Photo: ICC/TwitterWhen he started the second match against West Indies, Mohammed Shami was on par with New Zealand's Trent Boult for the most wickets in ODIs in 2019 with the Indian pacer having matched the tally of 38 wickets in one game less.
He went past that total when he struck at a crucial juncture when West Indies were steadily establishing themselves back in the game with Shai Hope and Nicholas Pooran forging a 106-run partnership in just 79 balls.
Bowling the 29th over, Mohammed Shami induced a top-edge from Nicholas Pooran and had him caught out on the long leg boundary to ensure he edged ahead of Boult. In the very next ball, the 29-year-old sent back captain Kieron Pollard by making him nick one to wicket-keeper Rishabh Pant.
Super Shami gets 2 in 2! 🤩
— Hotstar US (@Hotstarusa) December 18, 2019
Just when the #MenInMaroon seemed to be running away with the game, India's star bowler brings them right back. #WI - 192/5 (29.3 overs) #FriendsTurnFoes #INDvWI pic.twitter.com/0SrJTPARdD
The brace of wickets not only got India back in the game but set up for what turned out to be a comprehensive victory.
Mohammed Shami, a Kings XI Punjab star in the VIVO Indian Premier League, returned in the 44th over to bowl out Keemo Paul and wrap up the Windies innings to hand India a 107-run win.
Earlier, India had scored a massive 387/5 courtesy centuries from Rohit Sharma and KL Rahul, who scored the third century of his ODI career.
With figures of 3/39 in 7.3 overs, Mohammed Shami ended 2019 with 41 wickets in 20 matches at an average of 21.58. Boult has 38 in as many matches at 23.97 apiece.
