Twitter Reactions: Virat Kohli, Dhoni and Pandya help India post 268 on a slow Manchester pitch
MS Dhoni farmed the strike in the last over and added 16 crucial runs to finish in style.
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India have posted a more than challenging total of 268 runs after opting to bat first at the Old Trafford. After starting decently, they lost their way in the middle but half-centuries from Virat Kohli and MS Dhoni made sure that they got close to 270 eventually. Hardik Pandya also came out and cleverly played to score 46 runs at a strike-rate of 121. His partnership with Dhoni was crucial and the Caribbeans will have to bat out of their skins now to stay alive in the tournament.
After opting to bat first, Rohit Sharma seemed to be in the mood to get a big score He played a couple of eye-catching strokes which also included a pull shot for six off Kemar Roach. However, the same bowler nipped one back sharply into the batsman and got Rohit caught behind. Though the third umpire’s decision looked controversial it seemed out on ultra edge and India were rocked early.
Virat Kohli and KL Rahul then steadied the innings. Both the batsmen presented their class with some of the shots they played. The latter was looking in extremely good on 48 but it was again a case of throwing away a start from Rahul. Jason Holder breached his defence with came in with the angle and left his stumps in a mess. Vijay Shankar continued to disappoint batting at number four and could only muster 14 runs before getting out to Roach.
Roach bowled a superb second spell and also got the better of Kedar Jadhav to end with the figures of 3/36 in his 10 overs. Meanwhile, Kohli completed 20,000 international runs of his career after getting to 37 and also notched up his fourth consecutive half-century.
Dhoni and Pandya propel India in the death overs
MS Dhoni came out and struggled early on in his innings much like he did against Afghanistan. Shai Hope also missed his stumping while Kohli looked sublime during the 40-run partnership. However, against the run of play, there was a misjudgement from the Indian captain, and his pull shot off Holder went straight to the mid-wicket fielder’s hand.
Kohli scored 72 runs and again looked a class apart from others on a tough pitch to bat on. His knock was laced with 8 fours. Hardik Pandya walked out and after taking some time in the middle, instilled some life into the innings in the death overs. Even Dhoni played smartly by manoeuvering the ball in the deep and ran two.
Pandya-Dhoni duo stitched the much-needed partnership of 70 runs off 60 deliveries. Pandya got out in the penultimate over but not before scoring brisk 46 runs off 38 balls with five fours to his name. But then MS Dhoni, the last over specialist was in the middle and he more than made up for his earlier dot balls in the end. He denied singles to Kuldeep Yadav and farmed strike in the last over to face Oshane Thomas.
India added 16 runs in the final over and the score was propelled to 268 after 50 overs. Dhoni smashed two sixes and a four off Thomas to finish with a fine unbeaten half-century (56*). This looks a good total now and the Windies will have to bat really well against the spinners to get to the target.
Here’s how Twitter reacted:
Rashid Khan had gone for 25 in 4 overs , gave away only 13 in his next 6 and today Fabian Allen had given 34 in 5 overs, only 18 in next 5. Can’t be so defensive against the spinners.
— Virender Sehwag (@virendersehwag) June 27, 2019
Virat Kohli is just amazing! 20,000 runs already. How does he do this so consistently?! So much to learn, this is beyond cricket … it’s about professionalism, credibility, responsibility. None of us can afford to slack at our jobs, he treats his batting in the same way ✌????
— Danish Sait (@DanishSait) June 27, 2019
You just get a sense if Rishabh Pant was in this #Ind side, it takes them to another level given the loss of Dhawan. A real X-factor! Maybe next game? #CWC19 #INDvsWI
— Lisa Sthalekar (@sthalekar93) June 27, 2019
India’s middle-muddle is for real. There’s simply too much dependency on Kohli-Rohit. Dhawan is being missed…. #IndvWI #CWC19
— Aakash Chopra (@cricketaakash) June 27, 2019
Rishab Pant !!!!!!!!!!!!! How he doesn’t get in this team I will never know …… #CWC19
— Michael Vaughan (@MichaelVaughan) June 27, 2019
No idea totally baffling.????
