Skipper Virat Kohli hit an entertaining century to help India post a convincing 50-run win over the West Indies in a Group B encounter of the Under-19 cricket World Cup at the Kinrara Academy Oval here on Friday.
Sent in to bat, the Indian colts scored 265 for five in 50 overs and then bowled out their opponents for 215 in 47.5 overs, putting a full stop to the West Indies’ campaign in the tournament.
Opener Taruwar Kohli (50) and Tanmay Srivastava (51) scored patient half-centuries and gathered 102 runs for the second wicket after the early dismissal of Shreevats Goswami (2). Saurabh Tiwary (38) gave company to his skipper Virat and played an important role in putting up 111 runs for the fourth wicket.
Virat’s quickfire hundred came off just 74 balls and was studded with 10 boundaries and four sixes. In reply, the West Indies made a good start as openers K Powell (29) and A Barath (24) garnered 44 runs in just five overs. Then the islanders lost wickets at regular intervals barring a brief period when Darren Bravo (43) partnered with Devon Thomas (32) to weave a 75-run partnership for the fifth wicket.
Siddarth Kaul (3-37) was the pick of bowlers for India, while Ravindra Jadeja and Ajitesh Argal claimed two wickets each. India next take on England in the quarter-finals on February 24.