New Delhi: Indian bowlers, led by pacer Mohammed Shami, came back strongly from loss in the first ODI to beat the West Indies by 48 runs and level the five-match series 1-1.
Chasing India’s competitive total of 263-7, the West Indies were well on their way at 170/2 in the 36th over when Shami clean bowled opener Dwayne Smith (97), triggering a collapse for the Windies side at the Ferozeshah Kotla in New Delhi. The visitors were eventually bowled out for 215 in 46.3 overs.
Shami’s career-best figures of 4/36 earned him the man of the match award.
The Windies got a solid start after Smith and Darren Bravo (26) opened the chase with a 64-run partnership. After Bravo’s dismissal, Kieron Pollard (40) also gave good support to Smith.
Despite losing big-hitting Pollard, bowled by Mishra, the Windies were cruising and it looked like they were firm on taking a 2-0 lead in the series.
However, a quick delivery by Shami struck the pads of Smith which led the Indian to appeal, only to realise seconds later that the ball had gone on to dislodge the bails.
From there, the Caribbean side kept losing wickets regularly thanks to some tight bowling by spinners Jadeja and Mishra, whose two maiden overs aggravated the situation further for the West Indies, who went on to lose the last eight wickets for only 45 runs.
Earlier, a quick fire half-century from captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni and a 105-run partnership between Virat Kohli and Suresh Raina helped India score 263-7 following a slow start. India started poorly despite win. Opener Shikhar Dhawan (1) was bowled by pacer Jerome Taylor in only the second over.
Ajinkya Rahane (12) and Ambati Rayudu (32), elevated to No.3 position, tried to strike a partnership but both got out leaving India in a spot of bother with the score at 74/3 in the 18th over.
However, Kohli (62), batting a position lower than his regular No.3 spot, and southpaw Raina (62) combined well to push the run rate up and string together a partnership which took the team out of trouble.
Dhoni hit five boundaries and a massive six to end the innings at an unbeaten 51 and help his side reach a fighting total.AGENCIES
