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Pollard, Martin fire Windies to huge win

Related Links : India’s Tour of West Indies 2011 : Scorecard of West Indies Vs India, 4th ODI at North Sound

World Champions India suffered a huge 103-run defeat in the Fourth ODI at the Sir Vivian Richards Stadium in North Sound Antigua. It was a poor batting display from the visitors which saw a few atrocious shots leading to the downfall. For the West Indies, Kieron Pollard, Andre Russell and Anthony Martin were the architects of this huge victory which stopped India from getting closer to a cleansweep.

West Indies Innings

West Indies asked to bat first yet again after losing the toss had a familiar bad start. The first wicket fell in the 2nd over itself when Danza Hyatt promoted as an opener was forced to fend off a nasty lifter from Ishant into the hands of point. Praveen Kumar sustained the pressure at his end with his economical bowling which resulted in the wicket of Ramnaresh Sarwan who failed to keep his cut shot down to get caught at point. West Indies was going nowhere at 12 for 2 when this happened.

The hosts seemed to be getting on track through a solid partnership for the 3rd wicket between Lendl Simmons and Darren Bravo until the 16th over when the latter whacked Amit Mishra into the hands of Manoj Tiwary who took his third catch in a row in the match. Bravo scored 15 from 36 balls in a 43-run stand with Simmons. Mishra struck again when he trapped the well Marlon Samuels (8) lbw with a googly in the 24th over. West Indies slipped to a disastrous 103 for 5 in the 27th over when a well set Lendl Simmons was run out by a brilliant direct throw at the non-striker’s end from Manoj Tiwary who charged in from leg slip to squareleg to prevent a single. Simmons scored 67 from 78 balls with 3 fours and 3 sixes.

It was an important innings for Kieron Pollard as he had failed in the three ODIS prior to this. His partner Carlton Baugh played steadily for the second time in a row and West Indies got their innings back on track. Pollard after settling in freed his arms to race away to 70 from 72 balls (with 6 fours and 2 sixes). His end came in the 45th over when he was caught at long off lofting Ashwin towards Ishant. Pollard put up a crucial stand of 96 runs with Baugh to take Windies to 199 for 6. Carlton Baugh fell in the 49th over slogging Praveen Kumar towards long on after a useful 39 from 57 balls. West Indies finished at 249 for 8 thanks to a superb cameo of 25 from 14 balls with 3 fours and a six.

Praveen Kumar was the best bowler for India with 10-3-37-3. Amit Mishra bowled three maidens and took two wickets but went for 56 runs in his 10 overs.

India Innings

It was a struggle for Manoj Tiwary who was asked to open the innings. Tiwary scratched around for 17 balls scoring only 2 before he nicked a Sammy short delivery to the keeper in the 6th over. Sammy delivered another blow for the visitors when he took a low one handed catch to his left to an early drive from Parthiv Patel (26 from 32 balls) in the 10th over. Andre Russell joined the party in the 17th over when he smacked the gloves off S Badrinath (12) in an attempted pull shot to have him caught behind to put India on the backfoot at 62 for 3.

Leg Spinner Anthony Martin who got into the side replacing Bishoo struck in the 21st over when he beat Virat Kohli in an expansive drive with the turn. Kohli (22 from 33 balls) lost his balance momentarily which was more than enough for Carlton Baugh to effect a smart stumping. India from 82 for 4 slipped further to 114 for 6 by the 28th over with Suresh Raina (10 from 19 balls) and Yusuf Pathan throwing their wickets with needless slogs. Raina was caught slog sweeping Martin to mid wicket while Pathan (1 from 2 balls) heaved a slower leg cutter from Simmons to long off.

By the 31st over, the last fight for India was all over when Rohit Sharma (39 from 47 balls with a six) top edged his slog sweep off Martin to get caught around mid wicket. West Indies wrapped up the match taking the remaining three wickets without any fuss as India collapsed to 146 in 39 overs. Anthony Martin was the Man of the Match taking 4 for 36 in his 10 overs. Andre Russell bowled superbly for his 3 for 16 in 7 overs.