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PIX: Pant, Kohli demolish Windies after Chahar strikes

Last updated on: August 07, 2019 00:57 IST

Images from Tuesday's third T20 International between India and the West Indies, in Guyana.

Deepak Chahar celebrates the wicket of Shimron Hetmyer

IMAGES: Deepak Chahar celebrates the wicket of Shimron Hetmyer in the third T20 International between India and the West Indies, in Guyana, on Tuesday. Photograph: BCCI

Young Rishabh Pant finally came good under the guidance of skipper Virat Kohli as India comfortably beat West Indies by seven wickets in the third and final T20 International to complete a 3-0 whitewash, in Guyana, on Tuesday.

 

Chasing 147, skipper Kohli anchored the innings to perfection with 59 off 45 balls while Pant was brilliant during his unbeaten 65 off 42 balls as the visitors chased down the target with five balls to spare.

A lot of credit should also go to seamer Deepak Chahar, who bowled a magnificent opening spell as he registered splendid figures of 3/4 in his three overs, which went a long way in restricting the West Indies to a manageable 146 for 6.

For the home team, it is their worst streak in T20 Internationals having lost six straight games.

IMAGES: Captain Virat Kohli, right, with Rishabh Pant. Photograph: BCCI

Kohli's 21st half-century in T20 Internationals had six fours. The shot to remember would certainly be a whipping flick off Keemo Paul to widish long-on and a couple exquisite cover drives off Carlos Brathwaite.

Pant and Kohli then came together at 27 for 2 after the two openers -- Shikhar Dhawan and KL Rahul -- perished early as the duo slowly build the innings during a stand that yielded 106 runs in 12.5 overs.

But Kohli's bigger achievement was being able to instil a certain sense of game awareness in the youngster.

Having lost his wicket due to impetuosity in the previous games, the burly left-hander was discreet in his shot selection. In company of skipper Kohli, he was ready to play himself in on a track that was two paced and outfield which was slow.

Rishabh Pant

IMAGES: Rishabh Pant hits out. Photograph: BCCI

However till their 50-run stand, the duo didn't go hammer and tongs at the Windies attack.

It was the 13th over when Pant finally gave the charge, getting his first six -- a flat hit over extra cover off medium pacer Paul's bowling and repeated the shot in the pacer's next over for the same result.

Pant brought up his second half-century in T20 Internationals as he flicked Sheldon Cottrell for a boundary.

Once he had reached his half-century, he got on one knee and hit Oshane Thomas for his third six. He also hit four boundaries. The fourth and final six from Pant took India to an easy victory, in the final over.

Virat Kohli

IMAGES: Virat Kohli hits a boundary. Photograph: BCCI

Earlier, Deepak Chahar's incisive swing bowling was countered by Kieron Pollard's attacking half-century and Rovman Powell's cameo as the West Indies put up a fighting 146 for 6.

Rajasthan seamer Deepak (3-1-4-3) made full use of his only opportunity on this tour, taking three wickets in his first two overs, to leaving the West Indies tottering at 14 for 3.

He got the ball to swing both ways as he dismissed pinch-hitter Sunil Narine (2), Evin Lewis (10) and Shimron Hetmyer (1).

Kieron Pollard

IMAGE: Kieron Pollard hit 6 sixes in his 45-ball-58 to register his first half-century for the West Indies in seven years. Photograph: BCCI

However, Pollard counter-attacked with gusto, hitting as many as half a dozen sixes in his 45-ball-58 -- his first half-century for the West Indies in seven years.

Along with Nicholas Pooran (17), who played second fiddle, Pollard added 67 for the fourth wicket as the Caribbeans looked to have recovered from their initial slump.

However, Navdeep Saini came back for his second spell to first dismiss left-hander Pooran with an off-cutter (leg-cutter for the batsman), which was edged to Rishabh Pant behind the stumps.

Kieron Pollard is bowled by Navdeep Saini

IMAGE: Kieron Pollard is bowled by Navdeep Saini. Photograph: BCCI

Saini (2/34 in 4 overs), who had trapped Pollard leg-before with a dipping full-toss in the first game, then bowled a slower delivery that pegged back the middle stump, breaching through his bat and pad.

The West Indies were once again reeling at 105 for 5 before Deepak's younger cousin Rahul (1/27 in 3 overs) got his maiden wicket in the form of rival skipper Carlos Brathwaite.

However, Powell smashed his way to an unbeaten 32 off 20 balls to prop the Windies total.

India captain Virat Kohli gave the final over to Saini instead of Deepak, who had an over left. But the ploy didn't work too well as Powell stuck into him with two sixes that damaged his final figures.

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