Chennai, Nov 11: Shikhar Dhawan and Rishabh Pant scored their highest-ever T20I totals as India cruised to a 6-wicket win over West Indies in third and final Twenty20 international here on Sunday (November 11).
Chasing a daunting target of 182, India were off to a disastrous start after losing their captain Rohit Sharma (4) with just 13 on the board. KL Rahul (17) and Shikhar (92) looked to revive their team but Rahul too perished in the first powerplay. But a century-plus stand between Delhi cricketers Dhawan and Pant (58 off 38) ensured the hosts never went off the course in the run chase.
But India made a wobble in the chase when they were at the doorsteps of the win after well set Pant and Dhawan departed in the 19th and 20th over, respectively. The match went down the wire as India needed 1 from the final delivery.
CHAMPIONS #TeamIndia #INDvWI pic.twitter.com/kV6Ygf2AaO
— BCCI (@BCCI) November 11, 2018
Manish Pandey (4* off 6) played three dot balls in the penultimate over as India needed 5 off the final 6 and Dhawan's departure on the fifth delivery of the final over, with scores levelled, gave the tourists an opportunity to tie the game and take the match to a super over. However, a mix-up while fielding ensured the hosts won the match and clean sweep the series 3-0.
Earlier in the day, batting first West Indies posted a total of 181/3, thanks to the brilliant efforts from Nicholas Pooran (53* off 25 deliveries) and Darren Bravo (43 off 37b). It was an overall a combined batting effort from the visiting batsmen to post a respectable total.
Tests ✅
— BCCI (@BCCI) November 11, 2018
ODIs ✅
T20Is ✅
CHAMPIONS #TeamIndia #INDvWI pic.twitter.com/x5sxF3T3h1
The Windies were off to a blistering start in the power play as their openers Shai Hope (24 off 22balls) and Shimron Hetmyer (26 off 21 balls) posted 51 runs in the first 6 overs. Hope and Hetmyer were both dismissed by Yuzvendra Chahal who was brought into the side in place of Kuldeep Yadav - who was rested for the final T20I.
Washington Sundar (1/33) was the second successful bowler from the Indian camp as rest of the bowlers remained wicketless and even went for runs.
As it happened:
Shikhar Dhawan, Man of the Match: It was a good match. We lost two early wickets, and I knew I had to stay at the crease. Rishabh played well, tremendous partnership between us. He batted really well. I knew he was going after the bowlers so I took a backseat and then I joined the party after he hit a few huge sixes. It doesn't matter to me what people say, and I just back myself and back my game
Carlos Brathwaite: It would have been a good win. We had a chat before the game and talked about every game is important. We wanted to put a smile on the fans' face but didn't get the result we would have liked. I will take the effort and believe, especially taking it to the last ball after Shikhar and Rishabh's partnership. We saw a few balls grip but on reflection we did not switch quickly enough. (On Pooran's talent) There are a few here; Shai, Hetmyer and Pooran. But it is important to get the best out of everyone and create a unit that can challenge for the T20 World Cup in Australia.
Pant-Dhawan hailed!
How good were @SDhawan25 and @RishabPant777 today. It's all about holding the nerve & WI weren't able to do that off the last ball. It's the win that matters at the end of the day and India as expected have convincingly won the series in style. #INDvWI
— Hemang Badani (@hemangkbadani) November 11, 2018
Kuldeep Yadav has been named the man of the series for picking up 5 wickets from 2 games. He was economical with the ball in the first two games.
Shikhar Dhawan named the man of the match for his knock of 92 runs. He was absolutely fantastic with his bat tonight.
Kaif hails Pant and Dhawan show!
Got too close in the end,but India make a clean sweep. Dhawan and Pant gave us an exhibition of some really clean hitting #IndvWI . Now uninterruptiny can watch the big match #IndvPak
— Mohammad Kaif (@MohammadKaif) November 11, 2018
Edge of the seat thriller!
