Kohli, Rohit pulverise Windies bowling

– Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma (right) both hit centuries and combined in a stand of 246 to help India chase down a difficult target against West Indies for a convincing eight-wicket victory in the opening one-day international yesterday.

Shimron Hetmyer struck his third ODI ton in just his 13th match to help the West Indies to 322/8 after Kohli had won the toss and put the touring side in to bat.

The target of 323 appeared steep when India lost opener Shikhar Dhawan in the second over of their innings but Kohli and Rohit took the West Indies bowling to the cleaners, reaching the mark with 47 deliveries to spare.

Kohli hit a masterful 140 off 107

Guwahati

deliveries for his 36th hundred in the 50-over format while Rohit remained unbeaten on a 117-ball 152 for his 20th ODI ton.

The pacemen and spinners were treated with equal disdain by the 29-year-old Kohli, who smashed 21 fours and two sixes during his classy knock.

India’s captain was finally out when leg-spinner Devendra Bishoo got one to turn past Kohli’s bat with wicketkeeper Shai Hope completing a smart stumping.

Earlier, Hetmyer, 21, who had managed just 50 runs in four innings during the Tests, showed he was much better suited to the 50over format, hitting six sixes and six fours during his 78-ball knock. –