Sun, 20 Mar 2011 - India vs West Indies, World Cup 2011, 42nd match Group B - Bulletin

India bounce back to win comprehensively

Thanks to another batting collapse and spirited performance from the Indian bowlers, West Indies faltered to lose against India by 80 runs in the last group match of the tournament which takes them to fourth position in the group B table.

The Caribbean side repeated what India did in their first innings to surrender a game from the position where from they should have won. Windies were well on the course during their chase of 269 runs with the score reaching 154 for the loss of only two wickets but the dismissal of opener Devon Smith in 31st over signaled the downfall of batting line up and eight wickets were lost for 34 runs to get all out on 188 runs.

Indian resurgence was again led by their champion fast bowler by taking three wickets while other bowlers also put up an inspiring performance to eke out a victory from a position where West Indies was bossing the chase.

Yuvraj backed his century with two important wickets during Windies collapse while much talked about R Ashwin also taking a brace of wickets to take India to second position in the group.

West Indies chase was in control with two successive partnerships of 63 runs each for second and third wicket as Devon Smith played a gem of an innings till his dismissal.

He combined first with Darren Bravo and then Ramnaresh Sarwan to lead his team’s chase playing a sense of authority combined with some terrific strokes on the both sides of wicket on his way to a 97-ball 81 including seven fours and a six.

He played both spin and fast bowlers with all the calm in the world but got out at a point that ignited India and finally cost his team a game.

Sarwan was another significant contributor with the bat scoring 39 runs but lacked fluency and couldn’t boss the game when wickets fell around letting Indian bowlers to get on the top.

Earlier, for the second time running India batting couldn’t capitalize on a strong platform provided them by their top order as India slumped from 218 for the loss of three wickets in 42nd to be bowled out for 268 runs.

While it was Steyn who scripted the Indian fall at Nagpur, it was fast bowler playing his first world cup game Ravi Rampaul’s five wicket haul for West Indian that was instrumental in the Indian slump.

It was a combination of both inspired bowling and some reckless batting that has given West Indies a good opportunity to this game after Yuvraj Singh’s first world cup century had laid a strong platform for his team to post a big score.

After winning the toss, India lost both openers inside nine overs to Ravi Rampaul’s aggressive spell in which he removed Sachin in first over of the match and followed up with Gambhir’s wicket in his fifth to dent India.

India, however, put pressure back on West Indies through a terrific 3rd wicket partnership of 122 runs between Virat Kohli and Yuvraj Singh who both played some quality strokes and batted sensibly during the period when India looked on the top.

Yuvraj, who was dropped twice by West Indies captain Sammy twice at the start of his innings, looked in top form after the reprieve and played some exquisite pull and cover drives to make Windies bowling look ordinary during his stay at the crease. Kohli promoted to his favorite number three was fluent right through his innings and played second fiddle to Yuvraj to notch up a half century on his way to 76 ball 59.

With West Indies looking on backfoot, Sammy again turned to Rampaul who obliged by castling Kohli with a delivery that jagged back from the outside off stump to hit the middle stump. Dhoni promoted himself to number five and combined with Yuvraj to get 46 runs to add to Indian total with Yuvraj completing his maiden world cup century off 112 balls punctuated with ten fours and a six.

Once Dhoni fell to leg spinner Bishoo, the wickets fell in heap with India losing its last seven wickets for 50 runs reminding people of a batting collapse against South Africa. While Indian batsmen didn’t apply any sense during the last overs, Windies bowlers displayed a quality death bowling performance to prevent India from posting a big total. Ravi Rampaul got wickets of Yusuf Pathan and Zaheer Khan to complete best ODI figures that read five for 51 runs in his 10 overs.

All rounder Russell also put up a decent performance with the ball taking two wickets while Pollard, Bishoo and Sammy took a wicket each.

Read the rest of article on page 2