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Home  » Cricket » Dhoni, spinners power India to another easy victory vs West Indies

Dhoni, spinners power India to another easy victory vs West Indies

Source: PTI
Last updated on: July 01, 2017 03:05 IST
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Mahendra Singh Dhoni

IMAGE: Mahendra Singh Dhoni hits out. Photograph: CricketWestIndies

Mahendra Singh Dhoni's late assault and some fine bowling by the spinners saw India crush West Indies by 93 runs in the third One-Day International to take an unassailable 2-0 series lead, at North Sound in Antigua, on Friday.

India overcame a bad start to post 251 for four on a slowish surface, largely due to the efforts of Dhoni, who smashed 78 not out from 79 balls, while Ajinkya Rahane made 72 and Kedar Jadhav stroked a quickfire 40 not out from 26 balls.

The Indian bowlers then proved too good for the inexperienced West Indies' batting line-up, dismissing the hosts for 158 in 38.1 overs.

Hardik Pandya (two for 32) used the short ball effectively while chinaman Kuldeep Yadav impressed again, foxing the opposition with his wrong ones to finish with three for 41.

Off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin crippled the West Indies in the middle overs as he picked up three for 28.

India lead the series 2-0 after the series opener was washed out. The fourth ODI will also take place at the Sir Vivian Richards in Antigua on Sunday.

The West Indies had a good opportunity to prove their mettle after a decent effort with the ball. However, the batting let them down again as it found the going tough against both pacers and spinners.

Umesh Yadav (one for 32) swung the ball beautifully in his opening spell. It took him just two balls to strike as he bowled left-hander Evin Lewis with a fast inswinger.

Hope brothers, Shai (24) and debutant Kyle (19), then added 45 runs for the second wicket before falling to Pandya, both dismissed off short deliveries.

With West Indies reduced to a paltry 87 for five in the 20th over, it looked all but over for the home team.

The consolation for the West Indies was the 54-run stand for the sixth wicket between Rovman Powell (30) and Jason Mohammed (40).

But the remaining slim hopes were dashed with Kuldeep getting Powell caught at deep midwicket off a wrong one before the Indian bowlers polished off the tailenders quickly for another emphatic victory.

IMAGE: Kuldeep Yadav, right, celebrates a wicket with captain Virat Kohli. Photograph: CricketWestIndies

Earlier, it was not a surprise that West Indies captain Jason Holder chose to put the opposition in to bat after overnight rain left moisture in the pitch, also delaying the match start by 45 minutes.

The wicket offered spongy bounce early on and its slowness made batting difficult.

The conditions led to India feeling the heat for the first time in the series with the in-form Shikhar Dhawan (2) and skipper Virat Kohli (11) back in hut by the 10th over, leaving the visitors in a spot of bother at 34 for two.

Dhawan was caught while trying to guide a short ball off Miguel Cummins over the thirdman boundary.

Kohli was out to a brilliant catch by debutant Kyle Hope at gully after the premier batsman poked at a Holder delivery that rose off the pitch sharply.

Last match's centurion Rahane resurrected the innings alongside Yuvraj Singh (39 off 55) as the duo shared a 66-run stand for the third wicket.

However, with the odd ball stopping on the batsmen, run scoring did not get any easier as the innings progressed in the middle overs.

When Yuvraj fell lbw to leggie Devendra Bishoo (1/38) after a successful review, India were 100 for three in the 27th over.

Ajinkya Rahane

IMAGE: Ajinkya Rahane in action. Photograph: CricketWestIndies

What followed was a 70-run stand between Rahane and Dhoni which boosted India's total.

Rahane, playing in place of the rested Rohit Sharma, continued from where he left off at Port of Spain.

Strokemaking was tough but the Mumbai batsman still found a way to score his 18th ODI half-century, and his third 50-plus score in as many games.

His innings comprised just four boundaries, showing it was all hard work out in the middle.

Dhoni took the innings forward after Rahane perished to a spectacular running catch from Bishoo in the deep, in the 43rd over.

The onus was on Dhoni to provide the final flourish and he did that in his trademark style .

He completed his 63rd half-century with a single before he finally cut loose in the 47th over, smashing Holder for consecutive sixes, one over the bowler's head and the other over square leg after picking it from outside off.

Jadhav too supported him well in the death overs, smashing four boundaries and a six as the duo put on an unbroken stand of 81 runs from just 46 balls for the fifth wicket.

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