India warm up with big win over West Indies

Kolkata, Rohit Sharma smashed a scintillating 98 not out at his favourite Eden Gardens as India registered a comprehensive 45-run win over the West Indies in their World T20 warm-up match here today.
Continuing with his love-affair at a venue where he had scored an ODI world record 264, Sharma plundered the Windies attack with seven sixes and nine fours in his 57-ball unbeaten 98 to power India to 185/6 after they batted first following a mutual decision. In reply, West Indies were all out for 140 in 19.2 overs with the Indian bowlers coming up with an impressive show.
Mohammed Shami, Pawan Negi, Ravindra Jadeja and Hardik Pandya took two wickets apiece while Harbhajan Singh and Jasprit Bumrah got a wicket each.
In-form Sharma missed a century as he was left with just a few deliveries after Jerome Taylor dismissed Pawan Negi (8) and Hardik Pandya (0) off consecutive balls in the final over.
Sharma finally got the strike on the fourth ball and raced to 98 with a boundary over fine leg. However, he failed to score off the next two deliveries.
Yuvraj Singh played a fine cameo of 31 from 20 balls (1×6, 3×4) as his third-wicket partnership of 89 from 46 balls with Sharma lifted India from 62/2 at the midway stage.
In reply, Windies were off to a flying start with Chris Gayle (20 from 11 balls; 3×4, 1×6) on fire. But the big
hitting opener was bowled by Jasprit Bumrah in his first over, before Pawan Negi (2/15) and Ravindra Jadeja (2/26) dented the Caribbean chase.
Gayle took the attack to the Indian team, which started off with Ravichandran Aswhin and Harbhajan Singh. The duo leaked 26 runs in the first two overs.
Returning from an injury lay-off, Mohammed Shami was hit for two boundaries as Windies raced to 35 for no loss in three overs. Captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni then brought in Bumrah and he was right on target, castling Gayle with a full-length delivery.
Shami made it 40/2 in the next over, dismissing opener Johnson Charles (18). West Indies seemed clueless to the spin pair of Negi and Jadeja, who ran through the middle order. Shami looked fully fit and returned with 2/30.