Sensational Suryakumar powers India to an emphatic victory

A masterclass in stroke play from Suryakumar Yadav and a brilliant middle-overs spell from Hardik Pandya helped Team India beat the West Indies by seven wickets in the third T20I in St Kitts.

India took a 2-1 lead in the series with this win

India's run-chase of 165 was about one man only, the ever-so stylish Surya, who, during the course of his 44-ball stay at the crease, lit up the stadium with some breathtaking strokes.

India lost their skipper Rohit Sharma due to a suspected back injury in the second over of their run-chase, but Surya ensured that the tourists did not miss him. 

Flicks? Check. Dab over third-man? Check. Lofted whips down the ground? Check. Lofted cover-drive on the up where he rolled his wrists as if they were made of rubber? Check. Sweep shots against spinners and pacers? Check. His patented uppercuts? Check. Check. Check.

His knock meant that India did not suffer because of a painstaking knock from Shreyas Iyer, who crawled his way to a 27-ball 24 before getting stumped off Akeal Hosein.

Hosein was the only West Indian bowler who bowled with any control, but even he couldn't escape the brunt of Surya's bat.

India eventually achieved their target on the last delivery of the 19th over, with Pant (33* off 26) whacking a slot ball from McCoy over mid-wicket for a four.

Marvellous Mayers led West Indies with the bat

Earlier, the home side rode on a sensational 50-ball 73 from opener Kyle Mayers to post 164 in 20 overs.

Having been asked to bat first, the West Indies got off to a flier thanks to some eye-catching stroke-play from the opening duo of Brandon King and, especially, Mayers.

Mayers played an eye-catching knock

The southpaw was disdainful against anything that was pitched up, and he got such opportunities consistently from the Indian seamers, especially Avesh Khan.

Hardik Pandya's spell brought India back in to the match

Just like the last game, Hardik bowled extremely cleverly as he kept banging the ball on the pitch to angle it across the left-handers.

Hardik had another impressive outing with the ball

Thanks to Hardik, India pulled things back nicely, conceding just 39 runs in seven overs after the power play and claiming one wicket. Hardik finished with figures of 1 for 19 in 4 overs.

Bhuvneshwar dismissed the dangerous Mayers in his last over before Avesh completed yet another forgettable day at the office by conceding consecutive sixes to Shimron Hetmyer in the penultimate over to end with figures of 0/47 in 3 overs. 

Arshdeep was taken for a few runs by Mayers and then Rovman Powell, but the left-arm seamer came back really well to concede just 15 in his last two overs.

Brief Scores:

West Indies: 164/5 (20)

Kyle Mayers 73 (50), Rovman Powell 23 (14) ; 

Bhuvneshwar Kumar 2-35 (4), Hardik Pandya 1-19 (4)

India: 165/3 (19)

Suryakumar Yadav 76 (44), Rishabh Pant 33* (26); 

Akeal Hosein 1-28 (4)

India won by seven wickets. 

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