Normalcy prevailed as Hardik Pandya-led India beat West Indies in the three-ODI series decider by a massive margin of 200 runs. After posting a record total of 351 on the board, Indian bowlers put up a clinical display at Brian Lara Stadium, Tarouba, Trinidad to bowl out the hosts for 151 and seal the series 2-1.
The 200-run win is India's second-largest against West Indies in ODIs. This is India's 13th series win over West Indies.
Kishan’s milestone
Earlier, Hope won the toss and opted to field first. Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli were benched again. Kishan got an early reprieve as Keacy Carty dropped his catch at backward point off Kyle Mayers’ bowling. Gill found his groove after a slow start. Kishan attacked more and got to his half-century from 43 balls. He became only the second Indian wicketkeeper-batter after Mahendra Singh Dhoni to score a half-century in every match of an ODI series. Also, he is the sixth Indian batter to achieve the milestone in ODIs.
Record partnership
Gill got to his half-century from 51 balls with a boundary off Yannic Cariah. Kishan continued to attack but he played one shot too many. He charged down the track against Cariah and got out stumped. The southpaw scored 77 runs from 64 balls including eight fours and three sixes. They shared a 143-run partnership, the highest opening partnership for India against West Indies on Caribbean soil.
Samson’s quickfire fifty
Playing his first game of the series Ruturaj Gaikwad got out to Alzarri Joseph for a single-digit score. Sanju Samson came out all guns blazing and hit Cariah for two sixes in the first four balls he faced. In no time Samson got to his half-century from 39 balls, his third in the format. But he could not carry on and fell victim to Romario Shepherd's slower delivery.
Pandya guides India to big total
Skipper Pandya joined Gill in the middle. The opener was cruising towards his century. He went for a pull shot but got caught by mid-wicket fielder. Gudakesh Motie got the big wicket in the 39th over. He scored 85 runs from 92 balls including 11 fours. Suryakumar Yadav and Pandya picked up the pace. Suryakumar got a good start but failed to convert again. He scored 35 runs from 30 balls including two fours and as many sixes. Pandya led the charge and got to his half-century from 45 balls in the penultimate over. In the final over, he hit Shepherd for two sixes and a four to get the score to 351/5. This is India’s highest score against West Indies in West Indies. Also, it is India’s highest ODI score without a century.
Collapse of epic proportions
The run chase got off to the worst possible start. Brandon King got out for a five-ball duck to Mukesh Kumar. In his next over, Mayers got out bowled after scoring just a boundary. Mukesh got the new ball talking again and dismissed Hope who chased a delivery outside off. Playing his first ODI in nearly a decade, Jaydev Unadkat stuck in his first over. Carty edged one to slip fielder Gill. In the next over, Shardul Thakur got the wicket of Shimron Hetmyer. West Indies lost half their side for 40 from 12 overs.
Thakur mops up wagging tail
Shepherd tried to attack and hit for a couple of boundaries only to get out the next ball. Athanaze and Cariah tried to get a partnership going. Kuldeep stopped him in the tracks. Athanaze got bowled for a 50-ball 32. The left-arm chinaman then trapped Cariah in front of the stumps. The ninth-wicket partnership between Motie and Joseph frustrated India for a while. They put on 55 runs for the ninth wicket. Thakur was brought back into the attack and got the wicket of Joseph who scored 26 runs. In the 36th over, Thakur wrapped up the game with the wicket of Jayden Seales. Motie remained unbeaten for 39 off 34 balls. West Indies got all out for 151 from 35.3 overs and lost the game by 200 runs.
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