Cricket News : India thumped West Indies in a thriller twice to clinch the series

When West Indies decided to bat, they amassed a sizable score thanks to captain Nicholas Pooran's 74 and Shai Hope's 115 in his 100th ODI outing. Thus, the duo helped the Windies to put a defendable total of 311 runs.

India won a high-scoring match on Sunday at Queen's Park Oval in Port of Spain, Trinidad, thanks in large part to Axar Patel's debut ODI fifty, an unbeaten 64 off 35 with three fours and five sixes (July 24).

The West Indian openers earlier were allowed to play their shots with a great deal of freedom as they quickly got off to a fast start since India's new-ball bowlers were not receiving any assistance. In his first three-over period, Avesh conceded 36 runs, including seven fours, with Mayers hitting five of them. Runs came thick and fast at the other end as Thakur was welcomed into the attack with a four and a six by Mayers in the eighth over, helping West Indies put up their first fifty-plus stand for the opening wicket in eight innings. Mohammed Siraj only gave up 15 in a five-over spell, even managing a maiden.

When Hooda successfully caught Mayers off his own bowling in the 10th over, India';s dreams of breaking the partnership were finally realised. The left-hander combined 65 with Hope before leaving for a 23-ball 39.

Brooks eventually joined Hope, as they developed a strong partnership and added 62 runs for the second wicket. After the first powerplay, the number of boundaries decreased, but the second wicket pair kept up a respectable scoring pace by accumulating singles and doubles along with a few boundaries. While stuck some wickets at the later stage of the game but it defiantly helped them to restrict West Indies for 311.

Shubman Gill scored the majority of the runs for India in their first powerplay while Shikhar Dhawan struggled to find his rhythm early in the chase. However, only three fours were hit in the first 10 overs due to the West Indian pacers' tight bowling. In the eleventh over, Gill hit his fourth boundary with a short-arm jab over midwicket. However, Dhawan found it difficult to handle Shepherd's quick deliveries. He was struck in the helmet grille after coming down the track, and as he attempted to power an uppercut, Mayers made a superb diving grab.

Before Shreyas Iyer and Sanju Samson resurrected the innings with half-centuries, India was down to 79/3 in the chase. But with Axar's outstanding performance, India defeated the West Indies by completing the third-highest successful chase in the Caribbean.

India was five down and needed 100 runs off the final 10 overs; it was up to Deepak Hooda and Axar to get their team over the line. While Hooda was playing a steady hand at the other end, Axar went about his business by dealing in sixes, taking on Akeal Hosein and Romario Shepherd.
The equation was reduced to 56 off 36 by their quick half-century stand. However, Hosein, who had Hooda at point, broke up the alliance. Axar hit a straight six in the 46th over, and Joseph began to give up runs as a result. Moreover, the bowler was also given two no-balls for height.

Nevertheless, despite 16 being left on the over, he was able to dismiss Shardul Thakur. Axar accelerated to a fifty in 27 balls off Shepherd while rookie Avesh Khan also hit a four in the same over with 32 required off 24.

Joseph's four-run over gave India 15 to score off the final two. In the last over, Avesh smashed a four off Seales, but he was out on the final ball. Eight off six had been reduced to six off three when Axar scored the winning runs in the form of a 6 with a low full toss against Kyle Mayers.

With this, India completed the third-highest successful chase in the Caribbean and crossed the finish line. While in the initial match of the series West Indies needed 15 of the final over but the Windies fall short of just 3 runs.

Thus, the Men in Blue recorded 12th successive bilateral series victory over the West Indies.

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