India’s in-form batsmen Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma didn’t deliver on Wednesday, but opener Shikhar Dhawan’s 119 and Yuvraj Singh’s return-to-form 55 ensured India didn’t need to break much sweat in chasing West Indies’ competitive 263 for 5 in the third and deciding ODI of the three- match series in Kanpur. The five-wicket win gave India a 2-1 series win after West Indies levelled the series in Vizag, where the visitors held their nerves to win by two-wickets in the last over.
Shikhar Dhawan never looked perturbed despite losing his in-form partners Rohit and Kohli and kept attacking to bring up his hundred off just 73 balls. In partnership with Yuvraj, who too played his strokes freely, Dhawan added 129 for the third wicket. That lay the foundation of India’s comprehensive win.
West Indies could have scored much more, but lost way after losing half-centurions Kieran Powell (70) and Marlon Samuels (71). But for a late flourish from Darren Bravo (51 not out) and Darren Sammy (37 not out), the visitors would not have crossed 250.
Comfortably placed at 137 for 1 at one stage, West Indies looked set for a big score but India staged a comeback with quick wickets to restrict West Indies to the manageable score.
For the hosts, off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin was the pick of the bowlers with figures of two for 45 from his quota of 10 overs.
SCORES IN BRIEF
WEST INDIES: 263 for 5 in 50 overs (Powell 70, Samuels 71, Darren Bravo 51 not out, Sammy 37 not out; Ashwin 2-45)
INDIA: 266 for five in 46.1 overs (Dhawan 119, Kohli 19, Yuvraj 55, Raina 35, Dhoni 23 not out; Rampaul 2-55, Dwayne Bravo 2-57)
Result: India won by 5 wickets and clinched three-match series 2-1.
Player-of-the-match: Shikhar Dhawan.
Player-of-the-series: Virat Kohli.
-With Cnn-Ibn input
