Updated at: 0927 PST, Sunday, June 12, 2011
ANTIGUA: A superb unbeaten 86 from Rohit Sharma led India to a three-wicket victory over West Indies Saturday to secure the five-match one-day series for the tourists who now have an unassailable 3-0 lead.
Sharma led India’s recovery from 92 for six as they chased down 226 at the Sir Vivian Richards stadium.
An 88-run partnership with Harbhajan Singh (41) put India back in contention and then Praveen Kumar (25 not out) saw the tourists through to a comfortable victory with 22 balls to spare.
It was a day for lower order contributions with West Indies only managing to set a decent target thanks to an outstanding 92 not out from 84 balls by Jamaican Andre Russell.
Russell’s score is the highest made by a number nine batsman in one-day internationals and included a 78-run partnership with wicketkeeper Carlton Baugh as the Caribbean side recovered from 85-6.
The big hitting innings included eight fours and five sixes as the success-starved home crowd were finally treated to some entertainment.
Once again West Indies struggled against spin with leg-spinner Amit Mishra taking 3-28 from his ten allotted overs.
Opener Lendl Simmons again was the pick of the West Indies batsmen with 45 before Mishra had him caught by Virat Kohli at slip but the middle order again failed.
India’s innings had a similar structure with opener Parthiv Patel hitting 46 but no-one else making a major contribution until Sharma’s big knock turned the game.
“That was a game that got away from us,” said West Indies captain Darren Sammy.
“Russell and Baugh got us back into it and the guys were confident but we lacked the killer instinct after taking early wickets.
“We have not been getting runs at the top and we lacked the finishing touch
he said.
With the series in the bag, India skipper Suresh Raina said he would rotate the squad in the final two games before the test series begins.
“We have a couple of guys sitting on the bench and I hope everyone gets a chance in the last two games,” he said.
