A superb unbeaten 86 from Rohit Sharma led India to a three-wicket victory over the West Indies on Saturday to secure the five-match one-day international 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.
Photo: AFP
It was a day for lower-order contributions with the 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 No. 9 batsman in one-day internationals and it 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 crowd were finally treated to some entertainment.
Once again the West Indies struggled against spin, with leg-spinner Amit Mishra taking 3-28 from his 10 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 noone else making a major contribution until Sharma’s big knock turned the game.
“That was a game that got away from us,” West Indies captain Darren Sammy said. “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.”
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,” Raina said.
OUT AGAINST INDONESIA: Taiwan reached the semi-finals at the tournament for the first time by defeating Denmark, with Chou Tien-chen beating Viktor Axelsen Taiwan yesterday crashed out of the Thomas Cup team competition in Chengdu, China, but achieved their best result at the top-tier badminton event by reaching the semi-finals. Indonesia were too good in the semis, winning 3-0 to advance to today’s final against China, who eliminated Malaysia 3-1. In the opening singles of the men’s team clash at the Hi-Tech Zone Sports Center Gymnasium 2, Anthony Ginting defeated Taiwan’s Chou Tien-chen 21-18, 21-19 in 51 minutes, which put a huge hole in Taiwan’s aspirations to perhaps even make the final. In the men’s doubles, Fajar Alfian and Muhammad Ardianto downed Lee Yang and Wang
NO DOUBT: Spurs star Wembanyama was unanimously selected as NBA Rookie of the Year, winning all 99 votes to become the first Frenchman to capture the honor The Minnesota Timberwolves on Monday night produced a dominant defensive display to seize a commanding 2-0 lead in their best-of-seven playoff series against the Denver Nuggets with a 106-80 road victory. The third-seeded Timberwolves harassed Denver relentlessly to claim a second straight win over the NBA champions as the series heads back to Minneapolis for Game 3 on Friday. Karl-Anthony Towns and Anthony Edwards scored 27 points apiece, but the star of the show was Minnesota’s suffocating defensive effort, which knocked Denver out of their stride almost from the tip-off. The Timberwolves finished with 11 steals and 12 blocks, in sharp contrast to
Top-ranked Iga Swiatek on Saturday came through “the most intense and crazy final” she has ever contested to avenge her loss to Aryna Sabalenka in last year’s Madrid Open final with a grueling three hour, 11 minute victory in the Spanish capital. Coming back from 1-3 down in the decider and saving three match points in total, Swiatek claimed a 7-5, 4-6, 7-6 (9/7) victory to secure the Madrid Open trophy for the first time. “Well, who is going to say now that women’s tennis is boring, right?” Swiatek said. Swiatek, who picked up the 20th title of her career, and ninth at
One of Malaysia’s top soccer clubs has pulled out of today’s season-opening Charity Shield after a spate of assaults, including an acid attack, on players in the country. It leaves the kickoff of Malaysia’s season this weekend under a cloud following the unprecedented acts of violence against players, which have left the country shocked and angry. Authorities said they have imposed tighter security, but Selangor said that they would not play in the showpiece curtain-raiser against Malaysian Super League champions Johor Darul Ta’zim (JDT) citing “a series of criminal incidents and recent threats.” Selangor and Malaysia winger Faisal Halim is in intensive care