West Indies produced a memorable performance in the third and final ODI against India, chasing down a daunting target of 352 runs to secure a five-wicket victory in Mullanpur on Saturday. Although India had already sealed the three-match series by winning the opening two games, the visitors found plenty of motivation to finish the contest on a high. At the heart of their remarkable chase was captain Shai Hope, whose unbeaten 162 proved decisive.
Shai Hope reveals how MS Dhoni’s advice helped him play stunning knock
Hope revealed that a piece of advice from former India captain and legendary wicketkeeper-batter MS Dhoni came back to him during the enormous run chase. With West Indies needing to score at a demanding rate, Hope reminded himself of Dhoni’s words: “You always have more time than you think.” The advice helped the West Indies captain remain composed instead of allowing the required run rate to dictate his approach.
Hope eventually finished unbeaten on 162 from 143 deliveries, producing an innings built around patience, calculated aggression and excellent game awareness. His knock became even more impressive considering the workload he carried throughout the match.
Hope had kept wickets for the entire Indian innings before opening the batting for West Indies. He also battled cramps during the latter stages of his innings, but refused to let the physical discomfort derail his concentration.
His ability to remain at the crease until the end gave West Indies the platform they needed to complete their highest successful ODI run chase. Hope’s leadership was equally important, as he paced the innings according to the demands of the situation and ensured that the visitors remained in control during the closing stages.
Also READ: Shai Hope’s unbeaten 162 propels West Indies to record ODI chase; India win series 2-1
West Indies deny India a clean sweep with inspirational win in 3rd ODI
India appeared to have posted a formidable total after recovering from a disastrous start. Jayden Seales removed Shubman Gill for one before dismissing Virat Kohli without scoring, leaving India reeling at 4/2. Rohit Sharma then counterattacked brilliantly, scoring 92 and combining with Ruturaj Gaikwad for a 137-run partnership. Gaikwad contributed a valuable 57 before KL Rahul took charge of the latter stages.
Rahul produced a superb unbeaten 129 from just 87 balls, powering India to 351/7 and giving the hosts a huge total to defend. Seales emerged as West Indies’ standout bowler with figures of 3/62.
However, the visitors responded in spectacular fashion. Hope anchored the chase while Amir Jangoo provided crucial support with 67. Keemo Paul then added an important 44 during the latter stages to ensure the required runs continued to come at a steady pace.
West Indies eventually reached 352 in 48.2 overs, completing a stunning five-wicket victory. While India walked away with the series after winning the first two ODIs, West Indies gained a significant confidence boost from their record chase.
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