India Leads T20 Series 2-1 After Narrow Win Over West Indies
India Takes Control of T20 Series With 14-Run Victory Over West Indies
INDORE, India – Arshdeep Singh and spinner Naman Dhir combined to claim five wickets as India defeated the West Indies by 14 runs in the third T20 international on Sunday. This win gave India a 2-1 edge in the ongoing five-match series.
Singh ended with figures of 3-44, while Dhir took 2-39, helping restrict West Indies to 209-7 in their chase. Earlier, Abhishek Sharma smashed 69 runs from 30 balls, including five sixes, propelling India to a total of 223 in their 20 overs after winning the toss and choosing to bat first.
Series Recap and Key Performances
- Match 1: India won by eight wickets in Lucknow.
- Match 2: West Indies bounced back with a six-wicket victory in Ranchi, achieving their highest successful T20 chase.
- Match 3: India claimed a 14-run win in Indore, taking a 2-1 lead.
India's innings got off to a brisk start despite losing Sanju Samson early for just three runs. Sharma blasted five sixes en route to a rapid 50 from 18 balls, while he and Ishan Kishan put together 108 runs off 40 balls. Kishan contributed 37 runs off 18 balls, hitting one six and six fours before being stumped by Roston Chase (2-38) in the ninth over.
Chase also trapped skipper Shreyas Iyer lbw for one in the same over, triggering a mini collapse that saw India lose four wickets for 20 runs, leaving them at 135-5.
West Indies' Chase Stalls Despite Promising Partnerships
Considering West Indies' strong batting displays earlier in the series, India's total seemed challenging but not unreachable. West Indies started slowly, losing their in-form captain Shai Hope cheaply for five runs, bowled by Arshdeep Singh in the second over. They managed 54-1 at the end of the powerplay.
Kamil Pooran (42) and Shimron Hetmyer (43) combined for 60 runs off 31 balls, hitting five sixes between them, prompting India to bring on Dhir’s offspin. This move paid off immediately as Dhir dismissed Hetmyer in the seventh over and later removed Pooran. Indian spinners collectively took three wickets in the middle overs, including Rovman Powell (5) who was caught by Patel.
Sherfane Rutherford contributed 32 runs off 20 balls with two sixes and shared a 46-run partnership off 27 balls with Quentin Sampson (21). But their dismissals left the visitors struggling.
Shamar Springer finished unbeaten on 35 from 11 balls, including three sixes in the final over against Axar Patel, yet it wasn’t enough to close the gap.
Next Match Details
The fourth T20 will take place in Hyderabad on Wednesday.
Match Summary
- India innings: 223 all out in 20 overs
- Top scorer: Abhishek Sharma 69 (30 balls)
- West Indies innings: 209 for 7 in 20 overs
- Best bowlers: Arshdeep Singh 3-44, Naman Dhir 2-39
- Result: India won by 14 runs
- Series standing: India leads 2-1 in five-match series
