Sports: Sharma shines as India secure series win in Antigua

Sharma shines as India secure series win in Antigua

A superb unbeaten 86 from Rohit Sharma led India to a three wicket victory over West Indies on Saturday to secure the five-match one day series for the tourists who now have an unassailable 3-0 lead.

Sharma led India’s recovery from 92 for six as they chased down 226 at the Sir Vivian Richards stadium.

An 88 run partnership with Harbhajan Singh (41) put India back in contention and then Praveen Kumar (25 not out) saw the tourists through to what was, in the end, a comfortable victory with 22 balls to spare.

Russell’s score is the highest made by a number nine batsman in one-day internationals and included a 78-run partnership with wicketkeeper Carlton Baugh as the Caribbean side recovered from 85-6.

The big hitting innings included eight fours and five sixes as the success-starved home crowd were finally treated to some entertainment.

Once again West Indies struggled against spin with leg-spinner Amit Mishra taking 3-28 from his ten allotted overs.

Opener Lendl Simmons again was the pick of the West Indies batsmen with 45 before Mishra had him caught by Virat Kohli at slip but the middle order again failed.

India’s innings had a similar structure with opener Parthiv Patel hitting 46 but no-one else making a major contribution until Sharma’s big knock turned the game.