— Mark Waugh (@juniorwaugh349) June 27, 2019
Today is the first real test for the Indian Middle order #INDvsWI #CWC19
— subramani badrinath (@s_badrinath) June 27, 2019
20K runs already in international cricket! Congratulations @imVkohli, keep growing. The flag bearer of this new #TeamIndia clan. #WIvIND #CWC19
— Pragyan Prayas Ojha (@pragyanojha) June 27, 2019
MS Dhoni’s half century. Twitter, you know nothing! #CWC19 #IndvsWI #WIvInd
— Chetan Narula (@chetannarula) June 27, 2019
Hard worked half century. And a brilliant finish again @msdhoni #masterclass #CWC2019 #IndvsWin pic.twitter.com/fHpyyCR6bu
— surya77 (@surya_14kumar) June 27, 2019
This Dhoni guy just wants to mess with twitter.#IndvWI
— Gaurav Sethi (@BoredCricket) June 27, 2019
Strong finish from Dhoni and India, but the spinners will have to come into play big time in defence of 268 #CWC19 #INDvWI
— Anand Vasu (@anandvasu) June 27, 2019
Last ball six is permanent
— Parshva (@Parshva1718) June 27, 2019
MS Dhoni.
Mind over matter. Think SEVERAL times before you dismiss him.
Keep harping about it; a lot of cricket is played in the head! #cwc19 #WIvIND
— Arun Gopalakrishnan (@statanalyst) June 27, 2019
What is the procedure to ask why Dhoni did not try to accelerate perhaps a *little* earlier without being asked to leave the country? I mean, finishing with 56 off 61 is great and all but surely there is a slightly less complicated way to reach there? #CWC19
— Vinayakk (@vinayakkm) June 27, 2019
itni jageh mein mumbai mein 1 bhk ban jata hai pic.twitter.com/8r8TU4wiYw
— Arun LoL (@dhaikilokatweet) June 27, 2019
#INDvWI
From next match, all batsman should be instructed to walk up to Dhoni after every single over and whisper, “Boss, last over.”— Ramesh Srivats (@rameshsrivats) June 27, 2019
Classic almost run-a-ball Dhoni innings swinging between love and hate. #INDvsWI
— Trendulkar (@Trendulkar) June 27, 2019
dhoni should only come to bat for the last over the match#INDvWI
— Dr. Gill 2.0 (@ikpsgill1) June 27, 2019
Great finish as usual the man himself @msdhoni bhai top knock ???????????????????????????? #Legend #IndvsWI #WorldCup2019 @ICC @BCCI
— Rahul Sharma (@ImRahulSharma3) June 27, 2019
@hardikpandya7 best all-rounder in the World Cup. #CWC19 #cricket #IndvWI
— Brad Hogg (@Brad_Hogg) June 27, 2019
Breaking: Huge increase in Dhoni’s net positive intent. Sachin in shock! #INDvsWI
— Keh Ke Peheno (@coolfunnytshirt) June 27, 2019
82 of the last 10, well done from Hardik and Dhoni in the end. Kohli made batting look easy while he was out there, a decent score on this wicket. #INDvsWI
— Mohammad Kaif (@MohammadKaif) June 27, 2019
IndvsWi #WC19 pic.twitter.com/98o5iF3fqI
— Mohammed Azharuddin (@azharflicks) June 27, 2019
82 runs in the last 10 overs. Middle order hamstrung by the fact that tail begins at no.8.
Still doesn’t mean Dhoni doesn’t have issues against spin. Still doesn’t mean there is no place for him in this XI.
Batting line-up needs a balance, that’s all. #CWC19 #IndvsWI #WIvInd
— Chetan Narula (@chetannarula) June 27, 2019
The India innings featured 162 dot balls! #INDvWI #CWC19
— Nishad Pai Vaidya (@NishadPaiVaidya) June 27, 2019
Well Played #Dhoni. Let his bat do the talking as always. Don’t tell me it was slow. Coming in at 140/4 at 28.5 and held one end till the 50th Over and better Strike rate than most of #TeamIndia Batsman.
Now STFU haters and Cheer for India. pic.twitter.com/LnEuGyhV0u— Prabhu (@Cricprabhu) June 27, 2019
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