3rd ODI: Shreyas Iyer, bowlers help India hammer insipid West Indies, complete 3-0 series sweep
India Today
India vs West Indies: A brilliant fight from the middle-order and a dominant show from the pacers saw India beat West Indies by 96 runs in the 3rd ODI and complete a 3-0 sweep of the series in Ahmedabad on Friday.
Less than a month after they were hammered 0-3 in South Africa, India put behind the memories of the setback to decimate West Indies in a 3-match series and inflict a 3-0 sweep on the visiting team from the Caribbean. Rohit Sharma's men came up with a fine all-round effort to outclass an insipid West Indies by 96 runs in the 3rd ODI and complete the series whitewash at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad on Friday.
It was an ODI series to forget for the former World Champions who are falling down the ladder when it comes to making a mark in the 50-over format of the game. Chasing 266, West Indies managed just 169 runs in 37.1 overs as their hopeless batting performance was on display.
This was the first time India have managed to clean sweep West Indies in a bilateral ODI series. It is also their 11th successive ODI series win over the West Indies since 2007.
IND vs WI, 3rd ODI Highlights
With captain Kieron Pollard, who missed the last 2 ODIs due to a knee injury, watching from the dug-out, West Indies batters kept coming and going in a horror show. All-rounder Odean Smith, who is expected to trigger bidding war at the Indian Premier League auction on Saturday and Sunday, was the lone bright spot as he hit an 18-ball 36 but it was not enough for the visitors.
Tail-enders Alzarri Joseph (29) and Hayden Walsh Jr (13) delayed the inevitable with a frustrating 47-run stand for the 9th wicket but Mohammed Siraj and Prasidh Krishna wrapped it up before the 40-over mark.
Stand-in captain Nicholas Pooran, who failed in the first 2 matches, showed some responsibility but he was not able to carry and get a big one even as wickets were falling around him. Openers Shai Hope and Brandon King failed yet again as they managed just 85 runs between them across the 3 matches while senior batter Darren Bravo finished the series with 39 runs in 3 outings, bringing to light the top-order struggles that the West Indies have been going through for quite some time in ODI cricket.
