India blow away Windies in ODI series decider
TAROUBA, Trinidad and Tobago (AFP) — India swiftly erased the memory of a poor second match to annihilate the West Indies by 200 runs in the decisive third and final one-day international (ODI) at the Brian Lara Stadium on Tuesday.
Even with senior players in captain Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli still rested the tourists’ batting finally came good collectively to post a formidable 351-5 batting first.
Their seamers then demolished the home side’s top order and a ninth-wicket partnership of 55 merely delayed the inevitable with the West Indies bundled out for 151 off 35.3 overs.
India’s margin of victory was their second largest in ODIs against the West Indies and also extended their run of bilateral series wins against the Caribbean team in the format to 13.
Openers Shubman Gill and Ishan Kishan set the tone for the India innings after they were put in with man-of-the-series Kishan benefiting from an early dropped chance to belt 77 off 64 balls – his third consecutive half-century – in an opening stand of 143.
Gill was more circumspect in getting to a top score of 85 off 92 balls before falling to Gudakesh Motie.
In this first-ever men’s ODI to be played at the venue, the West Indies were never in the hunt after Mukesh Kumar’s opening burst removed openers Brandon King and Kyle Mayers before adding the important wicket of Captain Shai Hope.
“I keep stressing on our attitude because I don’t think we are consistent enough,” Hope lamented. “Some days we compete with the best in the world, other days we get steamrolled.”
Both squads now prepare for the final leg of the tour, a five-match T20 international series, with the first fixture on Thursday also at the Brian Lara Stadium.