Related Links : India’s Tour of West Indies 2011 : Scorecard of West Indies Vs India, 3rd ODI at North Sound
India pulled off a thrilling victory from the jaws of defeat in the Third ODI at the Sir Vivian Richards Stadium in North Sound, Antigua. Chasing 226 to get a 3-0 unassailable lead in the series, India slipped to 92 for 6 by the 23rd over with defeat looming very large. The West Indian fielders for the first time in the series were all charged up and looking to go for the kill but their hearts broken by a couple of superb partnerships which revolved around Rohit Sharma. Harbhajan Singh and Praveen Kumar provided perfect support for Rohit to clinch the run chase with 22 balls to spare.
The visitors had a dull start with just the 26 on the board when Shikhar Dhawan (4 from 15 balls) spooned his cover drive off Sammy straight into the hands of covers in the 8th over. In the very next over, Sammy struck again by rapping up the pads of Virat Kohli with an indipper and though the ball was kicking up and going to miss the legstump, Umpire Malcolm Norman raised his finger to give a rubbish lbw decision. Kohli (who was out for a first ball duck) was so upset with the decision that he went towards the Umpire and had a chat which could have him in trouble with the Match Referee.
India on the backfoot at 26 for 2 seemed to be getting back on track through a solid partnership between Parthiv Patel and Badrinath. But a bad response to a single from Parthiv Patel had Badrinath (11 from 28 balls) needlessly run out at the striker’s end to have the visitors at 60 for 3 in the 16th over. In the 19th over, there was more pressure as the set Parthiv Patel (46 from 56 balls with 4 fours and a six) failed to keep his flashy cut shot off leggie Bishoo to get caught at backward point.
India’s young Skipper Suresh Raina (3 from 10 balls) temporarily lost a nut in his head when he went for a shocking slog off Kieron Pollard in the 22nd over but only to get caught off a leading edge at covers. The visitors slipped to 88 for 5 with Yusuf Pathan expected to come up with a magic innings. However, Yusuf Pathan (1 from 3 balls) disappointed as he dragged a paddle sweep off Bishoo towards short mid wicket where Lendl Simmons threw himself backwards to take a stunning catch.
It seemed to be all over at 92 for 6 with Rohit Sharma left with three useful lower order batsmen along with Munaf Patel. One of the useful lower order batsmen was Harbhajan Singh who has 8 fifties and 2 centuries in Test Cricket. The target wasn’t a huge one and it was only matter of keeping the heads down and bat with some application. This was what Rohit Sharma and Harbhajan Singh did taking a clue from the Baugh-Russell partnership early on in the West Indian innings. The hosts were now at the receiving end as India got a stubborn partnership going which went onto put 88 runs for the 7th wicket! With 48 runs needed to win, a pumped up Harbhajan Singh looking to go for a big slog off Russell could only get a leading edge which was taken behind. Harbhajan had almost done a superb job scoring 41 from 64 balls with a four and a six to take India nearer to an unexpected victory.
When Harbhajan was dismissed, India needed 48 to win from 54 balls. Without wasting much time, the batting powerplay was taken cleverly in the 43rd over which meant that most of the fielders were inside the 30 yards circle for the next five overs! Praveen Kumar who joined Rohit chanced his arms to come up with some calculated hits which released the pressure of the required run rate and soon India was cruising along. By the 47th over itself, the chase was all over with Rohit Sharma finishing the match with a heave off Roach to the widish long on boundary to wrap up a 7-wicket win. Rohit remained unbeaten on 86 from 91 balls with 5 fours and 2 sixes which was perhaps the best knock of his life so far! Praveen Kumar played a crucial hand with his unbeaten 25 from 15 balls with a four and two sixes (one off Bishoo and the second off Russell). The only consolation for West Indies was the Man of the Match award which was given to Andre Russell.
Also Read : Raina asks Windies to bat first in 3rd ODI : Russell’s sparkling 92 rescues West Indies