Kolkata: Suryakumar Yadav's brilliant knock of 65 off 31 balls before 3/22 from Harshal Patel helped India beat West Indies by 17 runs in the inconsequential third T20I at the Eden Gardens here on Sunday.
With the win, India whitewashed West Indies in the three-match series 3-0.
West Indies' openers once again failed to fire while chasing the 185-run target. Deepak Chahar struck twice for India as he dismissed Kyle Mayers (6) and Shai Hope (8).
Nicholas Pooran and Rovman Powell rebuild the innings before Harshal got the much-needed breakthrough, dismissing Powell for 25. The likes of Kieron Pollard, Jason Holder and Roston Chase all failed to provide support to Pooran, who was anchoring the chase.
With 37 needed off 18 balls, Shardul Thakur turned the table in favour of India as he got rid of Pooran (61).
The West Indian went hard after the ball only to get a top edge and wicket-keeper Ishan Kishan rushed to his left to complete the formalities. Harshal got the other massive wicket of Romario Shepherd (29).
In no time, two new West Indian batters found themselves in the middle with 23 required off the final over. Shardul picked another wicket - Dominic Drakes (4) - before restricting West Indies to 167/9.
Earlier, a 31-ball 91-run partnership between Suryakumar Yadav (65 off 31 balls) and Venkatesh Iyer (35 not out off 19 balls) powered India to 184/5.
In a surprise move by India skipper Rohit Sharma, Ruturaj Gaikwad and Ishan Kishan open the innings after West Indies put the hosts to bat first.
Jason Holder struck early for the visitors as he dismissed Gaikwad (4), who got a leading edge and caught by third man Kyle Mayers following some juggle with the ball.
Kishan took the revenge, firing three boundaries off Romario Shepherd. Shreyas Iyer also ensured the ball race to the rope.
Hayden Walsh ended the entertainment for the hosts as he got rid of Iyer for 25. The right-hander sliced straight to Holder at long-off.
Kishan followed Iyer back to the dug out as Roston Chase castled the wicketkeeper-batter for 34.
Suryakumar carried his momentum from the second game and whacked Walsh for a maximum. The Indian again swung Walsh for a six, with this time over deep midwicket.
Rohit's experiment at number four was cut short by Dominic Drakes. The Indian skipper was cleaned up for 7, leaving India on 93/4 after 13.5 overs.
Venkatesh joined Suryakumar and replicated his batting from the previous game. While Suryakumar got a maximum, Venkatesh hammered a couple of fours off Drakes.
The duo continued their quality strokeplay to pile misery on the West Indies attack, with both Drakes and Shepherd conceding 21 runs each in the final two overs.
Brief scores:
India 184/5 in 20 overs (Suryakumar Yadav 65, Venkatesh Iyer 35 not out; Roston Chase 1/23) beat West Indies 167/9 in 20 overs (Nicholas Pooran 61; Harshal Patel 3/22, Deepak Chahar 2/15) by 17 runs. (UNI)
