Daily Times

BARBADOS: A second-string India thrashed West Indies by 200 runs in the third one-day international on Tuesday to seal a 2-1 series victory in a timely boost ahead of their Asia Cup campaign next month. India entered the three-match series with their eyes on the bigger picture, which includes the Asia Cup and the home World Cup in October-November. Skipper Rohit Sharma and stalwart Virat Kohli were rested for the second ODI as part of their experiment with team combination and were not recalled for the decider even after West Indies levelled the series in Bridgetown. It did not really matter at the Brian Lara Stadium in Trinidad where India racked up 351-5 after being put into bat. Ishan Kishan (77) smashed his third successive fifty of the series and Shubman Gill struck 85 as they forged a 143-run opening stand to lay the foundation for a mammoth total.

Sanju Samson made a breezy 51 and stand-in skipper Hardik Pandya provided the late flourish with an unbeaten 70 off 52 balls to take India past the 350-mark. They then returned to bundle out West Indies for 151 in 35.3 overs with only Alick Athanaze (32) and Gudakesh Motie, who made 39 not out, offering some resistance. After Mukesh Kumar (3-30) wrecked the West Indies top order, Shardul Thakur (4-37) hollowed out the bottom half as India registered their 13th consecutive ODI series win against West Indies. West Indies captain Shai Hope said the target was not beyond their reach but they lacked consistency. The teams will clash in a five-match T20 series beginning on Thursday.

Brief scores:

India 351 for 5 (Shubman Gill 85, Ishan Kishan 77, Hardik Pandya 70 not out, Sanju Samson 51, Romario Shepherd 2-73) beat West Indies 151 (Gudakesh Motie 38 not out, Shardul Thakur 4-37, Mukesh Kumar 3-30) by 200 runs