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Sharma shines in India's thrilling one-wicket win over Windies
Cuttack, November 29, 2011
Rohit Sharma's valiant knock of 72 off 99 balls gave India a thrilling one-wicket victory over the West Indies in their nerve-wracking first encounter of the five-match ODI series at the Barabati stadium here tonight.
India made heavy weather of a modest target of 212 set by the West Indies, losing half of the side in quick succession, but Sharma's rescue act enabled the team to overhaul the target in 48.5 overs.
The top order put up a pathetic exhibition of batting as three of them - Gautam Gambir(4), Virat Kohli (3) and Suresh Raina (5)- failed to reach double digits, while the openers - Parthiv Patel and Virendra Sehwag - went back after scoring 12 and 20, respectively.
The Indian top order was wrecked by a belligerent pace attack from Kemar Roach and Andre Russel, who claimed five wickets between them.
With the team reeling at 59/5, Sharma, the comeback man, and all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja joined hands and led the resuce and revival act.
Their gritty association of 83 for the sixth wicket put India on course to victory. Jadeja (38), however, threw his wicket away and brought West Indies back into the game. The all-rounder slashed a full and wide delivery of Kiron Pollard and handed a simple catch to Simons at point.
Sharma continued to take the attack to the opposition and notched up his ninth half century in the fifty-over format. The 24-year-old's match winning knock comprised three crisply timed boundaries and a huge six.
The Mumbai player's dismissal when 11 runs were still required unfolded another twist in the tale. Even Vinay Kumar (18), who gave ample support to Sharma and was looking good, departed leaving the two rookie pacers - Varun Aaron and Umesh Yadav - to do the finishing.
The greenhorns held their nerves and ensured a thrilling one-wicket victory for their side without further ado.
Earlier, a superb display of all-round bowling enabled India to limit the visitors to a modest 211.
The visiting side were off to a poor start, losing three wickets within ten overs with 52 runs on board after stand-in captain Sehwag decided to field after winning the toss.
Vinay Kumar drew first blood for the hosts by dismissing Adrian Barath (17). The Carribean opener edged an away going delivery of Kumar which was pouched by wicket-keeper Patel.
Marlon Samuels (10) and Lendl Simmons (19) followed the opener in quick succession. Samuels was cleaned up by Aaron, while Simons became a vcitim of Umesh Yadav.
Darren Sammy in company of Danza Hyatt steadied the Carribean ship forging a 75-run association for the fourth wicket.
The Jamaican-Trinidadian progress came to an abrupt end when Hyatt (31) fell short of his crease while sneaking a tight single. He was done in by a brilliant throw from Vinay Kumar and the alertness of Patel.
Bravo, cousin of great Brian Lara, contiued to wage a lone battle and brought up his sixth ODI fifty in the process. The 22-year-old scored a 74-ball 60 before playing on to his stumps while attempting a drive off Suresh Raina. His effort was studded with six hits to the fence.
Following his departure, the touring side lost its mooring and drifted apart as none of the lower order batsmen, excpet Russel, who scored 22, could withstand the deadly pace-spin combination of the Indians. Even Pollard (13), who joind the squad for the fifty-over
format, failed to live up to expectations and was scalped by Ravichandran Ashwin.
In a bid to up the scoring rate in the power play, the tall hard hitter tried to hoist the spinner out of ground but found the hands of Virat Kohli at long-on.
Pace duo Varun and Umesh were the pick of the bowlers and ended with two wickets apiece, conceding 39 and 30 runs, respectively, while Kumar, Raina, Ashwin and Jadeja pocketed a scalp each.
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