Pacers seal India's huge win

Shami & Co sparkle as Kohli's men clinch series with a Test to go

India hammered West Indies by 237 runs in the third cricket Test to clinch the series by 2-0 margin.

Needing 346 to win on the final day after India declared their second innings at 217 for seven, West Indies were bowled out for 108 in 47.3 overs with Mohammad Shami taking 3 for 15. Ishant Sharma and Ravindra Jadeja took a couple of wickets each. Bhuvneshwar Kumar, who had taken a five-for in the first innings, and Ravichandran Ashwin got a wicket apiece.

This is the first time that India have won two Tests in a series in West Indies.

Earlier, the Indian pacers responded beautifully to their skipper Virat Kohli’s decision to declare as they reduced West Indies to a precarious 53 for three at lunch on the fifth and final day of the third Test.

Riding on Ajinkya Rahane’s 78, India declared at 217 for seven in their second essay, thereby leaving West Indies with a stiff target in 87 overs.

However, the trio of Mohammed Shami (1/5), Ishant Sharma (1/17) and Bhuvneshwar Kumar (1/12) polished off the top-order during the 20 overs before lunch to raise visions of a victory.

Left-hander Darren Bravo (26 batting) and Roston Chase (10 batting) were at the crease as hosts were looking to break the shackles they had been placed under after some tight bowling. Bhuvneshwar and Shami had started off proceedings, and the duo were right on the money with the new ball.

While the former tied down the batsmen with some tight swing, the latter used pace to force them back.

It resulted in a double success in the space of four balls as Shami had Leon Johnson (0) caught at forward short leg, with Rohit Sharma completing a good anticipatory catch in the fourth over. Four deliveries later, Kumar trapped Kraigg Brathwaite (4) leg before wicket.

Marlon Samuels (12) then resisted for a short while and saw off the two bowlers, but he found Ishant tough to handle. He played an uncharacteristic stroke to an incoming delivery and was bowled. Chase then came out to bat ahead of Jermaine Blackwood, and steadied things going into the break.

Ravichandran Ashwin (0/16) and Ravindra Jadeja (0/3) were the other bowlers deployed.
This was after India had declared their innings after 40 minutes of play in the morning session. From the overnight score of 157 for three, Rohit Sharma (41) got a poor leg before wicket decision from umpire Nigel Llong to get out without adding anything to his overnight tally.