Navdeep Saini took two wickets in his first ODI match in the winner take all series finale between India and West Indies at Cuttack on Sunday
After a cautious start, West Indies gained momentum towards the end of the innings. Nicholas Pooran (89 off 64) and Kieron Pollard (74 off 51) then scored some quick runs to help the visitors to 315/5 in the series-deciding third ODI at Barabati Stadium, Cuttack on Sunday. For India, debutant Navdeep Saini picked two wickets, while Shardul Thakur, Mohammed Shami and Ravindra Jadeja got one each.
Saini first got the wicket of dangerous Shimron Hetmyer (37 off 33), caught by Kuldeep Yadav at deep square leg, for his maiden ODI scalp in the 30th over. The 27-year-old pacer then produced a deadly yorker in the 32nd over to send Chase (38 off 48).
Watch the wicket here:
The Windies left it late with Pooran and skipper Pollard taking the Indian attack into smithereens stitching together a stand of 135 runs from 98 balls. The Indian bowling attack that looked steady during the first 40 overs, knocked 118 in the last 10 overs to get past the 300-run target.
The Windies skipper smashed seven sixes and three fours en route to his unbeaten knock while Pooran stepped it up, hitting three sixes and 10 fours in his knock from 64 balls.
Coming into the side on the back of a five-for in the Ranji Trophy, Saini impressed with his pace and bounce, and took the wickets in successive overs in a fine second spell of 3-0-10-2.
In fact, Saini would have taken another had Ravindra Jadeja not dropped a diving catch of Evin Lewis in the point when the left-handed opener was on 14.
Brief scores: 315/5 in 50 overs (Pooran 89, Pollard 74 not out; Saini 2/52).