Shai Hope produced a commanding unbeaten 162 as West Indies chased down 352 to beat India by five wickets in the third and final ODI at the PCA International Cricket Stadium on Saturday.
West Indies reached 352/5 in 48.2 overs to complete their highest successful ODI chase and end India’s unbeaten run in the series. India, however, had already secured the three-match series after winning the opening two games.
Hope was the centrepiece of the chase, batting through the innings for his 162* from 143 balls, with 17 fours and three sixes. The West Indies captain combined control with late acceleration as the visitors kept the required rate within reach throughout the chase.
Amir Jangoo provided the first major support with a 67-ball 56, before Keemo Paul added 44 from 35 balls to keep West Indies on course. Hope then took control of the closing stages, with Gudakesh Motie providing valuable support during a decisive late partnership.
The turning point came in the 48th over when West Indies took 22 runs from Anshul Kamboj. Hope followed that assault by hitting Naman Dhir for a six in the next over, reducing the equation to a single run. He completed the chase from the following delivery as West Indies reached their target with 10 balls to spare.
The successful chase came after India recovered from a difficult start to post 351/7.
India were reduced to 28/2 inside the opening phase after Shubman Gill was dismissed for one and Virat Kohli fell for a golden duck, with Jayden Seales claiming both wickets.
Rohit Sharma and Ruturaj Gaikwad then stabilised the innings with a 137-run partnership. Rohit made 92 from 85 balls, while Gaikwad contributed 57 from 69 deliveries.
KL Rahul provided the late acceleration, finishing unbeaten on 129 from 87 balls. His ninth ODI century included 10 fours and six sixes and pushed India beyond 350 after the early setbacks. Naman Dhir added 30 from 21 balls as India finished on 351/7.
Seales was West Indies’ leading bowler with 3/62 from 10 overs, but India’s total ultimately proved insufficient as the visitors produced a disciplined chase on a surface that continued to favour stroke-making.
The result completed an unusually high-scoring ODI series. India won the opening match before chasing down 406 in the second ODI, only for West Indies to respond with another 350-plus chase in the finale.
For West Indies, the victory provides momentum heading into the five-match T20I series. The shortest-format contest begins on October 6 in Lucknow, with further matches scheduled in Ranchi, Indore, Hyderabad and Bengaluru.
India will enter the T20I leg after another significant result, having defeated Pakistan in the Asian Games final to retain the men’s cricket gold medal. West Indies, meanwhile, will carry the confidence of a record chase and a statement individual performance from their captain.
After a three-match ODI series dominated by extraordinary totals, the focus now shifts to T20 cricket, where the emphasis will move even further towards power hitting, aggressive batting and high-tempo contests.
Scorecard:
India: 351/7, Overs 50, KL Rahul 129*, Jayden Seales 3/62
West Indies: 352/5, Overs 48.2, Shai Hope 162*, Naman Dhir 1/33
