India v West Indies 3rd ODI: Andre Russell 92 Helps West Indies Post 225

A stunning innings of an unbeaten 92 that came off only 64 balls from the blazing bat of Andre Russell saved the West Indies of the ignominy of yet another collapse but India will still be the happier of the two teams at the lunch break. West Indies recovered well to post 225 for eight in their 50 overs in the third ODI at the North Sound in Antigua but it remains to be seen whether that will test the Indian batting, which has already chased two such totals in the first couple of games.

At 96 for seven, West Indies looked doomed and the game seemed to be heading towards an early finish. The problems had been the same – a decent partnership here or there aside, the rest of the batsmen had struggled with the bat at the advent of the spinners, only this time it seemed like the Indians would be chasing very little.

Thankfully for the home team, the pair of Russell and Carlton Baugh came together and saw off the overs from the spinners without allowing any more damage. Amit Mishra, who picked up three more wickets, conceded only 28 in his ten overs while Harbhajan Singh went for 24 in his ten for his wicket of the potentially dangerous Mumbai Indians teammate Kieron Pollard.

After the initial rotating of strike, Russell got into his elements and banished five sixes and eight boundaries in his knock. Baugh gave him good support and made a 36-run contribution. However, the most brutal part of the attack came in the 49th over when Russell launched into Indian captain Suresh Raina and crashed 22 off the over.

Earlier, from 65 for one, the West Indian side had lost six wickets for 31 runs and they were staring down the wrong end of the barrel. Lendl Simmons had scored a fluent 45 while Ramnaresh Sarwan looked good for his 28 before he was run-out.