Team India have clinched the ODI series comprehensively as they beat the West Indies in the 3rd and final game by 200 runs. The win comes after Rohit Sharma and co. took the Test series earlier this month to continue their stellar run in the Caribbean.
Shubman Gill ends his lean run in the West Indies:
With the hosts winning the toss, they inserted the Men in Blue to bat, but couldn't build the pressure as Ishan Kishan and Shubman Gill flew high. Unlike in the 2nd ODI, when the young duo gave away a good start, they carried it deep with some flourishing shots. Gill's half-century off 51 deliveries was his first in the West Indies and first of the tour, putting an end to his lean run.
Ishan Kishan was the first to go, but he reached his half-century off only 43 deliveries. The tourists lost Ruturaj Gaikwad for a single-figure score, but the likes of Sanju Samson and Hardik Pandya took calculated risks to propel India to a steep total. Samson went after Yannick Cariah from the get-go smashing him for two sixes in one over. The keeper-batter struck his third maximum two overs later against Jayden Seales and fourth after three more overs.
Gill and Samson added 69 before the latter miscued one to mid-off off Romario Shepherd. Gill also departed shortly for 85, but India were in no mood to give Shai Hope and co. a sniff in the game. Suryakumar Yadav, under immense pressure, joined Hardik Pandya and played some enterprising cricket to propel the visitors to 352.
Pandya, who remained unbeaten at 70, played one of his best innings in a long while and stepped up, with Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma rested.
Mukesh Kumar runs through West Indies' top-order:
Despite India playing a second-string bowling unit, the Men in Maroon failed to cope with it. Mukesh Kumar, playing only his 3rd ODI, didn't let Kyle Mayers, Brandon King, and Shai Hope get to double figures, removing them inside 7 overs.
Their meltdown continued as Kuldeep Yadav and Shardul Thakur bowled attacking lengths to force mistakes from the batters. Alick Athanaze, who offered some resistance with his 32, was one of the 4 West Indian batters reached double-figures before Kuldeep cleaned him up.
The 55-run partnership between Alzarri Joseph and Gudakesh Motie saved the hosts from collapsing before 100. Motie, who top-scored with 39 stayed unbeaten as he watched Shardul dismantle Jayden Seales' stumps to help India register their biggest away win over the West Indies.
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