Axar Patel made 64 off 35 balls with the help of 3 fours and 5 sixes. The five sixes he hit during the chase is now the most by an India batter at No.7 or lower in a successful ODI chase.
India beat West Indies in the second ODI match by 2 wickets on sunday at Trinidad. India’s all-rounder Axar Patel became the hero of the match by playing a beautiful innings in the last overs. He made his maiden half-century in ODI in just 27 balls.
West Indies had set a tough target of 312 runs with the help of Shai Hope’s century (115 off 135 balls) and Captain Nicholas Pooran’s half-century (74 off 77 balls) but their innings went in vain in front of Axar Patel’s fastest half-century.
India’s Sanju Samson (54) and Shreyas Iyer (63) also played very good innings. They both hit half-century and kept India’s hope alive in the match. But after Iyer and Samson’s wicket, it was the Axar Patel who moved India’s scoreboard fastly.
Deepak Hooda and Axar Patel also made a good partnership of 51 runs. Akeal Hosein dismissed Hooda (33) and brought Windies back on top. Then, Axar Patel remained only hope for India.
Patel was calm even in that situation and played very good shots. The match reached in the last over and Axar Patel was on the crease while Kyle Mayers was bowling. India needed 6 off 3 balls. Patel hit a magnificent six on the fourth ball of last over and helped India to win the match by 2 wickets with 2 balls to spare.
Axar Patel hit his maiden half-century in ODI
Axar Patel made 64 off 35 balls with the help of 3 fours and 5 sixes. The five sixes he hit during the chase is now the most by an India batter at No.7 or lower in a successful ODI chase.
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“I think this is a special one. It came at a crucial time and also helped the team to win the series. We have done the same in the IPL. We just needed to remain calm and keep the intensity up. I was playing an ODI after close to 5 years. I would want to continue performing like this for my team,” Patel said after the match.
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