New Delhi: A fantastic cameo from Shardul Thakur (17 runs off 6 balls)after a solid partnership from Virat Kohli (85) and Ravindra Jadeja (39) powered team India to a thrilling 4-wicket win against West Indies in the series-decider at Cuttack on Sunday. Team India win the final series of the year 2-1 in a dramatic finish and their top three batsmen hit half-centuries as they won the final ODI in a tense finish to win the three-match series 2-1. With this win Virat and Co. won their final 50-overs match of 2019 to attain 10th successive ODI series win.


Chasing 316, India got off to a steady start as openers KL Rahul and Rohit Sharma put on 122 runs for the first wicket. Their partnership saw both batsmen bring up their respective half-centuries.

Windies finally got the breakthrough in the 22nd over as Rohit (63) was sent back to the pavilion by Jason Holder. Skipper Virat Kohli next came out to bat and along with Rahul, put on 45 runs for the second wicket.

Alzarri Joseph got the better of Rahul (77) in the 30th over. Shreyas Iyer (7) and Rishabh Pant (7) both failed to leave a mark and India was reduced to 201/4, still, 115 runs away from the target.

Kohli brought up his half-century in the 37th over of the Indian innings. But, India was given a big setback as Kedar Jadhav (9) was clean bowled by Sheldon Cottrell in the 39th over, and hopes of winning the match rested completely on Kohli's shoulders.

Ravindra Jadeja next came out to bat and provided much-need support to Kohli at the other end. The duo put up a partnership of 58 runs to give much-needed stability to the side. However, with 30 runs required from the final four overs, Windies got the biggest breakthrough possible as Keemo Paul clean bowled Kohli (85) in the 47th over.

In the end, Shardul Thakur and Jadeja ensured India's victory by four wickets and eight balls to spare. Jadeja and Thakur remained unbeaten on 39 and 17 respectively.


Earlier, a solid record-breaking 135-run partnership between Kieron Pollard (74 off 51 balls) and Nicholas Pooran (89 off 64 balls) powered West Indies to 315/5 against India. The late fireworks from Pooran and skipper Pollard gave their squad a fighting chance against team India and ensured that the Windies breach the 300-run mark at Cuttack. The hard-hitting batting duo smashed young India speedsters Saini and Shardul Thakur for fours and sixes in the death overs to finish strongly.

The solid partnership between Pollard and Pooran in now the highest 5th wicket p'ship for West Indies against India. Pooran's entertaining innings came to an end after he got dismissed for a fine 89 off 64 balls knock.

Team India's Catching Woes Continue in third ODI vs Windies:

- Jadeja drops Evin Lewis on 12 off debutant Navdeep Saini in the ninth over.

- 'Under-fire' Pant drops Shimron Hetmyer's catch off Jadeja behind the stumps in the 25th over.

- Kuldeep Yadav drops Hetmyer's catch at fine leg off Saini in the 30th over.
-Pant drops Roston Chase off Kuldeep Yadav when the batsman was yet to open his account.

Team India's catching during the ongoing ODI series and the preceding T20I series against Windies has been a cause of worry.

(With ANI Inputs)