Dhawan guides India to series win

KANPUR: It was a left-hand drive as India motored to a five-wicket win against the West Indies at the Green Park stadium to pocket the three-match series 2-1 on Wednesday. The left-handed trio of Shikhar Dhawan, Yuvraj Singh and local birthday boy Suresh Raina ensured that the hosts recorded the highest run-chase at the venue.

Scorecard | Match in Pics

Dhawan (119) regaled the packed house with a strokeful century, while Yuvraj Singh struck a much-needed half-century. After the departure of the two, Raina chipped in with 34 as the home side overhauled the target of 264 with 23 balls to spare in fading light.

Dhawan looked in a hurry from the very start, hitting the bowlers all round the park. He was equally severe on anything pitched up or short, pulling out all the shots from the cupboard. With him getting the measure of the two-paced wicket, the Caribbeans could do little to restrain him on a bright and sunny afternoon.

With Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli failing to get amongst the runs, for a change, Dhawan put his hand up to do the job for India. His defence looked solid and he towered over the bowlers until he pushed back a slower one from Dwayne Bravo to be caught and bowled. Before that, literally making a mockery of the attack, he sent the ball 20 times to the fence during his 95-ball knock.

Seeing the way Dhawan was stroking the ball, even Yuvraj and then Suresh Raina grew in confidence in his company. Yuvraj, who wasn't having a good run with the bat, looked good till he lasted. Starting off cautiously, he upped the tempo a bit as he settled down. When he pulled Ravi Rampaul to the fence, it looked vintage Yuvraj. He fell to a loose shot against Sunil Narine, playing a lazy push to be caught in the slips. All the seven boundaries during his 74-ball knock had class written on them.

Earlier, sent into bat, a late flourish took the visitors past the 260-mark with the two Darrens -- Bravo and Sammy showing some urgency after the top-order batsmen had problems adjusting to the pace of the wicket. Sammy came up with a cameo while provided wheels to the innings after Marlon Samuels and Kieran Powell had laid the platform with a 117-run second wicket partnership.

India's winning streak

This was India's sixth consecutive series/tournaments win in ODIs this year. India won the ODI series against England, Zimbabwe, Australia, the tri-series involving Sri Lanka and West Indies and the ICC Champions Trophy earlier this year.

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Shweta Pandey

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