adminKANPUR. — Shikhar Dhawan notched his highest one-day international cricket score to seal a 2-1 series win for India as they beat the West Indies by five wickets in Kanpur yesterday. Dhawan scored 119 runs from 95 balls, which included 20 boundaries, to enable India to reach their target and end on 266 for five at Green Park.
The 27-year-old left-hander was joined by the out-of–sorts Yuvraj Singh and together they added 129 runs for the third wicket which lasted over 20 overs and was scored at exactly a run-a-ball, after Ravi Rampaul picked up the wickets of India’s star talents in Rohit Sharma (4) and Virat Kohli (19). Dhawan scored effortlessly throughout his innings but brought up his fifth century in streaky fashion as he got a thick outside edge which raced away to the third-man boundary.
Windies skipper Dwayne Bravo would eventually get the better of him with a slower ball that the tiring batsman tried to chip over the bowler, but he was early on the shot and Bravo took the return catch with ease.
Yuvraj, who is trying to re-establish himself after a period out of the game due to health related issues, played a circumspect innings to bring up his 51st one-day international half-century. He went on to make 55 from 74 balls before he fell victim to Sunil Narine in the 31st over.
Late contributions from Suresh Raina (34) and MS Dhoni (23 not out) were required to get the home side over the line. — AFP.
Online Reporter