Pakistan and West Indies will play the first of two One-Day Internationals (ODI) at the Guyana National Stadium starting Sunday, July 14.
The West Indies team’s performance against Sri Lanka and India for the Celkon Mobile Cup were not up to standard, particularly its batting. Rain interrupted almost every game. However, players must keep their rhythm and play to high standards despite interruptions. West Indies bowlers have performed very well but most of their batsmen fell short of useful scores.
Opening batsman Johnson Charles has been very dominant in the series but the West Indies middle order batting has too many failures. The West Indies selectors should bring in Christopher Barnwell, the Guyanese all rounder and brilliant outfielder for the Pakistan Series against the West Indies. Shannon Gabriel, the fast bowler from Trinidad and Tobago should also be seriously considered for the series.
West Indies head coach Ottis Gibson should consider using a four-prong pace attack in some of these one-day international games. The pacers are ready and fit why not put them on show? Get them together Mr. Gibson.
CAPTAINS FOR RESPECTIVE FRANCHISES IN THE CPL:
St. Lucia Zouks – Darren Sammy
Trinidad/Tobago Red Steel – Dwayne bravo
Antigua Hawksbills – Marlon Samuels
Jamaica Tallawhs – Chris Gayle
Barbados Tridents – Kieron Pollard
INDIA’S VICTORY
India’s captain Virat Kohli slammed a superb 102 runs from 83 balls with 13 fours and 2 sixes to propel his team to 311 runs from 7 wickets in 50 overs.
90-RUN
PARTNERSHIP
Captain Virat Kohli and all rounder Ravichandran Ashwin skillfully gathered 90 runs in 50 balls for the 7th wicket. These two batsmen took the score from 221 for 6 to 311 for 7 when captain Kohli fell for a spectacular 102. Ashwin scored 25 not out.
DHAWAN AND SHARMA PUT ON 123 RUNS
India’s opening pair of Shikhar Dhawan and Rohit Sharma earlier on had placed their team in a commanding position with an opening partnership of 123 runs. Dhawan batted until the 24th over but before he departed, he hammered spinner Sunil Narine for two sixes and a four in the same over and slammed eight fours and two sixes in his knock of 69 from 77 balls. Sharma scored 46 runs from 78 balls.
INDIA WINS BY 102 RUNS
In a rain affected game, the West Indies were bowled out for 171 in 34 overs. Johnson Charles continues his good form, scoring 45 from 38 balls with 6 fours and 2 sixes. Fast bowler Kemar Roach scored 34 from 33 balls and Sunil Narine 21 from 33 balls.
KUMAR AND YADAV CREATE UNREST
Fast bowlers Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Umesh Yadav bowled with hostility, movement and pace and had the West Indies at 14 for 1, 25 for 2 and then 37 for 3. Chris Gayle, Darren Bravo and Marlon Samuels were sent back early. Pacer Kumar ended with 3 for 29 from 8 overs taking the wickets of Gayle, Bravo and Kieron Pollard. Umesh Yadav took 3 for 32 from 8 overs.
