Virat Kohli’s 28th ODI ton gives India a series win
Dinesh Karthik also finished on 50* as he partnered with Virat for 122 runs. India lost Shikhar Dhawan early but later Rahane and Kohli put up a partnership of 79 runs, which got the team back on track.
The Indian bowlers were once again outstanding as they dried up the runs for the West Indies. In their full quota of 50 overs the Caribbean team only just slightly managed to score over 200 runs.
Shai Hope was the West Indies’s only hope in the game as he notched up another half century in the series, but soon got out. Kyle Hope also contributed with the bat but missed on a fifty as he got out on 46.
If it was not to be Powell hitting a couple of sixes in the last 2-3 overs of the Windies innings, they would have again got to a similar total to the 4th ODI.
Mohammed Shami (4/48) was good at the death. Umesh Yadav (3/53) recovered well after initial hammering and changed the course of the West Indian innings with two quick wickets.
Indian frontline spinners, Ravindra Jadeja and Kuldeep Yadav did a good holding job though went wicketless. Kedar Jadhav (1/13) was the only Indian spinner who got a wicket.
On the other hand, the West Indies struggled with the ball as well. They picked up only two Indian wickets. Alzarri Joseph gave them the initial breakthrough.
Devendra Bishoo once again picked up the wicket of Ajinkya Rahane, this time a LBW. Ashley Nurse wasn’t allowed to settle down and he was not the same bowler as in the previous game. Jason Holder also wasn’t as effective as in the last game.
Overall, the Indians will be pleased with their efforts as they won the series 3-1 which could have been 4-0 or 5-0. But the West Indies have a lot to ponder on as they struggle to even qualify directly into the 2019 World Cup.
