It was a blast from the past. This was straight out of the days when the cavalier West Indian batsmen used to clear the ground at will.
Darren Bravo is not big-made but can give the ball a thump. After playing the waiting game — the asking rate climbed — the talented left-hander exploded with a flurry of sixes that left the Indians running for cover.
Bravo's 99-ball 86 included an astonishing six sixes. He took flight in the decisive phase of the game.
And the experienced Ramnaresh Sarwan lent solidity to the West Indian innings with a well-made 94-ball 75 before the right-hander, undone by cramps, retired hurt.
Riding on the two efforts, the West Indies defeated India by seven wickets with eight deliveries remaining at the Sabina Park on Thursday and whittled down the visitor's series victory margin to 3-2.
Pursuing a demanding 252 for victory, the West Indies — the host required 80 runs from the last eight overs — put its foot on the accelerator in the critical final stretch.
The fluent Marlon Samuels (28 not out) and the imposing Kieron Pollard — he tempered his aggression but still carved an unbeaten 24 off only 13 deliveries — guided the West Indies home.
The ease with which Pollard dismissed Vinay Kumar over the mid-wicket fence in the 48th over — the paceman conceded 20 runs in the over — highlighted his power and influence.
Indeed, when the West Indies required the big hits, it found them. And just when the Indian bowlers seemed to have a stranglehold on the contest, they wilted under the stress. On this occasion, the West Indies did not crumble under pressure. Eventually, Jamaican Samuels crashed Ishant Sharma past the widish long-on fence to signal the win. Then, unmindful of the reaction from the team-management, he celebrated the West Indies victory by running to countryman Chris Gayle, sporting a new-look hair-style, in the stands. The moment infused life and gave voice to the faithfuls in the stands.
Decisive phase
Looking back, the match-winning partnership in an adverse situation between Rohit Sharma and Harbhajan Singh in the third ODI proved the decisive phase of the series.
Given the kind of pitches where the last two ODIs were played — the surface for the fourth ODI at Antigua and the final game here offered pace, bounce and carry to the bowlers — the West Indies was the favourite to win the final two games.
Fittingly, Rohit Sharma was adjudged Player of the Series. Andre Russell, who bowled with fire and passion in the Indian innings — this natural athlete goes about his cricket with plenty of pride — was named Man of the Match.
The pacing of the West Indian chase was far from being ideal — the innings lacked tempo and thrust for most part — but then not many expected Bravo to go into over-drive.
He was high on octane and low on sympathy for the bowlers. Twice, Bravo came down the track and lofted Ashwin over the wide long-on fence. Then, the left-hander took the route over mid-wicket for another six off the off-spinner. Ashwin needed to vary his trajectory more.
Then, Bravo ruthlessly dismissed a full toss from leg-spinner Amit Mishra over the square-leg fence. Soon, the belligerent southpaw swept the leg-spinner for the maximum.
Bravo then turned his attention towards paceman Vinay Kumar, creating room and bludgeoning the sphere over the wide long-off fence.
The rampant Bravo was racing towards his century when he was stumped smartly by Parthiv Patel off Mishra. There were no comebacks though for India in this contest.
Poor catching
The West Indies was also helped by ordinary catching from the Indians. Adrian Barath was put down by Virat Kohli at gully — the opener had not yet opened his account — off Ishant Sharma. Kohli then was not quick enough to react and pouch a low offering at slip after Barath (on 15) had edged an Amit Mishra leg-spinner.
Earlier, Indian openers Parthiv Patel and Shikhar Dhawan were fired out early by the West Indian pacemen. But then, Virat Kohli's 104-ball 94, Rohit Sharma's pleasing 57 and some lusty blows from Yusuf Pathan (30) in the end enabled India reach a competitive 251 all out after being inserted. Bowling with speed and thrust, the impressive Andre Russell scalped four.
Scorecard
India: S. Dhawan c Sarwan b Roach 11 (26b, 1x4), Parthiv c Martin b Russell 6 (11b), V. Kohli (run out) 94 (104b, 10x4), M. Tiwary c Baugh b Pollard 22 (1x4, 1x6), Rohit b Martin 57 (72b, 2x4, 1x6), S. Raina c Barath b Pollard 0 (4b), Yusuf c Baugh b Russell 30 (29b, 2x4, 1x6), R. Ashwin (not out) 8 (7b, 1x4), A. Mishra b Russell 0 (1b), Vinay Kumar c Baugh b Roach 2 (8b), Ishant b Russell 0 (2b); Extras (b-1, w-19, nb-1): 21; Total (in 47.3 overs): 251.
Fall of wickets: 1-15 (Parthiv), 2-21 (Dhawan), 3-79 (Tiwary), 4-189 (Kohli), 5-190 (Raina), 6-225 (Rohit), 7-245 (Yusuf), 8-246 (Mishra), 9-249 (Vinay Kumar).
West Indies bowling: Roach 10-0-52-2, Sammy 6-0-48-0, Russell 8.3-0-35-4, Pollard 8-0-39-2, Martin 10-1-39-1, Simmons 5-0-37-0.
West Indies: L. Simmons c Mishra b Vinay Kumar 6 (16b), A. Barath lbw b Mishra 17 (46b, 1x4), R. Sarwan (retd. hurt) 75 (94b, 5x4, 1x6), D. Bravo st. Parthiv b Mishra 86 (99b, 3x4, 6x6), M. Samuels (not out) 28 (25b, 3x4), K. Pollard (not out) 24 (13b, 3x4, 1x6); Extras (lb-9, w-9, nb-1): 19; Total (for three wkts. in 48.4 overs): 255.
Fall of wickets: 1-12 (Simmons), 2-53 (Barath), 3-213 (Bravo).
India bowling: Vinay Kumar 9-2-46-1, Ishant 9.4-0-49-0, Mishra 10-1-46-2, Ashwin 10-1-50-0, Raina 6-0-35-0, Yusuf 1-0-7-0, Kohli 3-0-13-0.
