Antigua, June 11: Rohit Sharma played a fantastic innings of 86 not out to give India a series victory in their five-match ODI contest against the West Indies. Set to chase a score of 225 at the Sir Vivian Richards Stadium in the third ODI, India collapsed to a score of 92 for six before Sharma engineered a dramatic reversal for the visitors. The win gives India an unassailable 3-0 lead in the series.

India’s innings followed a similar script to the hosts’ batting effort. Their top order collapsed without making a substantive contribution to the run chase. Shikhar Dhawan (4) and Virat Kohli (0) were dismissed off consecutive deliveries by Darren Sammy in the eighth over with the score at 26. Badrinath was run-out next having made 11 while Devendra Bishoo’s dismissal of Parthiv Patel (46) off the first ball of the 19th over made it 79 for four. Suresh Raina (3) and Yusuf Pathan (1) made their way back into the dressing room shortly thereafter.

With the visitors’ score at 92 for six in 22.2 overs, West Indies must have fancied their chances. But Sharma and Harbhajan Singh mounted a courageous fight back. The two added 88 for the seventh wicket before Harbhajan (41) got out playing one shot too many. Praveen Kumar then joined Sharma, who by this time had gone past his half-century, and struck some lofty blows to take India home in 46.2 overs. Kumar remained unbeaten on 25 while Sharma was 86 not out.

Earlier, West Indies lower order batsman Andre Russell gave the hosts a fighting chance of competing with India. After the West Indies top order had put in an ordinary batting display to slide to a score of 96 for seven, Russell’s 92-run blitz helped the hosts put up a respectable 225 for eight in their allotted 50 overs.

West Indies got off to a woeful start as Kirk Edwards (0) nicked just the eighth delivery of the match bowled by Munaf Patel to Parthiv Patel. The hosts had not even put a single run on the board when Edwards’ wicket fell. A 65-run partnership ensued between Lendl Simmons and Ramnaresh Sarwan but once Sarwan (28) was run-out in the 15th over, the West Indies top order collapsed.

Amit Mishra took three wickets while Harbhajan Singh and Munaf took one each as West Indies went from 65 for one at the start of the 15th over to 96 for seven at the end of 30 overs. Marlon Samuels (1), Danza Hyatt (1) and Kieron Pollard (6), all failed to get to double digit scores while Simmons fell to Mishra having made 45.

Carlton Baugh and Andre Russell then began the rescue effort for the hosts. The two added 78 runs for the eighth wicket before Baugh (36) lobbed an easy catch to Shikhar Dhawan off Munaf Patel’s bowling. West Indies were 174 for eight in 45.2 overs at this stage.

But Russell continued unfettered. The number nine batsman strike 92 off just 64 balls to take the hosts to a fighting score of 225. The right-handed batsman smashed 37 runs off the last two overs alone to post his best ever individual score in ODI cricket.

Brief scores: India 228/7 in 48.2 overs(Rohit Sharma 86*, Parthiv Patel 46, Harbhajan Singh 41, Devendra Bishoo 2/41) beat West Indies 225/8 in 50.0 overs (Andre Russell 92*, Lendl Simmons 45, Amit Mishra 3/28, Munaf Patel 3/60) by three wickets.

Man-of-the-match: Andre Russell for his valiant 92* off 64 balls (8x4, 5x6).