Mullanpur, Oct 3 (PTI) KL Rahul smashed a classy, unbeaten 129 and Rohit Sharma struck a stroke-filled 92 as India recovered well from early setbacks to post a formidable 351 for seven against the West Indies in the third and final ODI here on Saturday.
Rahul provided an explosive finish to India’s innings, bringing up his ninth ODI century and then going berserk in the final stages to take India past the 350-run mark on a pitch that offered considerable assistance to the pacers early on.
Rohit, who anchored the innings after India were reduced to four for two, struck 10 boundaries and three sixes in his 85-ball knock.
He stitched a crucial 137-run partnership with Ruturaj Gaikwad, who scored 57 off 69 balls, to lay the foundation for India’s recovery.
After winning the toss, India skipper Shubman Gill opted to bat first on a surface with an even covering of grass that offered some movement to the pacers early on.
Gill, who had been in fine form in the series, failed to impress the home crowd as he fell to Jayden Seales while trying to tuck away a shorter delivery, only to edge it to West Indies skipper Shai Hope behind the stumps.
Virat Kohli’s stay was even shorter. After Seales began with a wide, Kohli fell to the very next delivery, missing a pitched-up ball that uprooted his middle stump as India slipped to four for two inside three overs.
Seales and Matthew Forde kept the pressure on with tight lines, restricting India’s scoring during the powerplay.
The hosts could manage only 28 runs in the first 10 overs, with the West Indies also losing both their reviews in desperate attempts to dismiss Rohit.
Rohit and Gaikwad, however, gradually wrested back control.
The pair began shifting gears after the 15th over and took India past 100 before Rohit brought up his 63rd ODI half-century in the 18th over.
The veteran opener then took on Alzarri Joseph, pulling a shorter delivery for a boundary before following it with a sublime shot through the covers as India collected 14 runs from the over.
Rohit fell eight short of a century while attempting to pull a back-of-length delivery from Keemo Paul, handing Jewel Andrew a well-judged catch and ending the 137-run stand.
Gaikwad followed five balls later after completing his second ODI half-century, as Seales claimed his third wicket in another disciplined spell.
Rahul and Naman Dhir then ensured the momentum did not dip, adding 65 runs off 43 balls. Dhir, making his first stint as a batter in international cricket, smashed 30 off 21 balls with three boundaries and two sixes before falling while attempting a drive off Gudakesh Motie.
Rahul, meanwhile, shifted into top gear. He reached his century with a towering six over fine leg and followed it with another maximum towards the sight screen off Seales.
The right-hander then plundered 21 runs in the final over, hitting two successive sixes before finding the boundary again to finish with a stunning hundred.
Nitish Kumar Reddy and debutant Anshul Kamboj too made some brisk runs as India stayed ahead of their rivals. was run out after a brief cameo that included two sixes off Motie in the 44th over. PTI HS UNG
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