Fantastic match, edge-of-seat climax, and more pertinently, clean sweep for India. Well done @ImRo45 & Co
— Cricketwallah (@cricketwallah) November 11, 2018
India WIN! A single on the final ball from Manish Pandey and India just managed to survive a scare in the last over after cruising almost letting the Windies comeback in the last 12 deliveries. India now beat WI by 6 wickets to clean sweep series 3-0.
Dhawan (92) perishes on the penultimate delivery. India need 1 more to win from 1 ball.
Scores level! India need one more to win. Shikhar Dhawan is on strike, 3 balls remaining.
Just 3 runs conceded by Keemo Paul from his final over and also got a boundary. India - 177/3 after 19 overs.
Wicket! Rishabh Pant is cleaned up for 58 while attempting another unconventional stroke and pays the price. He should have remained unbeaten tonight. India - 175/3 in 18.2 overs.
Wicket! Rishabh Pant is cleaned up for 58 while attempting another unconventional stroke and pays the price. He should have remained unbeaten tonight. India - 175/3 in 18.2 overs.
After 18 overs, India are 174/2. They are 8 short of the win.
Rishabh Pant creates record!
Rishabh Pant @ 21y-38d 2nd youngest Indian to hit a fifty in T20I cricket.
— Mohandas Menon (@mohanstatsman) November 11, 2018
Youngest: Rohit Sharma 20y-143d#IndvWI
1,1,4,0,4,0! 10 runs came from 17th over and India have reached 163/2. 19 required off 18 deliveries. Shikhar Dhawan - 85* & Rishabh Pant - 53* have forged a partnership of 120* so far.
Fifty! Another brilliant boundary from Rishabh Pant to get to his half-century. The left-hander slams his maiden T20I fifty and it came off 31 deliveries.
End of 14 overs and India are 130/2 in the run chase. Rishabh Pant is batting on 46*. Can he slam his first T20I fifty?
4,1,4,2,1,6! 18 runs conceded by Kieron Pollard from that over. India reach 120/2 after 13 overs.
Fifty!!! Half-century for Shikhar Dhawan off 36 deliveries. This came after a long time. 56-run partnership between him and Pant. India - 102/2 after 12 overs.
18 runs conceded by Oshane Thomas from that over and India reach 94/2 after 11 overs. They still require 88 from 54 balls. This will be quite a run chase for the hosts.
Both India and West Indies were more or less similar at this stage.
After 6 overs
— Aakash Chopra (@cricketaakash) November 11, 2018
Windies 51/0
India 50/2 #IndvWI
50 comes up for India in 6.2 overs. They have lost two wickets in the process. But the wickets lost are that of Rohit (4) and Rahul (17). India still have a mountain to climb as they are still 131 runs behind.
Wicket! Oshane Thomas strikes and dangerous looking KL Rahul has been dismissed for 17 off 10. It was a thick edge from the batsman as there was hardly any footwork which cost Rahul his wicket. Another opportunity lost from Rahul. India 45/2.
8 runs came that over. India 43/1 after 5 overs.
0,4,0,0,4,4! Three boundaries came from Shikhar Dhawan's bat from that over bowled by Brathwaite. All the boundaries were impressive. India - 35/1 after 4 overs.
Wicket! Rohit Sharma - the in-form batsman - has been dismissed for 4. Keemo Paul strikes in the first over itself and the hosts have lost their first wicket cheaply in a big run chase. India - 13/1 after 2.2 overs.
0,4,0,0,0,4! 8 runs came from the first over bowled by Oshane Thomas. Shikhar Dhawan got two boundaries in that over. Dhawan has struggled against Thomas. India - 13/0 after 2 overs.
Most fours in T20Is: 223 T Dilshan 218 Mohd Shahzad 214 V Kohli 200 M Guptill/ ROHIT SHARMA 199 B McCullum 200th four in T20Is for Rohit
5 runs came from the first over bowled by Pierre. Rohit got a boundary in that over and got off the mark.