India outclass West Indies with clinical show
India captain Suresh Raina was full of praise for his bowlers after the tourists defeated West Indies in the rain-affected second One-Day International (ODI) by seven wickets at Queen’s Park Oval. India, chasing a revised target of 183 from 37 overs after West Indies posted 240, were led by half-centuries from Virat Kohli and Parthiv Patel to win with 20 balls to spare.
The pair followed up Amit Mishra’s career-best bowling that helped India restrict the hosts after they were well-placed at 175 for two. Mishra finished with four for 31 off his 10 overs as India now lead the five-match ODI series 2-0.
“It was another good performance, especially Mishra, who was unbelievable, when he bowled in the Powerplay,” said Raina.
Sammy left to rue batting collapse
West Indies captain Darren Sammy felt that his team was 30 runs short and should have scored more to pose a serious challenge for a strong Indian batting line-up.
“We got ourselves into a good position, but we didn’t capitalise on it,” said Sammy. “We were about 30 runs short.”
Kohli struck six fours and one six in his 81 to earn the man-of-the-match award, while Patel made 56 from 64 deliveries as India followed up with another impressive performance after a four-wicket victory in the first ODI at the same venue.
India suffered an early setback when they batted, losing Shikhar Dhawan for three when he was caught at square cover off Ravi Rampaul in the third over. But a second-wicket stand of 120 between Kohli and Patel put India firmly on track, enduring two stoppages for rain.
The wicket-keeper was caught behind down the leg-side off leg-spinner Anthony Martin in the 27th over while Kohli was caught at long-off off Devendra Bishoo.
West Indies off to good start
Earlier, the visitors were on the backfoot, when West Indies benefitted from three straight half-century stands. Ramnaresh Sarwan’s 56 off 90 balls was the top-score while Lendl Simmons supported with 53 from 84 deliveries.
India’s new-ball pair of Praveen Kumar and Munaf Patel failed to make the early breakthrough before Mishra had opener Kirk Edwards caught behind for 25 in the 13th over, leaving West Indies 57 for one.
India continued to find wickets hard to come by as Sarwan joined Simmons to add 67 for the second wicket.
The collapse
The drama began to unfold in the 42nd over, when Mishra dismissed Kieron Pollard and struck twice in his next over. Dwayne Bravo was caught at long-off for eight before Carlton Baugh was sent back for two to leave West Indies 197 for seven. Sammy provided a brief respite with Rampaul to lead the hosts to a respectable total.
Munaf Patel bagged three for 35 from 10 overs, and Yusuf Pathan took two for 51 from eight overs to play their part in destabilising the West Indies’ progress.
Published in The Express Tribune, June 10th, 2011.
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