The Hindu : Sport : West Indies seamers set up facile win to square series

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West Indies seamers set up facile win to square series

— Photo: AP

WINNING EFFORT: West Indian opener Runako Morton played a patient knock to steer the host to an easy win over India in the second ODI.

KINGSTON: The West Indies, on the back of an inspired display from its fast bowlers, scored a convincing eight-wicket victory over India on Sunday in the second One Day International at Sabina Park.

The four-match series is now level at 1-1 as the teams head to St. Lucia for the final two matches next Friday and Sunday.

Man-of-the-Match Ravi Rampaul took a career-best four for 37 as the visitors were bowled out for a modest 188 off 48.2 overs.

Dwayne Bravo claimed three for 26 and Jerome Taylor three for 35 but India’s captain M.S. Dhoni cracked a defiant 95 off 130 balls to offer some respectability to his team’s innings.

Record stand

He and R.P. Singh (23) produced a record ninth wicket stand of 101 after the home team was well on top at 82 for eight.

But the West Indies coasted to victory as captain Chris Gayle and Runako Morton hit contrasting half centuries in a century opening stand.

Gayle blasted eight fours and two sixes in his 64 off 46 balls.

Morton hit five fours in an unbeaten 85 off 102 deliveries and finished the match with his only six as the West Indies overhauled the target in 34.1 overs.

“We should have showed a bit more respect towards the bowlers,” a disappointed Dhoni said. “I think we didn’t assess the wicket well enough and went on with our strokes and that really caused our downfall.”

“Once you lose too many wickets early on, the only job you’re doing is catching up,” Dhoni added.

India, which won the toss, was quickly reduced to seven for three in the second over when Rampaul removed Gautam Gambhir and Rohit Sharma for ducks. Gambhir wafted at a square cut and snicked to Ramdin, who also should have held Sharma’s edge but saw his fluffed attempt mopped up on the rebound at second slip by Runako Morton.

Yuvraj’s feat

Dhoni and Friday’s century-maker Yuvraj Singh rebuilt the damage in a fluent stand of 47 for the fourth wicket.

Yuvraj showed an exquisite touch, becoming the fifth Indian batsman to reach 7,000 runs in ODI cricket before he departed for 35 off 33 balls.

The left-hander, who hit five fours and one stunning pulled six, chased a wide delivery from Taylor and presented Ramdin with another catch at 54 for four.

India soon slipped to 82 for eight as Yusuf Pathan (0), Ravindra Jadeja (7), Harbhajan Singh (7) and Praveen Kumar (1) fell in quick succession.

Yusuf fended a lifter to slip off Bravo, who also claimed Harbhajan, while Rampaul took the wickets of Jadeja and Praveen. — AP

SCOREBOARD

India: D. Karthik c Ramdin b Taylor 4 (5b), G. Gambhir c Ramdin b Rampaul 0 (2b), R. Sharma c Morton b Rampaul 0 (2b), Yuvraj c Ramdin b Taylor 35 (33b, 5x4, 1x6), M.S. Dhoni b Taylor 95 (130b, 6x4, 2x6), Yusuf c Gayle b Dwayne 0 (9b), R. Jadeja c Ramdin b Rampaul 7 (12b, 1x4), Harbhajan c Ramdin b Dwayne 7 (14b), Praveen c Gayle b Rampaul 1 (5b), R.P. Singh c Benn b Dwayne 23 (75b, 1x4, 1x6), A. Nehra (not out) 0 (3b), Extras (lb-4, w-12) 16; Total (in 48.2 overs) 188.

Fall of wickets: 1-4, 2-6, 3-7, 4-54, 5-57, 6-70, 7-81, 8-82, 9-183.

West Indies bowling: Taylor 9.2- 0-35-3, Rampaul 10-2-37-4, Dwayne 9-0-26-3, Benn 10-1-37-0, Bernard 7-0-36-0, Gayle 3-0-13-0.

West Indies: C. Gayle c Gambhir b Rohit 64 (46b, 8x4, 2x6), R. Morton (not out) 85 (102b, 5x4, 1x6), R. Sarwan st. Dhoni b Rohit 15 (17b, 1x4), S. Chanderpaul (not out) 18 (41b), Extras (lb-5, w-4, nb-1) 10; Total (for two wkts. in 34.1 overs) 192.

Fall of wickets: 1-101, 2-132.

India bowling: Praveen 7-1-37-0, Nehra 4-0-36-0, R.P. Singh 3-0-15-0, Yusuf 2-0-15-0, Harbhajan 8.1-0-45-0, Rohit 8-0-27-2, Jadeja 2-0-12-0.

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