AUGUST 14, 2019
Brief Scorecard: 35-over match India 256 for 4 (Kohli 114*, Iyer 65, Allen 2-40) beat West Indies (Gayle 72, Lewis 43, Khaleel 3-68, Shami 2-50) by six wickets
India captain Virat Kohli raises his bats to celebrate reaching a century during the third One-Day International cricket match West Indies in Port of Spain, Trinidad, Wednesday, Aug. 14, 2019. India won by 6 wickets, with 15 balls remaining. (AP Photo/Arnulfo Franco)
PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad – Captain Virat Kohli and Shreyas Iyer poured on the runs again for India to beat the West Indies comfortably in the third one-day international and take the series 2-0 on Wednesday.
Kohli hit an unbeaten 114 and Iyer 65 as they made a challenging chase of 255 from 35 overs look easy. Kohli hit the winning runs from his 14th boundary for India to reach 256-4 with 15 balls to spare.
The West Indies posted 240-7 around a three-hour rain delay which cut 15 overs from its innings. Before the rain, Chris Gayle smashed a crowd-pleasing 71 from 41 balls in possibly his last ODI, and Evin Lewis added 43 from 29. Their opening stand of 115 came at a run rate of nearly 11.
West Indies opener Chris Gayle raises his bat to the crowd after reaching a half century on the third One-Day International cricket match India in Port of Spain, Trinidad, Wednesday, Aug. 14, 2019. (AP Photo/Arnulfo Franco)
But they were out to catches in consecutive overs, and only Nicholas Pooran, with 30 from 16, lashed out like they did. Medium-pacer Khaleel Ahmed took an expensive three wickets.
Just like in the second ODI on Sunday on the same ground, Iyer joined his captain with India wobbling at three wickets down. And just like on Sunday when they combined for 120 runs, they hit a match-deciding 125 together.
West Indies Chris Gayle, left, and India captain Virat Kohli, embrace at the end of their third One-Day International cricket match in Port of Spain, Trinidad, Wednesday, Aug. 14, 2019. India won by 6 wickets, with 15 balls remaining. (AP Photo/Arnulfo Franco)
Iyer relieved India nerves by swatting 65 from 41 balls, including five sixes. After his second straight fifty, he was caught at long off with India on 211-4 and cruising.
Three days after knocking 120, Kohli played the anchor and brought up his 43rd ODI century, only six from Sachin Tendulkar’s world record.
Kohli finished on 114 not out from 99 balls, receiving man of the match again and man of the series. He was dropped early behind the wickets by Shai Hope, and batted in pain after a lifter from Kemar Roach hit his hand. Afterward, Kohli said he suffered a split nail and didn’t believe his thumb was broken.
Kohli joined his teammates in giving Gayle an informal guard of honor after catching out the cricket great with a dive at mid-off.
India captain Virat Kohli, right, sticks out his tongue after injuring his thumb while batting a shot off West Indies wicketkeeper Kemar Roach during their third One-Day International cricket match in Port of Spain, Trinidad, Wednesday, Aug. 14, 2019. (AP Photo/Arnulfo Franco)
Gayle wore jersey number 301 to mark his 301st and possibly last ODI, and entertained a sparse crowd by toying with the West Indies attack for 12 overs. He hit five sixes, including one one-handed over long leg off Ahmed.
He and Lewis shared 114 in the first 10 overs, the highest 10-over score by a team batting first in ODI history. If this was his last ODI, Gayle finished in style.
Gayle hasn’t been picked for the two-test series, which starts on Thursday next week in North Sound, Antigua.
India captain Virat Kohli, left, knocks gloves with batting partner Shreyas Iyer, to congratulate him for scoring half century during their third One-Day International cricket match against West Indies in Port of Spain, Trinidad, Wednesday, Aug. 14, 2019. (AP Photo/Arnulfo Franco)
Courtesy/Source: AP
