India took the one-day series in a terrific style thanks to India’s captain Virender Sehwag who slammed 219 runs from 149 balls with 7 sixes and 25 fours.
Apart from a few dropped catches and run out blunders, the master batsman totally lambasted the Windies bowling and every bowler got a taste of Sehwag’s batting aggression. Sehwag’s opening partner Gautham Gambhir scored 67 runs from 67 balls before he was unfortunately run out.
Opening Partnership
Virender Sehwag and Gautham Gambhir steered India into a strong position with a partnership of 176 runs from 133 balls. After 20 overs India were 225 for 1 wicket scoring over seven runs per over. The second wicket partnership between Sehwag and Raina was 140 runs. Suresh Raina scored 555 from 44 balls. India ended at 418 runs 5 wickets after their alotted 50 overs.
West Indies Bowling
K. Roach 10-0-88-1
Rampaul 9-0-66-0
M. Samuels 8-0-59-0
K. Pollard 7-0-65-1
A. Russell 7-0-63-1
S. Narine 6-0-46-0
D. Sammy 3-0-30-0
Note: Darren Sammy’s first two overs went for 21 runs; he took himself off. He returned and bowled one over and never bowled again in the match. Is this the specialist bowling all rounder? Why did Sammy not carry the fight captain to captain as he did in the Test matches. Here in this match, Sammy kept away from the beating of Sehwag’s bat by not bowling his 10 overs and he continues the habit of dropping catches. He dropped Sehwag on 170. West Indies needs a captain to lead from the front. The W.I.C.B. ought to wake up and take the shame out of West Indies cricket. Enough is enough!!!
West Indies Bowled Out For 265 Runs In 49.2 Overs
Opener Lendl Simmons scored a fiery 36 from 35 balls, Marlon Samuels 33 from 26 balls, wicket keeper batsman Densh Ramdin 96 from 96 balls, Andre Russell 29 from 24 balls and spinner Sunil Narine 29 from 24 balls.
Leg Spinner Rahul Sharma Digs Into Windies Batting
Debutant leg spinner Rahul Sharma removed Marlon Samuels for 33, Danza Hyatt was yorked for 11 and Kieron Pollard for 3, Wicket keeper batsman Denesh Ramdin must be up in the order in the one-day internationals to create some stability. He is experienced and knows how to consolidate well.
Windies Fell From 63 For 2, To 100 For 5
Windies ended at 265 all out from 49.2 overs. Indian bowlers using breaks, googlies and top spin mesmerized the West Indies batsmen. Davendra should learn a little from Sharma. It is the faster ball that does the trick most of the time, as a spinner must create a variety of suprises for the batsmen. That uncertainty can gain wickets. Most of the time batsmen fall to the varied bowling when they least expect. Sharma ended with 3-43, R.A. Jadega 3-34 and Suresh Raina 2 for 17.
Appoint Denesh Ramdin Captain
The West Indies Cricket Board must avoid further embarassment and reform the structure of West Indies cricket. Appoint Denesh Ramdin West Indies captain, bring back Chris Gayle and put a proper selection of specialist bowlers in place. Ravi Rampaul, Davendra Bishoo and Sunil Narine are top class bowlers but the leadership of the Windies team is the main concern. Windies selectors must get together with the W.I.C.B. and put the best team on the field and replace captain Darren Sammy forthwith. Hurry up W.I.C.B.
AP Photo/Aijaz Rahi
