India maul WI to take ODI series

TAROUBA, Trinidad (CMC):

WEST INDIES’ hopes of a long-awaited series win over India were ruthlessly shattered yesterday, when they suffered a 200-run annihilation in the decisive third One-Day International (ODI) at Brian Lara Stadium.

The Caribbean side never recovered after India plundered 351 for five from their 50 overs – their largest ever total against them in the region – Shubman Gill (85), Ishan Kishan (77), Hardik Pandya (70 not out) and Sanju Samson (51) all lashing half-centuries.

Faced with a daunting run chase and a required run rate of a shade over seven, West Indies were ripped apart by seamers Shardul Thakur (4-26) and Mukesh Kumar (3-30), capitulating for a paltry 151 in the 36th over to mark their second heaviest ODI defeat to India by runs.

Of the specialist batsmen, only rookie left-hander Alick Athanaze with 32 managed to reach double figures, and it was left to tail-enders Gudakesh Motie (39 not out) and Alzarri Joseph (26) to avert total embarrassment for the home side by posting a courageous 55 for the ninth wicket.

“Obviously, we saw how good the wicket was in the back end there but I just don’t think we restricted them well enough,” said captain Shai Hope, who suffered a rare failure when he perished for five in the seventh over.

“We also put down an early chance and that could’ve changed the whole complexion of the entire innings.

“We didn’t give them a challenge at the start [with the new ball] but they’re still human beings and you have to understand that the India players batted well as well.

“But for us, I still thought that 350 was a gettable total, especially on that wicket. Today just wasn’t our day.”

Dropped on nine at backward point by Keacy Carty off medium pacer Kyle Mayers in the second over, Ishan put his foot down to pummel his third straight half-century of the series, and provide the foundation for India’s start, in a 143-run opening stand with Gill.

The 25-year-old left-hander struck eight fours and three sixes in a 64-ball knock while the 23-year-old Gill punched 11 fours off 92 balls, putting on a further 69 for the third wicket with Samson after Ishan and Ruturaj Gaikwad (8) perished in the space of 21 balls with 11 runs added, at 154 for two at the end of the 23rd.

Samson, who counted two fours and four sixes in a rapid 41-ball knock, fell close to Gill to leave India on 244 for four in the 39th over but any dreams West Indies entertained of limiting the damage were quickly dashed.

Pandya, leading the side in Rohit Sharma’s absence, arrived to energise the back end of the innings, first in a 65-run fifth-wicket stand with Suryakumar Yadav (35) and then in a 42-run, unbroken sixth-wicket alliance with Ravindra Jadeja (eight not out), as India went into overdrive to gather 104 runs from the last 10 overs.

In reply, the West Indies looked in danger of being bowled out for under 100 when they slipped to 88 for eight in the 24th over, but number 10 Motie belted four fours and three sixes in a 34-ball cameo and Joseph supported with a four and a brace of sixes in a 39-ball innings, to save face.

India captured the three-match series 2-1 to extend their near decade-long dominance over West Indies.