In a series that has looked mostly like a misatch, the third, deciding ODI between India and West Indies on Wednesday proved no different.
India cruised to a five-wicket victory with 23 balls remaining for a 2-1 series triumph, and probably could have won even sooner if they’d wanted to press the issue.
Things started well enough for the tourists. After scores of 71 and 70 from Kieran Powell and Marlon Samuels, plus another half-century from Darren Bravo, lifted West Indies to a respectable 263/5, the dangerous Rohit Sharma was caught out by Dwayne Bravo from a Ravi Rampaul delivery for just four.
And in the ninth over Rampaul struck again, capturing Virat Kohli’s wicket after he was caught out by Johnson Charles.
With the No 1 and 3 in the India batting line-up felled for just a combined 23, the West Indians had to be feeling like they were in pretty good shape.
That was, though, as good as it would get for them.
Shikhar Dhawan, India’s other opener, formed a 129-run partnership with Yuvraj Singh on the third wicket to bring India to 190 for three and then only lost his own at 119, caught and boweld by Dwayne Bravo at last.
The damage was done, though, and at 218 for four as Dhawan left the wicket, India meandered their way through the remaining 45 runs. Needing just 12 runs after over 42, India scored 11 in the next four overs before MS Dhoni finally knocked a boundary on the first ball of the 47th over to put an end to things.
They were in no rush – it was that kind of day. That kind of series.
Ravichandran Ashwin took a pair of wickets for 45 to lead the Indian bowlers, with Mohammed Shami, Ravinrda Jadeja and Bhuvneshwar Kumar each claimed one.
Sunil Narine took Yuvraj Singh’s wicket and held India to just 32 runs from his 10 overs and Rampaul took two for 55, offering up mostly all of West Indies’ resistance.
