India completed the whitewash in the three-match home T20I series against Windies after securing a last-ball victory in the third T20I on Sunday night at M. A. Chidambaram Stadium (Chennai) with the help of Shikhar Dhawan and Rishabh Pant’s brilliant batting performances.
After winning the toss, the Windies skipper Carlos Brathwaite decided to bat first. Finally, the Windies top-orders showed some better performances in this tour. The Windies openers had a 50+ partnership as the openers Shai Hope and Shimron Hetmyer provided a 51-run partnership for that wicket.
Also watch: Incredible Effort Of Shikhar Dhawan To Save A Six
However, both the openers failed to convert their good starts as both were dismissed soon after the mandatory powerplay ends. Hope was dismissed on 24 runs while Hetmyer lost his wicket on 26 runs.
The wicketkeeper-batsman Dinesh Ramdin lost his wicket on 15 runs but the next partnership between Darren Bravo and Nicholas Pooran helped the visitors to put a big total on the board. They had an unbroken 87-run partnership for the fourth wicket and that helped Windies to score 181/3 at the end of 20 overs.
While Bravo remained unbeaten on 43 off 37 balls (2 fours and 2 sixes), Pooran completed his half-century in 24 balls and finished with the not out tag on 53 off 25 balls (4 fours and 4 sixes).
Among the Indian bowlers, Yuzvendra Chahal (2/28) picked up two wickets and Washington Sundar (1/33) got one wicket in that innings.
In reply, India lost their two wickets inside the powerplay as the skipper Rohit Sharma (4) and KL Rahul (17) were dismissed for cheaply.
However, at next, another Indian opener Shikhar Dhawan and the no.4 batsman Rishabh Pant totally controlled that innings and provided a brilliant 130-run partnership for the third wicket. Dhawan completed his half-century in 36 balls and then he stretched his innings to secure this victory.
Also watch: Dhawan and Pant Goes After Oshane Thomas
Meanwhile, Pant continued to impress with his bat and played a great knock to complete his half-century in 30 balls. He played a 58-run knock off 38 balls (5 fours and 3 sixes) before he was bowled in the 19th over.
On the 19.5 overs, when the scoreboard was tied and India needed just one more run to secure this victory, Dhawan fell on 92 off 62 balls (10 fours and 2 sixes). On the very last ball of the game, Manish Pandey (4*) and Dinesh Karthik (0*) successfully ran for a single to secure that victory. With this six wickets victory, India won this series by the 3-0 margin. Shikhar Dhawan won the Player of the Match award while Kuldeep Yadav was awarded the Player of the Series award.
Also watch: Last Three Balls Drama Of The Chennai T20
Among the Windies bowlers, Keemo Paul (2/32) bagged two wickets, while Oshane Thomas (1/43) and Fabian Allen (1/23) took one wicket each.
Here are some Twitter reactions:
Turned out to be quite a match in the end. Top effort to chase a relatively huge total on a slowish pitch….esp without Kohli and Rohit not firing. 3-0. #IndvWI
— Aakash Chopra (@cricketaakash) November 11, 2018
Well, India have managed to take it to the last ball….. Didn't seem likely!
— Harsha Bhogle (@bhogleharsha) November 11, 2018
Great effort by the West Indies to take it so close in the end but Rishabh and Shikhar really had a good time with some terrific hitting. Good to end the home season with a victory #IndvWI
— VVS Laxman (@VVSLaxman281) November 11, 2018
Well done @SDhawan25 @RishabPant777 great partnership.. keep up the good work 🏏👍👏👏
— Harbhajan Turbanator (@harbhajan_singh) November 11, 2018
https://twitter.com/Arth_Ro45/status/1061673176260730882
What was @im_manishpandey trying to do of the last ball, a nothing shot and was lucky to get a single of it. Should have won with more conviction @BCCI #INDvsWI
— Sritam Kumar 🇮🇳 (@SritamKumar) November 11, 2018
A last ball finish to a very entertaining match at chepauk.
India take the series 3 nil.
Now looking forward to the Australian tour. #INDvsWI— Ramu Vicky (@Ramu16499) November 11, 2018
https://twitter.com/imark1834/status/1061666958993633280
Match at chepak… 😎😎#INDvsWI pic.twitter.com/CrHYkBAnMc
— Kavin Vj (@KavinVj3) November 11, 2018
What a match that was…?
Sad for #Windies#indvswi@BcciCricket_ pic.twitter.com/nEy1bhBAU0— Junaid Ahmad (@Iamjunaid___) November 11, 2018
DK to Manish pandey during the last ball#INDvsWI #INDvWIN pic.twitter.com/LTmPJJCCI2
— dileep_rajpurohit (@DileepRajpuroh8) November 11, 2018
Today's match #Rishabhpant and #ShikharDhawan to WI be like:#INDvsWI pic.twitter.com/FI95fkfAXs
— Pranjul Sharma (@pranjultweet) November 11, 2018
https://twitter.com/asif043coolguy/status/1061633622417956866