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'Do match haar ke baad Bharat ka palatwar' - Fans react as India keep series alive with 7-wicket win in 3rd T20I against West Indies

India kept the five-match T20I series alive with a 7-wicket win over West Indies in the third match on Tuesday.

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Daniel S
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IND vs WI 3rd T20I

IND vs WI 3rd T20I (Source: Twitter)

India are back on the winning track as World No. 1 T20 batter Suryakumar Yadav finds his rhythm after a couple of poor outings. Having won the first two matches of the five-match T20I series, West Indies had aimed for clinching the series. However, the Men in Blue kept the series alive with a seven-wicket victory in the third match at the Providence Stadium in Guyana on Tuesday, August 8.

Opting to bat first, the Windies openers gave them a decent start, putting on a 55-run partnership. Just as the two were getting settled at the crease, Axar Patel dismissed Kyle Mayers for 25, giving India their first breakthrough. Although the hosts had enough wickets in hand at the halfway stage, their scoring rate was not good as opener Brandon King took on the anchoring role.

Nicholas Pooran didn't put on a show today, but his 12-ball 20 runs, including a six and a four, gave them a push in the middle overs. India got back on track in the 15th over when Kuldeep Yadav struck twice, dismissing Pooran and King. The credit must also go to skipper Hardik Pandya, who backed the spinner despite conceding two boundaries against Pooran in his last over.

Yadav, who came in for Ravi Bishnoi, was impressive, picking up three wickets for 28 runs. However, West Indies skipper Rovman Powell unleashed his power hitting in the final overs to take the team to a competitive total of 159-5. The right-hander scored 40 runs off just 19 balls, including three sixes and a four. Axar and Mukesh Kumar took one wicket each.

Suryakumar and Tilak Varma's 80-plus partnership edges out the hosts 

Chasing the highest score of the series so far, India got off to a poor start as they lost the wicket of debutant Yeshasvi Jaiswal in the very first over. Suryakumar and Shubman Gill then tried to form a partnership but the latter continued his dismal form as he was dismissed for six runs in the fifth over.

India smelled an early batting collapse, but the two Mumbai Indians batters steadied the ship by putting up a match-winning 80-plus partnership. SKY returned to his typical form, as he was on song right from the start. Varma, on the other hand, played sensibly keeping the scoreboard ticking and once again proved his mettle on the big stage.

SKY departed after taking the visitors almost near the finish line, scoring 83 off just 45 balls, including 10 fours and 3 sixes. Meanwhile, Varma (49 off 37 balls) fell short of his deserved half-century by just one run. The southpaw and Pandya ensured they don't lose any more wickets, and the captain finished off the game with a six on the final ball of the 18th over.

Here's how fans reacted to India's win in 3rd T20I:

India WEST INDIES India vs West Indies