negotiated the initial overs without losing any wicket before launching on the erratic home side bowlers to post a big total after the match was reduced to 43-over a side due to rain.
Rahane (103) and his opener partner Dhawan (63) laid a strong foundation with a 114-run stand and despite a bit of a wobble in the middle overs, India went past 300 with captain Virat Kohli stamping his class with a 66-ball 87 later in the innings.