Patel bowls India to T20 series sweep against WI

KOLKATA, India (AP):

SEAMER HARSHAL Patel's superb spell of 3-22 helped India beat West Indies by 17 runs in their third and final Twenty20 cricket match to sweep the series 3-0 yesterday.

Patel played his part in restricting the West Indies to 167-9 in their unsuccessful chase after the visitors won the toss and opted to bowl. Suryakumar Yadav's 65 off 31 balls had propelled India to 184-5.

Yadav was named player of the match and series. He scored 109 runs in three innings at a strike rate of 194.55.

"I just wanted to replicate what I did in the first game. We needed someone to stay there after Rohit Sharma got out," Yadav said. "We had a long chat in the team meeting as to how we are going to react under immense pressure, and it came out very well. I just try to keep things simple."

Chasing 185 for a consolation win, West Indies lost both openers quickly to Deepak Chahar (2-15) and were reduced to 26-2.

Nicholas Pooran continued his good form and powered his way to a second consecutive half-century. He scored 61 off 47 balls, including eight fours and a six. Pooran put on 47 runs for the third wicket with Rovman Powell (25), who hit two fours and a pair of sixes. Patel's dismissal of Powell in the seventh over marked the turning point of the chase.

Venkatesh Iyer (2-23) then dismissed West Indies captain Kieron Pollard (five) and Jason Holder (two) as West Indies collapsed to 87-5 in the 11th over.

Romario Shepherd raised hopes of a late surge for West Indies with 29 off 21 balls, including three sixes. But Patel returned in the death overs to dismiss Pooran and Shepherd in successive overs.

Earlier, India played around with their batting order and paid the price. India captain Rohit Sharma (seven) had demoted himself to No. 4 and the move didn't work. He was bowled by Dominic Drakes (1-37) as India reached 93-4 in 13.5 overs.

Venkatesh Iyer (35 not out) and Yadav then put on 91 runs to stun the West Indies and pushed India to a winning total.

Yadav smacked seven sixes in a whirlwind innings, reaching 50 off only 27 balls. It was his fourth T20 half-century.

Venkatesh Iyer hit four fours and two sixes during his 19-ball stay as the duo plundered 86 runs off the last 30 deliveries.

"We were in the game for 15 overs, but we gave them 85-odd in the last five overs," Pollard said. "We did have a good start with the bat. Nicholas (Pooran) showed his consistency. Rovman Powell showed he wants to be there. For us from the T20 perspective, these guys are getting opportunities and they are putting in the hard yards."

The entire three-match series was hosted in Kolkata.