WI VS IND ODI

Right then! We have witnessed yet another nail-biter in this series. India have managed to win both the games and have secured the series. But we still have one more game to go in this enticing series, and the way the matches are going, we can expect yet another cliff-hanger. The third ODI will be played on Wednesday, 27th July, and it is all set to begin at 7.00 pm IST (1.30 pm GMT). Do tune in early for the build-up. For now, it's goodbye!

Shikhar Dhawan the captain of India says it was a team performance. Adds the boys always believed and everybody played really well, even the 11 runs from Avesh Khan at the end was amazing. States their domestic cricket is quite strong and it makes a huge impact and when one performs there, it gives them confidence, and the mindset matters a lot. Mentions they felt they restricted West Indies well as they got off to a very good start but they knew they can chase it, they started slow but they always believed. Ends by thanking the support staff too for their effort and also credits Shai Hope for the way he played and congratulates him for scoring a ton on this 100th game.

Nicholas Pooran the skipper of West Indies says they did not hold their nerve. He felt like India played really well and they lost the game in the last few overs. Adds he felt they could bowl the spinners with 5 out, they felt the spinners were easier to hit but they needed just the one wicket but Axar Patel played well. Adds Hope played really well, they want to keep improving, this is a tough loss to take but they want to win the next game.

Axar Patel is the Player of the Match. He says that it's a very special knock, considering the situation he was batting in. Mentions that he knew he needed 11 runs per over and they had done it earlier in the Indian T20 League and he knew he can do it again. Says that he is playing an ODI game after 2017, and he is feeling wonderful after such a knock that helped his side get over the line.

Stay tuned for the presentation...

Earlier in the day, after electing to bat, West Indies put up a score which we felt was above par slightly, courtesy of a ton from Hope and a fine knock from their skipper Pooran. India though chased it down thanks to good knocks from Samson and Iyer but the hero for them was Axar Patel. He helped INDIA CLINCH THE SERIES WITH A GAME TO GO!

The Windies were brilliant till the 40th over but it was the last 10 where everything fell apart for them. Before that, the likes of Alzarri Joseph, Kyle Mayers, Jayden Seales were excellent but in the last 10, it just did not go as per their plan. Akeal Hosein had a day to forget, Alzarri Joseph was not that great at the slog overs. Romario Shepherd too proved to be expensive. Kyle Mayers was given the onus to bow the final over but it was too much to ask of from him. Pooran will be very disappointed with how things ended.

For most parts, the hosts were on top! Defending a really good total, they began brilliantly with the ball. They did not let India score freely and had them three down before 100. Shreyas Iyer and Samson then steadied the ship with a 99-run stand. Iyer scored a half-ton but just as the game seemed to be moving in India's direction, Iyer fell. Samson also did not last for long after he got to his half-ton and at that moment, the game was completely in favor of the hosts. The visitors needed around 100 in the last 10 but Hooda and Axar Patel did not give up. The two added 50 in no time and got India back into the game. Hooda fell but Axar Patel continued. He played a once-in-a-lifetime knock, as he scored an unbeaten 64 off 35 balls and took his side over the line brilliantly.

Contrasting emotions out there! The Indians are celebrating and West Indies just can't believe they have lost this game! Take a bow, Axar Patel, he was the one who took the game away from the Windies. This though is going to be a tough one to swallow for the Windies, a really tough one to swallow. As they say, winning is a habit, and losing is one and the Windies just can't win a game at the moment.

SIX! BANG! Axar Patel finishes things off in style! Kyle Mayers goes for the yorker again, but he misses his length this time. He serves a full toss, outside off. Axar Patel slams this one over long off for a biggie! West Indies players stand there in disbelief! India win by 2 wickets!

Another yorker, outside off this time. Mohammed Siraj opens the face of the bat guides it towards point.

A yorker again, on the pads this time. Axar Patel flicks it towards deep mid-wicket. Only a single. 7 off 4 balls now!

A perfect start for West Indies! A yorker, outside off. Axar Patel fails to dig this one out. 8 needed off 5 balls now.

8 needed from the last over! Two wickets in hand but we believe Axar will want to do it by himself. Who will bowl the last over? It is Kyle Mayers who has been given the ball. Excellent from Axar as he did not cross on the last ball when the catch was taken. Can Kyle Mayers get his team over the line? He has had a really good day with the ball but is this too much to ask from him?

OUT! TAKEN! Avesh Khan goes for a big shot once again but this time he holes out! Jayden Seales drops it short once again, around middle, slower as well. Avesh Khan pulls this one, but the ball goes off the top edge and flies high towards deep square leg. Shamarh Brooks settles under it and takes a good catch. India need 8 runs off the last over!

Shorter one, around middle and off. Avesh Khan swings his bat hard at it but he misses.

In a bilateral series in the West Indies, this is only the second series in which four 300+ scores have been witnessed. When England toured in 2019, that series also saw four 300+ scores.