ANURADHA SINGH

BJMC 3rd SEMESTER

West Indies huff and puff to level series

2ND ODI—Fourth-highest run-chase for the visitors after Virat's 99.

Sammy guided WI home after fifties from Bravo, Powell and Simmons.

After Cyclone Helen lashed India’s south-eastern coast, it was miraculous that this game took place at all. India made 288 thanks to Virat Kohli’s fine 99 and MS Dhoni’s unbeaten 51. As the West Indies gave chase, the dew came to their rescue—so much dew, there ought to be a PepsiCo logo somewhere on the ACA-VDCA Stadium.

India’s bowling was average at best, and they put down four catches. Despite all these factors in their favour, the visitors nearly messed up a straight-forward win. In between some lovely shots, they played some daft ones as well. Darren Bravo and Kieron Powell added 100 runs for the third wicket, a partnership full of flowing drives with full extension of the arms that would have gladdened even Brian Lara. But both got out to poor shots. It came down to Lendl Simmons and then Darren Sammy to finish off the game.

 Bravo, dropped thrice in four balls, was set up by Ravichandran Ashwin. He was caught behind unwilling to let go of his habit of forcing the ball towards the square. Meanwhile, Powell gave charge to Ashwin and was stumped so far out, he would have needed an air ticket to get back. Shortly afterwards, captain Dwayne Bravo misplaced a pull-shot that found the only fielder on the leg-side boundary. It seemed the West Indies had messed it up.